Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
A traceroute test shows which routers respond as diagnostic probes travel toward a destination, along with each reply’s round-trip time. Run tracert example.com on Windows or traceroute example.com on Linux. Asterisks mean probes did not receive replies in time; they do not, by themselves, prove a router is broken or that traffic stopped.
What a traceroute test tells you
Traceroute estimates the hop-by-hop route from the computer running the test to a destination, such as a website or server. It reports responding hops and the round-trip time (RTT) for diagnostic replies. The IETF describes traceroute as a tool for determining the hop-by-hop path and RTT from the source to each hop (RFC 5388).
The test works by sending probes with a low IP time-to-live (TTL), then increasing the TTL one step at a time. Each router that forwards a packet decreases its TTL. When it reaches zero, the router may return an ICMP Time Exceeded message. The sender can then identify that responding hop and time the reply. Implementations can use different probe types, so the command and operating system matter when interpreting results.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →How to run a traceroute test
Windows
- Open Command Prompt or PowerShell.
- Run
tracert example.com, replacingexample.comwith the hostname or IP address you want to examine. - Wait for the command to finish and inspect the rows leading to the destination.
Microsoft documents Windows TRACERT as sending ICMP Echo probes with incrementing TTL values. Its default maximum hop count is 30; use /h to set a different limit. For example, tracert /h 20 example.com stops after a maximum of 20 hops. See Microsoft’s TRACERT troubleshooting documentation and command reference.
#1 Best Overall
- Multifunctional NOYAFA NF-8508 Network Cable Tester: There are nine features to meet your needs. Continuity Testing, Cable Scan, Port Flash, Length Measurement, POE Power Supply Test, QC testing, Optical Power Meter, VFL and NVC function.It is perfectly suited for various engineering cabling projects, network troubleshooting, network equipment maintenance and testing scenarios. Its precise cable scanning and fault localization capabilities help you effortlessly pinpoint the root cause of issues.
- 7 WAVELENGTHS OPTICAL POWER METER: NF-8508 network cable tester can measure 7 standard wavelengths, 850/1300/1310/1490/1550/1625/1650, power detecting range(dBm): -70 ~ +10. Its power detection range spans from -70 dBm to +10 dBm, supporting FC/SC/ST connectors. It enables precise fiber optic power measurement, helping users efficiently assess fiber signal strength and ensure healthy fiber link operation. It effortlessly detects attenuation issues within fibers, thereby safeguarding fiber network stability.
- High Efficiency Visual Fault Locator: Easy identification of fiber breakpoints, poor connections, bending or cracking. Excellent for finding the right fiber to splice or quickly finding a break. Emmiting Energy: standard wavelenth: 650nm. Fast flashing, slow flashing, high precison.The built-in self-calibration ensures stable long-term performance, and Class IIIa laser (output<5mW) ensures safe daily operation.
- PORT FLASHING:The indicator light on the connection port in the NF-8508 device flashes to help accurately locate the cable. Displays port information, including operating speed, duplex mode, and negotiation settings. Port lights flash on the same screen to show the port's operating speed, making it easy to pinpoint lines and ports.
- PoE Testing and Cable Length Test: PoE testing can check cable mapping polarity and voltage of PoE network switches, withstand 60VDC. Automatically detects and switches between 10M/100M/1000M modes, Includes cable tracking, short circuit test, interruption of circuit test and etc The RJ45 cable tester can quickly measure the length of the cable with a range of 200m. Not only network cables, but also phone lines and BNC cables.
Linux
- Open a terminal.
- Run
traceroute example.com. - Review the hop rows, reply addresses and timings; note any asterisks.
The Linux traceroute manual describes the destination hostname or address as the required argument. The commonly documented method uses UDP probes, and the utility also supports other methods and options. The manual lists controls for probe count, timeout and hop limit; available options can vary by installed version. Check the local manual with man traceroute before relying on a particular option. See the traceroute(8) manual.
Other operating systems
Command names and options depend on the operating system and its version. Confirm the built-in utility’s syntax for your system rather than assuming Windows or Linux options apply unchanged.
