What is a network hop?
A network hop is one step a data packet takes between network devices on its way to a destination. It is usually a router: each router that forwards the packet counts as one hop.
NETWORK DIAGNOSTICS
Traceroute a host or IP address.
Trace the network hops between the PacketPint server and a public destination to identify where a route changes or stalls.
Traceroute output
What this traceroute shows
Traceroute maps the network hops from PacketPint to a public hostname or IPv4 address. Each hop is a router or network point that replies along the route.
Use it when a destination is unavailable or slow to help identify where the route changes, stops responding or starts taking longer.
Frequently asked questions
Technical context and standardsHow does traceroute find network hops?
Traceroute sends probes with increasing IP time-to-live values. When a router decrements a value to zero, it can return an ICMP Time Exceeded message that reveals a hop on the path.
Relevant standards: RFC 791 — Internet Protocol , RFC 1812 — Requirements for IP Version 4 Routers
Why might a traceroute show an asterisk?
An asterisk means that a probe did not receive a reply within the selected timeout. A router may filter or rate-limit replies while continuing to forward traffic normally.
Does traceroute show the route from my computer?
No. This tool traces the route from the PacketPint server. Internet paths can be asymmetric and may differ from the route taken by traffic from your own connection.
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