Online Traceroute

Trace the network path to any destination. View hop-by-hop latency, IPs, and geographic routing.

Hop-by-Hop Path Latency Metrics Geographic Routing

What is Traceroute?

Understanding network path tracing and diagnostics. Learn how to identify connectivity issues and measure latency.

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How Traceroute Works

Traceroute maps the path packets take from our server to a destination. It reveals each intermediate router (hop) and measures round-trip time to diagnose network issues.

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Understanding Results

Each hop shows the router's IP, hostname, and latency. Hop 1 is typically the gateway, with subsequent hops traversing through ISPs and internet exchanges to the destination.

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Common Scenarios

All hops responding indicates a healthy route. Some timeouts are normal — many routers block traceroute for security. Traceroute stopping mid-route may indicate a firewall or routing issue.

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Reading Latency

Large latency jumps usually indicate long-distance links like undersea cables between continents. Geographic distance is the primary factor — signals travel at roughly 200,000 km/s through fiber.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does each hop represent? expand_more

Each hop represents a router or gateway that your data passes through on its way to the destination. Hop 1 is typically your local network gateway, hop 2 is your ISP's first router, and subsequent hops are intermediate routers across the internet until reaching the destination server.

Why do some hops show timeouts (* * *)? expand_more

Timeouts mean the router at that hop did not respond to our traceroute probes. This is completely normal. Many routers are configured to not respond to traceroute packets for security or performance reasons, but they still forward your actual traffic. The presence of later hops confirms traffic is passing through.

Why does latency sometimes jump significantly? expand_more

Large latency increases usually indicate long-distance network links, such as undersea cables between continents or satellite connections. A jump from 20ms to 150ms often means the route crosses an ocean. Geographic distance is the primary factor, as signals can only travel at the speed of light through fiber optic cables.

Will I get the same results each time? expand_more

Not necessarily. Internet routing is dynamic — different packets may take different paths based on network conditions, load balancing, and routing protocols. Running traceroute multiple times might show slightly different routes or latencies. This is normal and part of how the internet optimizes traffic flow.

How can I diagnose network problems with traceroute? expand_more

Look for these indicators: Sudden stops (if traceroute stops mid-route, there may be a routing issue or firewall blocking), high latency at a specific hop (indicates congestion at that router), packet loss (some probes timeout indicating instability), or all hops timing out after a certain point (firewall or network policy blocking traceroute).