Which command helps diagnose packet loss between two network devices? Learn how tracert (traceroute) identifies where packets are lost along a network path—essential for Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Networking 100-150 exam success.
Table of Contents
Question
A technician needs to diagnose packet loss between two network devices. Which command should be used?
A. ping
B. nslookup
C. tracert
D. route print
E. ipconfig
Answer
C. tracert
Explanation
Tracert (or traceroute) identifies where packets are being lost along a network path.
The best command to diagnose packet loss between two network devices is tracert (or traceroute on non-Windows systems).
Tracert traces the path packets take from the source to the destination, listing each router (hop) along the way. It sends ICMP echo packets with incrementally increasing Time-To-Live (TTL) values, causing each router to return a “time exceeded” message, which is recorded and displayed in the output.
By analyzing the response times and identifying where packets stop returning responses or where significant delays or losses begin, tracert helps pinpoint the exact hop or segment where packet loss or network issues are occurring.
If you see timeouts or asterisks (*) at a particular hop, it may indicate packet loss or that a router is configured not to respond to tracert requests. Consistent loss at a specific hop, especially if it continues for all subsequent hops, strongly suggests a problem at or beyond that point.
Tracert is especially useful for diagnosing issues in complex networks with multiple routers or paths, as it visually maps the route and highlights problematic segments.
Tracert identifies where packets are being lost along a network path, making it the preferred tool for diagnosing packet loss between two devices.
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