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Traceroute

Shows every router between our test node in Chicago and the host you enter, with the round-trip time to each hop. Use it to see where along the path latency jumps or packets stop.

Run a trace

These tests run from our test node in Chicago (US), not from your browser. Use them to check whether a host is reachable and how far it is from a US Midwest network. Private and internal addresses can't be tested.

How traceroute works

Traceroute sends packets with a small time-to-live (TTL) value, starting at 1 and increasing by one each round. Each router along the path decrements the TTL and, when it reaches zero, sends back an error that reveals its address and how long the round trip took. Listing those replies in order gives you the path.

This trace runs from our server in Chicago, not from your computer, so it shows how a US Midwest network reaches the host. To trace from your own machine, use tracert on Windows or traceroute on macOS and Linux.

Reading the results

  • Latency normally rises a little with each hop and jumps where the path crosses an ocean or a long-haul link.
  • A hop showing "*" or no reply is often just a router that does not answer traceroute; it only matters if every hop after it is also missing.
  • A sudden rise that persists on every later hop points to congestion or a long detour at that hop.
  • If the trace stops before the destination, the host or a firewall in front of it may block these packets. Try the port reachability test on port 443.

Questions

How do I run a traceroute online?

Enter a hostname or public IP address above and press "Trace route". Results list each hop with its latency.

Why does traceroute show asterisks?

Some routers are configured not to reply to traceroute probes. If later hops still answer, the asterisks can be ignored.

Can I trace a private IP address?

No. Private and internal addresses such as 192.168.x.x cannot be reached from the internet, so this tool refuses them.

Is traceroute the same as tracert?

Yes. tracert is the Windows command; traceroute is the name on macOS, Linux and network equipment.