How to read traceroute output
Each row usually corresponds to a TTL value, or hop index. A row may show a responding router’s address or hostname followed by one or more RTT measurements. Linux traceroute sends three probes per TTL by default according to its manual; an asterisk (*) marks a probe that did not receive a reply within the timeout.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCrashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteRank #2
- VERSATILE CABLE TESTING: Cable tester tests voice (RJ11/12), data (RJ45), and video (coax F-connector) terminated cables, providing clear results for comprehensive testing on unenergized Ethernet cables (not designed to test PoE)
- EXTENDED CABLE LENGTH MEASUREMENT: Measure cable length up to 2000 feet (610 m), allowing for precise cable length determination
- COMPREHENSIVE FAULT DETECTION: Test for Open, Short, Miswire, or Split-Pair faults, ensuring thorough fault detection and identification
- BACKLIT LCD DISPLAY: Backlit LCD screen displays cable length, wiremap, cable ID, and test results, ensuring easy readability in various lighting conditions
- EFFICIENT CABLE TRACING: Trace cables, wire pairs, and individual conductor wires using the multiple style tone generator (requires analog probe Cat. No. VDV500-123, sold separately), simplifying cable tracing tasks
What asterisks mean
An asterisk means only that the probe did not produce a timely response. A router may forward ordinary traffic but suppress or filter diagnostic responses. Microsoft notes that routers that do not return ICMP Time Exceeded messages are invisible to Windows TRACERT. A row of asterisks therefore does not establish that the router is faulty or that packets cannot pass it. If later hops or the destination respond, that is particularly strong reason not to treat the earlier silence as proof that the route ended there.
What hop times mean
The displayed time is the round trip for a diagnostic probe and its reply. It includes the return journey from the hop to your computer; it is not a direct measurement of one-way delay on the forward link. A router may also handle diagnostic replies differently from ordinary forwarded traffic.
Do not diagnose congestion from one unusually high time at an intermediate hop when later hops and the destination respond normally. Compare repeated traces and the end-to-end problem you are investigating. The cited sources establish no universal RTT threshold that proves congestion or a faulty router.
Rank #3
- New Upgraded Multi-function Network Cable Tester: NF-8506 TDR network tester has IP scanning, POE test, anti-interference RJ11 RJ45 CAT5 CAT6 cable test, continuity test, Ping network rate test, port flashing, sensitivity adjustment, cable Function of length test and LED flashlight.
- 200m cable length test: The NF-8506 Network cable tester is a portable cable length tester. The cable tester can accurately measure the cable length in the range of 8.2ft/ 2.5m-656ft /200m, find the cable fault distance and facilitate real-time field measurementt
- PING Tester+IP Scanner: This handheld Ping cable toner can be used to diagnose and maintain local area networks (Lans) running TCP/IP protocols. Powerful PING capabilities can verify connections, check the integrity of transmitted and received data, indicate network traffic load by measuring round-trip times and provide IP addresses
- Network Rate Test + Cable Continuity Test: Ethernet tester can quickly assess network rate issues. Conducts PING tests from multiple locations to gauge server and website response speeds. Allows users to ensure the integrity and connectivity of network cables by identifying any breaks, openings, or short circuits along the cable length.
- POE Tester: Identifies PoE devices efficiently. Detects crossover methods (unknown/end-span/mid-span/8-core power supply) and polarity. Comprehensive PoE detection, including non-standard, IEEE 802.3AF, and IEEE 802.3AT.
Why the route may vary
A trace is an observation of the probes from one source at one time, not a complete map of every packet’s route. Equal-cost multipath routing can send probes along different paths. RFC 7276 explicitly cautions that traceroute finds “a” path and that traffic may be forwarded through equal-cost multipaths (RFC 7276).
Recommended Free Tools
Traceroute versus ping
Ping tests whether a destination responds to its probes and reports round-trip timing to that destination. Traceroute instead varies TTL to reveal responding intermediate hops on the way to a destination, as well as the destination if it replies. They answer related but different questions: ping is useful for an end-to-end reachability or timing check; traceroute helps inspect the route’s responding hops. Neither result alone explains every application-level slowdown, and network policies may filter diagnostic traffic.
How to use a trace to investigate a slowdown
- Run the trace to the affected host. Use the hostname or IP address associated with the service that is slow, and record the command and operating system.
- Look for the destination response. If the destination responds, the trace reached it for at least some probes. If it does not, the result may reflect filtering or the destination’s response behavior, not necessarily a broken route.
- Compare multiple probes and repeat the trace. Separate consistent patterns from one-off timing variation. Asterisks or high times at one intermediate hop are not sufficient evidence of loss or delay affecting all subsequent traffic.
- Compare from another time or network when possible. Record the source network, destination, time and options for each run. Traceroute reports a path from the vantage point where it runs; a trace from another network can differ.
- Use a tool suited to the remaining question. If you need Windows reporting of latency and packet loss for routers and links along a path, Microsoft points to
pathpingas an adjacent diagnostic tool.
