Get the latest tech news
The journey of an internet packet: Exploring networks with traceroute
This article explains the mechanics behind traceroute, from IP headers and TTL fields to ICMP messages. Learn why traceroute is a crucial tool for network diagnostics, how it differs from ping, and how to interpret its output. Ideal for network administrators, IT professionals, and curious users looking to understand network topology and troubleshoot connectivity issues. Gain insights into internet infrastructure and enhance your ability to diagnose network problems efficiently.
If the TTL field reaches 0, the router drops the packet and sends an Time Exceeded Message back to the source computer. Identify where packets are being dropped or delayed Discover unexpected routing paths Detect misconfigured or malfunctioning routers Estimate network latency between hops While ping can tell us if a destination is reachable, traceroute shows us the entire journey, making it an essential tool in any network administrator’s or curious user’s toolkit.
Or read this on Hacker News
