Windows tracert Command

The tracert Command in Windows is a network diagnostic tool used to track the path data packets take to reach a destination. It helps identify network delays and connection issues.

How tracert works

The tracert command works by sending ICMP Echo Request messages to the target, increasing the Time-To-Live (TTL) value progressively to trace each hop in the route.

Usage Syntax

The basic syntax of the tracert command is as follows:

/> tracert [options]

 

/> tracert [hostname or IP]

For example, to trace the route to example.com,  you can use the following command:

/> tracert example.com

Command Line Flags

The command line flags are as follows:

Flag	Description
/d or -d	Prevents address-to-hostname resolution for faster results.
/h <hops> -h <hops>	Specifies the maximum number of hops (default is 30).
/j <hosts> -j <hosts>	Uses loose source routing along specified hosts (IPv4 only).
/w <ms> -w <ms>	Sets timeout in milliseconds for each reply (default is 4000 ms).
/4 or -4	Forces the usage of IPv4.
/6 or -6	Forces the usage of IPv6.
/R or -R	Traces the round-trip path (IPv6 only).
/S <source address> -S <source address>	Specifies the source address to use (IPv6 only).
/?	Displays help information for the tracert command.

Interpreting the Output

The output of tracert displays a list of routers (hops) between your computer and the destination, showing the time taken for each hop.

Uses

Some of the uses of the command is as follows:

• Diagnosing slow network connections.
• Identifying network routing problems.
• Checking for network congestion.
• Verifying connectivity to remote servers.

 

The tracert command is a useful tool for network troubleshooting, helping users and administrators diagnose connectivity issues effectively.