Shaark.net - How to Use Ping & Traceroute

How to Use Ping & Traceroute

`ping` and `traceroute` (or `tracert` on Windows) are fundamental command-line tools for testing network connectivity and diagnosing connection issues. Browsers cannot run these directly.

Using `ping`

The `ping` command sends small data packets (ICMP echo requests) to a target host and listens for replies. It measures round-trip time (latency) and packet loss, indicating if the host is reachable and how responsive it is.

Open your Terminal or Command Prompt.

Commands:

Ping a target (sends continuously until stopped with Ctrl+C):
```
ping google.com
```
```
ping 8.8.8.8
```
Ping a specific number of times (e.g., 4 times):
(Windows):
```
ping -n 4 google.com
```
(macOS/Linux):
```
ping -c 4 google.com
```
Interpreting Results: Look for "Reply from..." messages, the `time=` value (latency in milliseconds), and the packet loss percentage at the end. "Request timed out" or 100% loss indicates a problem reaching the target.

Using `traceroute` / `tracert`

This command traces the path (the sequence of routers or "hops") that data packets take to reach a destination host. It helps identify where network delays or connection failures might be occurring along the route.

Open your Terminal or Command Prompt.

Commands:

Trace the route to a target:
(Windows):
```
tracert google.com
```
(macOS/Linux):
```
traceroute google.com
```
(On some Linux systems, you might need to install `traceroute` first: `sudo apt update && sudo apt install traceroute` or `sudo yum install traceroute`)
Interpreting Results: Each numbered line represents a "hop" (a router). It typically shows the round-trip times for three probes sent to that hop and the IP address/hostname of the router. Asterisks (`* * *`) indicate that a router did not respond within the timeout period. High latency or consistent timeouts at a specific hop can indicate a network bottleneck or issue at that point.

Future Tool

We plan to offer a downloadable tool in the future that will provide a user-friendly interface for performing ping, traceroute, and other network diagnostics directly on your computer.