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TRACERT command in Windows

The TRACERT command in Windows is a powerful tool used to troubleshoot network connectivity issues. By tracing the route that packets take from your computer to a specified destination, you can identify each hop along the way and measure the latency between them. This can help you pinpoint any delays or issues that may be affecting your network connection. TRACERT is especially useful for diagnosing slow connections, packet loss, and other network problems. By analyzing the information provided by the TRACERT command, you can gain valuable insights into the performance of your network and take steps to optimize it for better connectivity.

TRACERT Syntax:

Terminal window
tracert [-d] [-h maximum_hops] [-j host-list] [-w timeout] target_name

Windows TRACERT Options:

OptionDescription
-dDo not resolve addresses to hostnames
-h maximum_hopsMaximum number of hops to search for target
-j host-listLoose source route along host-list
-w timeoutWait timeout for each reply in milliseconds

TRACERT Parameters:

ParameterDescription
target_nameIP address or host name of the target to trace

How to use TRACERT command:

Trace Route to a Domain Name

Terminal window
tracert www.example.com

Traces the route to the domain name “www.example.com” to determine network delays.

Trace Route with Maximum Hops

Terminal window
tracert -h 15 www.google.com

Traces the route to “www.google.com” with a maximum of 15 hops.

Trace Route and Resolve IP Addresses to Hostnames

Terminal window
tracert -d www.microsoft.com

Traces the route to “www.microsoft.com” without resolving IP addresses to hostnames.

Trace Route and Display TIMESTAMP Information

Terminal window
tracert -j 5 -w 500 www.apple.com

Traces the route to “www.apple.com” with 5 loose source routes and a timeout of 500 milliseconds for each reply.

Trace Route and Bypass Intermediate Hops

Terminal window
tracert -R www.amazon.com

Traces the route to “www.amazon.com” and bypasses intermediate hops using reverse trace.

Trace Route and Set Time-To-Live (TTL)

Terminal window
tracert -i 3 www.microsoft.com

Traces the route to “www.microsoft.com” and sets the Time-To-Live (TTL) value to 3.

Trace Route and Control Timeouts

Terminal window
tracert -w 100 www.yahoo.com

Traces the route to “www.yahoo.com” and sets the timeout in milliseconds to 100 for each reply.

Trace Route and Use IPv4 Protocol

Terminal window
tracert -4 www.cisco.com

Traces the route to “www.cisco.com” using only the IPv4 protocol.

How do I use tracert in Windows?

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

Terminal window
tracert --option <value>

How can I specify the maximum number of hops for tracert in CMD?

To specify the maximum number of hops for the tracert command in CMD, use the following command:

Terminal window
tracert -h <max_hops> <destination>

How do I get the AS Path information using tracert in Windows?

To get the AS Path information using the tracert command in Windows, execute the following command:

Terminal window
tracert -A <destination>

What is the command to resolve IP addresses to hostnames in tracert on CMD?

To resolve IP addresses to hostnames in tracert on CMD, use the following command:

Terminal window
tracert -d <destination>

How can I set the timeout value for tracert in Windows?

To set the timeout value for the tracert command in Windows, use the following command:

Terminal window
tracert -w <timeout> <destination>

How do I display the timestamp for each hop using tracert in CMD?

To display the timestamp for each hop using the tracert command in CMD, execute the following command:

Terminal window
tracert -t <destination>

How can I perform a reverse DNS lookup with tracert in Windows?

To perform a reverse DNS lookup with the tracert command in Windows, use the following command:

Terminal window
tracert -R <destination>

How do I save the tracert results to a file in CMD?

To save the tracert results to a file in CMD, execute the following command:

Terminal window
tracert <destination> > C:\path\to\output.txt

What is the command to bypass the routing table for tracert in Windows?

To bypass the routing table for the tracert command in Windows, use the following command:

Terminal window
tracert -b <destination>

Applications of the TRACERT Command

  • Troubleshooting network connectivity issues
  • Identifying the route that data packets take to reach a destination
  • Diagnosing latency or packet loss in network connections
  • Determining the number of hops between your computer and the destination
  • Analyzing network performance and identifying bottlenecks