What is difference between Ping and traceroute?

Summary:

Traceroute and ping are both networking utilities used to troubleshoot network connectivity issues. While ping sends a packet of data to a specific IP address and waits for a response, traceroute goes a step further by identifying each hop and intermediate host along the path of the packet. Traceroute sends packets with increasing TTL values to determine the number of hops it can reach before it receives an ICMP Time Exceeded or “Request Timed Out” message. The information obtained from traceroute can provide insights into the routing of data on the internet.

Questions and Answers:

1. Is traceroute better than ping?
Traceroute is considered more advanced than ping because it provides additional information about the route a packet takes to reach its destination. It can identify each hop and intermediate host, helping diagnose network connectivity issues more effectively.

2. Does traceroute use ping?
Think of traceroute as a sequence of ping commands. At each step along the path, traceroute uses ping to send packets and measure the latency to that particular hop.

3. Why does traceroute work but not ping?
Unlike ping which only sends an ICMP packet to the destination IP and receives a response, traceroute sends packets with increasing TTL values. Each L3 device along the path has to send a response back to the source IP. If there are any access control lists (ACLs), firewalls, or router configurations blocking ICMP, traceroute may still work while ping does not.

4. What does a traceroute tell you?
A traceroute provides a map of how data on the internet travels from its source to its destination. It reveals the path taken by the packets and can help identify delays or network issues at specific hops or intermediate hosts.

5. Do hackers use traceroute?
Traceroute can be used by ethical hackers to gather information about a specific network’s infrastructure and IP ranges. It can assist in identifying potential entry points and vulnerabilities.

6. How do I use traceroute and ping?
To use ping and traceroute in Windows:
– Open the command prompt by clicking Start, then Run.
– Type “ping” followed by the IP or website address you want to ping.
– Press Enter to initiate the ping test.
– To perform a traceroute, type “tracert” followed by the IP or website address.
– Press Enter to initiate the traceroute.

7. How do I check my ping and traceroute?
To check ping and traceroute in Windows:
– Open the command prompt by clicking Start, then Run.
– Type “ping” followed by the IP or website address you want to ping.
– Press Enter to initiate the ping test.
– To perform a traceroute, type “tracert” followed by the IP or website address.
– Press Enter to initiate the traceroute.

8. How do I do a traceroute and ping?
To perform a traceroute and ping in Windows:
– Click the Start menu and select Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt.
– In the command line window, type “ping example.com” and press Enter.
– Once the ping test is complete, type “tracert example.com” and press Enter.

9. Will traceroute work if ping is blocked?
If ICMP is blocked, both traceroute and ping (which uses ICMP) will not work. Traceroute also uses UDP probe packets via the transport layer, so if ICMP and UDP are blocked, traceroute will not function properly.

10. Why do hackers use traceroute?
Hackers may use traceroute to map out the route through a network to their target destination. It allows them to identify systems and routers along the path, providing valuable information for constructing a topology of the network.

11. Does traceroute show your IP?
Traceroute does not typically reveal your IP address. It sends a probe packet through multiple devices, including routers and switches. The resulting log of traceroute usually includes information about each hop’s device name and IP address, but not the IP address of the originator.