I’ve helped countless tech professionals troubleshoot network connectivity issues, and one question keeps coming up: “”How do I trace the path between two computers?”” It’s a crucial skill for network diagnostics and performance optimization that every IT professional should master. So, which of the following utilities would you use to find the path between two computers?
When it comes to finding the path between two computers on a network, several utilities can help us understand how data travels from point A to point B. Whether you’re dealing with network latency issues or trying to diagnose routing problems, choosing the right utility can make all the difference in quickly resolving connectivity challenges.
Key Takeaways
- Traceroute, Tracert, and Pathping are the main utilities for finding network paths between computers, each serving different purposes and platforms
- Traceroute is ideal for Linux/Unix systems and sends UDP packets with increasing TTL values to map the complete network path and measure transit delays
- Tracert, Windows’ version of traceroute, uses ICMP packets and provides basic network diagnostics suitable for Windows environments
- Pathping combines ping and traceroute functionality with advanced statistics, making it excellent for detailed network performance analysis and troubleshooting
- MTR (My Traceroute) offers real-time network monitoring with continuous updates of statistics like packet loss, latency, and jitter measurements
Which of the Following Utilities Would You Use to Find the Path Between Two Computers?
Command-Line Utilities
Network path discovery relies on three primary command-line utilities:
- Traceroute: Maps the complete path data packets take across IP networks
- Tracert: Windows-specific implementation of traceroute that uses ICMP packets
- Pathping: Combines ping and traceroute functionality with detailed statistics
How These Tools Function
Each network path discovery tool operates through distinct mechanisms:
- Traceroute Operation
- Sends UDP packets with increasing TTL values
- Records IP addresses of intermediate routers
- Displays hop-by-hop path information
- Reports round-trip times for each hop
- Tracert Operation
- Uses ICMP Echo Request messages
- Works specifically on Windows systems
- Shows response times for each hop
- Identifies network devices along the path
- Pathping Operation
- Combines features of ping and traceroute
- Collects statistics over multiple iterations
- Provides packet loss information
- Generates detailed latency reports
Tool Comparison Table
| Feature | Traceroute | Tracert | Pathping |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protocol | UDP | ICMP | ICMP/UDP |
| Platform | Unix/Linux | Windows | Windows |
| Statistics | Basic | Basic | Advanced |
| Sample Time | Short | Short | 5+ minutes |
| Accuracy | Good | Good | Excellent |
- Traceroute: Optimal for Linux systems troubleshooting network connectivity
- Tracert: Effective for basic Windows network diagnostics
- Pathping: Essential for detailed network performance analysis with comprehensive statistics
The Traceroute Utility
Traceroute maps the path data packets take between computers on a network by sending UDP packets with incrementing TTL values. This utility identifies routers along the path while measuring transit delays between network hops.
How Traceroute Works
Traceroute operates through a sequential process of packet transmission:
- Sends three UDP packets with a TTL value of 1 to the destination
- Increases TTL by 1 for each subsequent set of packets
- Records IP addresses of responding routers
- Measures round-trip time for each hop
- Displays asterisks (*) for unresponsive hops
- Continues until reaching destination or maximum hop count
The process reveals:
| Measurement | Description | Typical Range |
|---|---|---|
| Hop Count | Number of routers traversed | 1-30 hops |
| RTT | Round-trip time per hop | 1-300 ms |
| Packet Loss | Failed responses | 0-100% |
Using Traceroute on Different Operating Systems
Each operating system implements traceroute with specific syntax:
Linux/Unix:
- Command:
traceroute destination - Options:
-n(no DNS resolution) - Default protocol: UDP
- Maximum hops: 30
macOS:
- Command:
traceroute destination - Options:
-I(ICMP mode) - Default protocol: UDP
- Port range: 33434-33534
- Command:
tracert destination - Options:
-d(no DNS lookup) - Default protocol: ICMP
- Response timeout: 4000ms
The Tracepath Command
Tracepath functions as a network diagnostic tool that traces the path to a network host while discovering the Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU) along this path. The command operates without requiring root privileges, making it accessible to regular users.
