To run a traceroute, open the Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (macOS/Linux), and then type the command followed by the destination IP address or domain name (e.g., tracert www.example.com) and press Enter. The tool will show the network path and travel time for each router (hop) to reach that destination, helping to diagnose network issues.
On Windows:
- Open Command Prompt: Click the Windows icon, type "cmd" in the search bar, and press Enter.
- Enter the command: Type tracert followed by a space and the IP address or domain name of your target (e.g., tracert www.dtechghana.com).
- Run the trace: Press Enter to start the traceroute.
On macOS or Linux:
- Open Terminal: Search for and open the Terminal application.
- Enter the command: Type traceroute (note: no 't' at the end) followed by a space and the target IP address or domain name.
- Run the trace: Press Enter to start the traceroute.
What to look for in the results:
- Hops: Numbered steps on the left, showing each router the data passes through.
- Time (RTT): The three columns showing the time (in milliseconds) to send a packet to that hop and get a response back.
- Asterisks (\*): Indicate dropped packets, which can signal a problem with the network connection at that hop.
