How to Use the Online Traceroute Checker
- Enter Target Host: Type any public domain (e.g.,
github.com) or IPv4/IPv6 address, or click one of the preset targets like Cloudflare or Google. - Configure Options: Click Trace Settings to adjust the maximum Time-To-Live (TTL hops), packet cycles per hop, or switch between ICMP Echo and UDP probing.
- Analyze the Path: Review the hop timeline to see router hostnames, reverse DNS records, autonomous system networks (ASNs), and response times.
- Share or Export: Export your network diagnostics as a CSV spreadsheet or JSON report, or copy a deep link to share the results with colleagues.
How Traceroute Works: TTL and ICMP Time Exceeded
When your computer sends data packets across the internet, they don't travel straight to their destination in a single jump. Instead, they pass through multiple intermediary routers known as hops. Traceroute utilizes an IP header mechanism called Time-to-Live (TTL) to map this route:
- TTL = 1: The packet is sent to the first gateway router. The router decrements the TTL to 0, drops the packet, and sends back an
ICMP Time Exceededmessage revealing its identity and round-trip time. - TTL = 2, 3, 4...: The traceroute tool sequentially increments the TTL by 1 for each subsequent packet probe, peeling back each layer of the route until the packet reaches its final destination.
- Destination Echo Reply: When the destination host receives an ICMP Echo packet, it replies with an
ICMP Echo Reply, confirming the route is complete.
Reading Traceroute Results: Latency, ASNs, and Asterisks
Understanding Asterisks (* * *)
Seeing asterisks or a 100% loss rate on an intermediary hop does not necessarily mean there is an internet outage. Many enterprise routers and firewall gateways intentionally deprioritize or drop ICMP diagnostic packets to safeguard their control plane while continuing to route ordinary TCP/UDP traffic at full wire speed.
Autonomous System Numbers (ASNs)
ASNs identify the organizational networks that manage groups of IP prefixes (e.g., AS15169 Google, AS13335 Cloudflare, AS1299 Telia/Arelion). By inspecting ASNs across hops, you can determine exactly where your traffic leaves your local ISP and enters Tier-1 transit providers.
Traceroute vs. Ping vs. MTR: Key Differences
| Feature | Ping | Standard Traceroute | MTR (This Tool) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope | Destination only | All intermediate hops | Continuous path analysis |
| Packet Loss Tracking | Total loss rate | Single probe loss | Per-hop percentage loss |
| Latency Stats | Min / Avg / Max | 3 raw sample times | Avg, Best, Worst, StDev |
| ASN & Carrier Info | None | Requires manual whois | Automated BGP AS lookup |