How to Use the Tracert Command in Windows

Tracert or Trace Route is a network diagnostic tool for displaying the path of packet and IP address information takes from your computer to specified destination. Tracert is DOS command that equivalent with traceroute command if in linux operating system. It will list all the routers it passes through until it reached the one you specified. If fails of discarded, you will know which path give you problem. This will help you to troubleshoot TCP/IP problems in Windows. This post applies to a different version of Windows server and windows workstation that you are using. It will tell you how long each ‘hop’ from router to router takes. Follow this steps to start using tracert command in windows :

1. In Windows, select Start > Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt.
2. Type tracert command and specify the destination.

tracert destination

Example :

C:\>tracert www.google.com

Tracing route to www.google.com [58.27.108.187]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

  1     4 ms    10 ms     6 ms  192.168.2.1
  2    25 ms    20 ms    19 ms  219.93.218.177
  3     *        *        *     Request timed out.
  4     *        *        *     Request timed out.
  5     *        *        *     Request timed out.
  6     *        *        *     Request timed out.
  7     *        *        *     Request timed out.
  8     *        *        *     Request timed out.
  9     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 10     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 11     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 12     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 13     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 14     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 15     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 16     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 17     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 18     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 19     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 20     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 21     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 22     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 23     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 24     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 25     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 26     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 27     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 28     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 29     *        *        *     Request timed out.
 30     *        *        *     Request timed out.

Trace complete.

1 is the internet gateway on the network this traceroute was done (ADSL modem local IP)
2 is the ISP the origin computer is connected to.

My PPPoE modem WAN IP details :

This result shows there is an issue on my ISP gateway, then i should make a complaint to them, no wonder my internet line is not stable all this while.