Benefits of Using Tracepath
- Discovers path MTU automatically between source and destination hosts
- Operates without root privileges or special capabilities
- Provides round-trip time measurements for each network hop
- Displays asymmetric paths when return routes differ from outbound routes
- Identifies network bottlenecks through packet size analysis
- Supports both IPv4 and IPv6 networks through tracepath and tracepath6 commands
| Feature | Tracepath | Traceroute |
|---|---|---|
| Root Access | Not required | Required |
| Protocol Support | UDP only | UDP, ICMP, TCP |
| MTU Discovery | Yes | No |
| Port Customization | No | Yes |
| Output Detail | Basic | Extensive |
| IPv6 Support | Native | Requires separate command |
Tracepath offers simplified functionality compared to traceroute, focusing on path MTU discovery. It uses UDP packets with increasing TTL values starting from 1, similar to traceroute, but lacks advanced features like protocol selection or port customization. The command format follows tracepath destination_host, with an optional port number specification.
- Limited to UDP probing
- Fixed destination port of 33434
- Automatic path MTU discovery
- Simpler output format
- No timing statistics for each probe
The Pathping Utility
Pathping combines the functionality of ping and traceroute into a single network diagnostic tool built into Windows operating systems. This utility provides detailed statistics about packet loss at each network hop between two endpoints.
Features and Functionality
Pathping operates in two distinct phases when analyzing network paths:
- Traces the route to the destination through ICMP echo requests similar to tracert
- Gathers statistics by sending 100 test packets to each router in the path
- Displays both latency statistics per hop in milliseconds
- Shows packet loss percentage at each network node
- Identifies network bottlenecks through comprehensive data collection
The utility displays data in the following format:
| Metric | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Hop Count | Up to 30 hops |
| Test Duration | 25 seconds per hop |
| Packets Sent | 100 per hop |
| RTT Range | 1-1000 milliseconds |
When to Use Pathping
Pathping serves specific network diagnostic scenarios:
- Troubleshooting intermittent connectivity issues with detailed packet loss analysis
- Measuring network performance across multiple routers or switches
- Identifying congestion points in complex network paths
- Documenting network latency patterns over extended periods
- Validating Quality of Service (QoS) configurations across network segments
| Scenario | Advantage |
|---|---|
| Long-term Analysis | Provides statistical data over time |
| Complex Networks | Identifies problematic network segments |
| Performance Monitoring | Measures both latency and packet loss |
| Documentation | Generates comprehensive reports |
MTR (My Traceroute)
MTR combines the functionality of traceroute and ping into a modern network diagnostic tool that provides real-time updates of network statistics. It displays continuous, active measurements of the network path between the source and destination hosts.
Real-time Network Diagnostics
MTR’s real-time monitoring capabilities set it apart from traditional network utilities by providing:
- Displaying live packet loss statistics at each network hop
- Updating latency measurements every second
- Showing current DNS resolution for intermediate hosts
- Calculating jitter values between consecutive packets
- Monitoring network path changes as they occur
The statistics update automatically in a single terminal window, with numeric values for:
| Metric | Typical Range | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Packet Loss | 0-100 | % |
| Latency | 1-1000 | ms |
| Jitter | 0-100 | ms |
| Best RTT | 1-1000 | ms |
| Worst RTT | 1-1000 | ms |
| Average RTT | 1-1000 | ms |
- Intermittent connectivity issues between specific hops
- Network congestion points showing increased latency
- Routing changes affecting the network path
- DNS resolution problems at intermediate nodes
- Quality degradation across network segments
Purposes in Network Diagnostics
Which of the following utilities would you use to find the path between two computers? Network path tracing utilities are essential tools in any IT professional’s arsenal. I’ve explored the key utilities including Traceroute Tracert Pathping Tracepath and MTR – each serving unique purposes in network diagnostics.
Whether you’re troubleshooting connectivity issues analyzing network performance or identifying bottlenecks these utilities offer valuable insights. I recommend starting with Traceroute for basic path discovery and moving to more sophisticated tools like MTR for comprehensive network analysis.
Understanding and effectively using these utilities will significantly enhance your ability to maintain and optimize network performance. The right tool choice depends on your specific needs platform and the level of detail required for your analysis.
