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PATHPING command in Windows

The Windows pathping command is a network diagnostic tool that combines the functionality of ping and traceroute. It provides detailed information on network latency and packet loss by sending packets to each router on the way to a destination. Pathping is useful for troubleshooting network connectivity issues and identifying problematic network segments.

PATHPING Syntax:

Terminal window
pathping [-n] [-h maximum_hops] [-g host-list] [-p period] [-q num_queries] [-w timeout] [-T] [-R] [-g host-list] [-w timeout] [-4] [-6] target_name

Windows PATHPING Options:

OptionDescription
-nNo DNS name resolution
-hMaximum number of hops to search for target_name
-gLoose source route along host-list
-pPeriod between two consecutive pings (in milliseconds)
-qNumber of queries per hop
-wTimeout in milliseconds
-TDisable Pathping hop-by-hop display
-RTest Reverse Route
-4Force using IPv4
-6Force using IPv6

PATHPING Parameters:

ParameterDescription
target_nameDestination to trace the route to

How to use PATHPING command:

Pathping a Domain Name

Terminal window
pathping www.google.com

Executes a pathping command on the domain name “www.google.com” to identify network connectivity issues.

Pathping an IP Address

Terminal window
pathping 8.8.8.8

Runs a pathping command on the specific IP address “8.8.8.8” to trace the route and detect network problems.

Pathping with Specific Number of Hops

Terminal window
pathping -h 10 www.microsoft.com

Utilizes pathping with a specified number of hops (10) for tracing the route to the domain “www.microsoft.com”.

Pathping with Time Limit

Terminal window
pathping -n -p 150 www.yahoo.com

Executes a pathping command with a time limit of 150 milliseconds on the domain “www.yahoo.com”, and displays numerical data without resolving addresses.

Pathping with Packet Size

Terminal window
pathping -n -g 1500 www.apple.com

Runs pathping specifying a packet size of 1500 bytes on the domain “www.apple.com” to identify potential network issues more effectively.

Pathping with Specific Interface

Terminal window
pathping -i 1 192.168.1.1

Utilizes pathping with a specific interface (index 1) to pathping the IP address “192.168.1.1” and view the detailed route.

Pathping and Disruption Detection

Terminal window
pathping -q 5 -w 100 192.168.0.1

Performs a pathping command with a query count of 5 and timeout threshold of 100 milliseconds on the IP address “192.168.0.1” to detect disruptions along the route.

Pathping and Path Recording

Terminal window
pathping -n -T www.amazon.com

Executes a pathping command with path recording enabled on the domain “www.amazon.com” to track and analyze network routes more profoundly.

PATHPING Command Troubleshooting Q&A:

{Questions}

How do I use pathping in Windows?

To use the pathping command in Windows, execute the following command:

Terminal window
pathping --option <value>

What is the syntax for pathping in CMD?

The syntax for pathping in CMD is as follows:

Terminal window
pathping <hostname/IP address>

How can pathping help troubleshoot network issues?

Pathping helps to identify network latency and packet loss issues by providing detailed statistics along the path to a destination.

Terminal window
pathping www.example.com

Can I customize the number of packets and pings with pathping in Windows?

Yes, you can customize the number of packets and pings using the “-n” flag in pathping.

Terminal window
pathping -n 100 www.example.com

Is it possible to increase the time interval between pings in pathping?

Yes, you can adjust the time interval between pings using the “-i” flag in pathping.

Terminal window
pathping -i 2 www.example.com

How do I stop a pathping operation in CMD?

To stop a pathping operation in CMD, press Ctrl + C on your keyboard to interrupt the process.

Can pathping resolve hostnames to IP addresses?

Yes, pathping can resolve hostnames to IP addresses automatically when provided as the target.

Terminal window
pathping example.com

Is there a way to save pathping results to a file in Windows?

You can save pathping results to a file by using the redirection operator. For example:

Terminal window
pathping www.example.com > pathping_results.txt

How do I interpret the output of pathping in Windows CMD?

To interpret the output of pathping, focus on the “Loss%” column for packet loss percentages and the “Avg” column for average round-trip times to different hops.

Terminal window
pathping www.example.com

Applications of the PATHPING Command

  • Diagnosing network latency issues
  • Troubleshooting network packet loss
  • Identifying network routing problems
  • Analyzing the performance of each hop along a network path
  • Assessing the health of a network connection