Home / Networking Commands / traceroute (Linux)

traceroute

Trace Network Path to Destination - Linux

What Does It Do?

The traceroute command traces the route packets take from your computer to a destination host. It shows each hop (router) along the path and measures the round-trip time to each hop.

This tool is invaluable for diagnosing network connectivity issues, identifying slow network segments, and understanding your network topology.

Advertisement

[ Insert Google AdSense Banner Code Here ]

When Should I Use It?

Diagnose Route Issues

Identify where packets are being dropped or delayed.

Identify Slow Hops

Find which router is causing high latency.

Map Network Path

Understand the route your data takes across the internet.

Troubleshoot ISP Issues

Determine if problems are within your ISP's network.

Common Commands

traceroute google.com

Trace the route to google.com.

traceroute 8.8.8.8

Trace route to Google's DNS server by IP.

traceroute -n google.com

Trace without resolving hostnames (faster).

traceroute -m 20 google.com

Set maximum hop count to 20.

traceroute -q 5 google.com

Send 5 probe packets per hop (default is 3).

traceroute --help

Display help information.

Try It Yourself

Practice using the traceroute command in the terminal below. Try typing traceroute google.com or traceroute 8.8.8.8