Routing & Path
Traceroute: Trace Your Network Path
Traceroute reveals the exact path your internet traffic takes from your device to its destination. It shows each network hop, identifies ISPs and transit providers along the route, and pinpoints where latency is being added.
Launch in Mission ControlWhat It Measures
Traceroute measures the latency at each network hop between your device and the destination server. It identifies the autonomous system (AS) number and organization name for each hop, revealing which ISPs and transit networks carry your traffic.
How It Works
- Sends packets with incrementally increasing TTL (Time To Live) values
- Each router along the path sends back a response when it decrements TTL to zero
- Records the round-trip time and IP address for each hop
- Performs BGP lookups to identify ASN and organization for each IP
Why It Matters
Traceroute helps diagnose where packet loss or high latency is occurring in the network path. If your latency jumps significantly at a specific hop, that router or the link after it is the bottleneck. It also reveals if your ISP is using inefficient routing.
Understanding Your Results
A healthy traceroute shows consistent latency increases with each hop. Latency should not jump more than 20 to 30ms between nearby hops. If you see a sudden 100ms+ jump at a specific hop, that link is likely a bottleneck or is geographically distant.
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Run Traceroute Now →Frequently Asked Questions
What is traceroute used for?
Traceroute is used to diagnose network problems by showing the path and latency at each hop between your device and a destination. It helps identify slow network links, routing inefficiencies, and where packet loss is occurring.
Why do some hops show asterisks?
Asterisks (*) appear when a router does not respond to traceroute probes. Many routers are configured to drop ICMP packets for security reasons but still forward traffic normally. Asterisks do not necessarily indicate a problem.
What is an ASN?
ASN stands for Autonomous System Number. Each ISP and major network operator is assigned a unique ASN to identify their network in the global BGP routing system. Traceroute uses ASN data to show which companies own each network hop.
Can I traceroute from a different location?
Pong.com's traceroute runs from your browser, showing your specific path. For traceroutes from other locations, you can use looking glass servers operated by major ISPs and network operators.
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