This article demonstrates how to use a ping test and traceroute tools to test network connectivity between two hosts. Ping performs a basic test to determine if a remote host is available, while traceroute tests the complete route network packets take from one host to another. Traceroute is especially helpful for diagnosing where network slowdowns and congestion occur. For a general introduction to network troubleshooting, please read this article first. Testing network connectivityMany scenarios require you to test things locally on your computer using the command line. For example, if you are trying to test the connection between your computer and a remote host, a web-based tool cannot provide this information. It only tests the connection from its own server to the remote host. The exact steps to use the ping and traceroute tools from the command line depend on your computer's operating system. Follow the appropriate procedures below for your operating system. Check host availability with ping testThe basic ping test is one of the easiest things you can do to verify connectivity between your computer and a remote host. This test is easy to run from the command line. Using ping test on Microsoft WindowsTo use the ping program on Microsoft Windows, follow these steps:
Using ping test on Apple Mac OS X and LinuxTo use the ping program on Mac OS X and Linux, follow these steps:
Testing the path to a remote host with tracerouteThe traceroute program provides much more detailed information about a connection to a remote host than ping. Traceroute (or tracert on Microsoft Windows systems) displays information about each “hop” a packet takes from your computer to the remote host. It is often a good way to pinpoint possible ISP connection issues or network bottlenecks. Using tracert on Microsoft WindowsOn Windows-based systems, use the tracert program to test the path to a server. To do this, follow these steps:
Using traceroute on Apple Mac OS X and LinuxTo use the traceroute program on Mac OS X and Linux, follow these steps:
Testing network connectivity with MTRMTR (“My Traceroute”) is a network diagnostic tool that combines the functionality of the ping and traceroute programs described above. It is a good way to monitor in real-time the path network packets take to their destination. Using MTR on Microsoft WindowsWinMTR is a version of MTR for computers running Microsoft Windows. To download WinMTR, use your web browser to go to https://sourceforge.net/projects/winmtr, and then install the program on your computer. After you install WinMTR, follow these steps to run a network test:
Using MTR on LinuxMTR may already be installed by your Linux distribution. If it is not installed, you can install it using your distribution's package manager (for example, apt-get or yum). After MTR is installed, follow these steps to run a network test:
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