Options and comparisons that matter
When comparing traces or command-line results, make sure they are comparable. Implementations differ in probe method, maximum hop count, probes per TTL, timeout and name lookup behavior. Note those settings beside the output; otherwise, different-looking traces may reflect different tools or parameters rather than a changed network path.
Rank #4
- DIGITAL MODE: Easily trace and locate cables on an active network to identify their paths and destinations effectively
- ANALOG MODE: Isolate individual wire pairs, facilitating the tracing of voice, data, video, and audio cables
- CONTINUITY AND POLARITY TESTING: Results for continuity and polarity tests are displayed on LEDs that are clearly labeled and easy to read
- TRACE UNSTRIPPED WIRES: Rugged Angled Bed of Nails (ABN) clips securely attach to wires
- WIRE MAPPING CAPABILITIES: Utilize wire mapping capabilities to verify Pin-to-Pin connections and shield detection
| Setting or behavior | Windows TRACERT | Linux traceroute |
|---|---|---|
| Documented probe approach | ICMP Echo probes with incrementing TTL values (Microsoft documentation). | Common default method uses UDP; other methods and options are documented in the manual. |
| Documented default hop limit | 30 hops; change with /h (Microsoft documentation). |
Check the installed manual and version; the cited manual documents a configurable hop limit. |
| Documented probes per TTL | Not stated in the cited Microsoft documentation. | Three by default in the cited traceroute(8) manual. |
| Options to check | Maximum hop count via /h; consult the command reference for other supported options. |
Probe method, probe count, timeout and hop limit; exact availability depends on installed version. |
Microsoft describes pathping as reporting latency and packet loss for routers and links along a path. It can be a next step when your question concerns loss persisting across a route rather than simply which hops respond. See the Microsoft pathping command reference.
Troubleshooting common results
Every hop shows an asterisk
Possible causes include diagnostic responses being filtered, a timeout that is too short, or a destination that does not reply to the probe method. Asterisks alone cannot distinguish these cases. Check whether the destination is reachable with other appropriate diagnostics, verify that the command is correct for your OS, and compare a trace from another network if available.
The trace stops at one hop
A silent hop may still forward traffic while suppressing TTL-expired replies. If later rows are absent too, the trace does not establish whether the cause is filtering, a reachability issue, or another response behavior. Repeat the trace and compare with an end-to-end test; avoid assigning fault to the last visible router based only on its position.
Best Value
- VERSATILE CABLE TESTING: Cable tester for data (RJ45) terminated cables and patch cords, ensuring comprehensive testing capabilities
- LARGE BACKLIT LCD: Backlit LCD display enables easy reading of pin-to-pin wiremap results, even in low-lit areas
- COMPREHENSIVE FAULT DETECTION: Test for Open, Short, Miswire, Split-Pair faults, Cross-over, and Shield, providing thorough fault detection
- INTUITIVE USER INTERFACE: User-friendly interface with three buttons and simple, easy-to-identify test responses, ensuring a smooth testing experience
- MULTIPLE TONE GENERATOR STYLES: Tone on a single wire, wire pair, or all 8 conductor wires using the multiple style tone generator (solid/warble); requires probe Cat. No. VDV500-123 (sold separately)
One hop has a high time but later hops are faster
That pattern does not demonstrate that the high-latency router is delaying forwarded traffic. The timing is for a reply returning to your computer, and routers can treat diagnostic replies differently. Check repeated traces and end-to-end symptoms instead of treating one hop’s RTT as a forward-link measurement.
Successive runs show different hops
Multipath routing can cause probes to follow different routes. Also confirm that the source network, destination and command options remained the same. Record these details so comparisons have context.
The command or an option is not recognized
Check whether you are running the Windows tracert command or Linux traceroute; they are not interchangeable command names, and their options differ. On Linux, consult man traceroute for the installed version. On Windows, use Microsoft’s command reference for supported syntax.
Or skip the browser setup
Traceroute is a command-line network diagnostic; a screenshot API is not a substitute for it. For a separate task—capturing how a web page looks—ScreenshotNeo can return a screenshot or PDF from one GET request. Its clean-shot handling accepts cookie or consent banners and removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups and chat widgets before capture, with each step configurable. Bot checks, blank pages, failed loads, timeouts and cache hits cost nothing, and response headers indicate the page verdict and billing status. It also provides an MCP server with screenshot and page-information tools for AI agents.
Example cURL request (see the ScreenshotNeo API documentation):
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpThe Free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000. Sign up free for 1,000 screenshots a month, with no card required.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
