Ping vs Traceroute

Data is transmitted in discrete units called packets through computer networks. Each packet is transmitted separately and could take a different path to get there. The original message is recreated once every one of these packets has arrived at its destination. However, it is possible that the message won't reach its target occasionally if the website is down, there is network congestion, or there is some other technical issue. Ping and Traceroute, two widely used applications, are used to diagnose such traffic jams and network problems.

Ping

It is a tool that assists in determining whether a specific IP address is reachable or not. Sending a packet to the designated address and then waiting for a response is how Ping operates. Furthermore, it computes the round-trip time and reports inaccuracies.

Ping can also be used to see if any of the devices connected to a local network are running. To check if the address is active, execute ping 127.0.0.1 at the command prompt. If it is, the ping will return a message similar to this:

C:\WINDOWS\system32>ping 121.0.0.1

Pinging 121.0.0.1 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 121.0.0.1: bytes=32 time=286ms TTL=52
Reply from 121.0.0.1: bytes=32 time=279ms TTL=52
Reply from 121.0.0.1: bytes=32 time=278ms TTL=52
Reply from 121.0.0.1: bytes=32 time=266ms TTL=52

Ping statistics for 121.0.0.1:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 266ms, Maximum = 286ms, Average = 277ms

Even if the sender is not online, the local host with the IP address 127.0.0.1 would still receive a ping response.

Traceroute

It is a tool that tracks a packet from your computer to the host and displays the number of steps (hops) that were necessary to get there, along with the duration of each step.

In order for Traceroute to function, data packets must have a short survival time (Time to Live, or TTL), which indicates how many steps (hops) the packet can survive before being returned. A node returns the packet and gives its own identity when a packet can't make it to its intended destination and expires in the middle of the process.

Traceroute may therefore recognize the intermediate hosts by gradually increasing the TTL. Network congestion is the cause of slow-loading Web sites and failed connections and is indicated if any of the hops return with the message "Request timed out."

Difference between Ping and Traceroute:

The primary distinction between Ping and Traceroute is that Ping is a quick and simple tool that determines whether or not a particular server is reachable and how long it will take to send and receive data from the server. In contrast, traceroute determines the exact route travelled to reach the server and the time required by each step (hop).

S. no.	Ping	Traceroute
1.	Michael Muss created the utility Ping for the first time in 1983.	It enables us to identify the locations where the data could not be transmitted.
2.	All platforms have access to the command-line utility known as ping.	On the other hand, traceroute has platform-dependent differences.
3.	The ping with <ip address> syntax can make use of it.	The traceroute <ip address> syntax can take advantage of it.
4.	A network data packet's ability to reach an address without faults is checked using ping.	Data on the internet can be tracked from its point of origin to its final destination with the help of the traceroute.
5.	Based on the server's network address's answer, Ping determines how long echo reply requests will take.	Traceroute keeps track of the number of hops and the duration of each hop required for packets to reach the host. Additionally, it determines the precise route that packets take.
6.	Ping uses ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) echo packets to calculate packet loss and the time it takes to reach its target. Echo request type 8 and echo reply type 0 are used by distant hosts to assess connectivity.	Contrarily, depending on the platform, traceroute uses both ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) and UDP (User Datagram Protocol) data packets to calculate packet loss and return time.
7.	Ping can't figure out how to get there or what way to take.	The most efficient path to the destination is found by Traceroute using TTL (Time-To-Live).
8.	A ping packet has its TTL (Time-To-Live) value and cannot be changed.	Whereas an incremental TLL is broadcasted by traceroute until the maximum TLL or destination is reached.
9.	Ping is used in video games to estimate latency.	To troubleshoot hop delays during video conferences, a traceroute is utilized.
10.	It is employed to determine whether a network data packet may successfully reach a given address or not.	An online data flow map from source to destination is made possible with the aid of the traceroute.

Conclusion:

In computer network management, a ping (also known as packet internet or inter-network groper) is a straightforward Internet tool that enables a user to test and confirm whether a certain target IP address exists and can accept requests.
In order to determine whether the host system a user is seeking to connect to is active, Ping is also employed for diagnostic purposes.
An ICMP Echo Request is sent to a pre-specified network interface by Ping, which then waits for a response.
Using the tool Traceroute, you can see how many steps (hops) it took a packet to go from your computer to the host, as well as the amount of time needed for each step.
Data packets with a brief life duration (Time to Live, or TTL) are transmitted by Traceroute; this parameter determines how many steps (hops) the packet can endure before being returned.
While a traceroute is a platform-specific function, the ping is a command-line tool that is accessible on all systems.

Next TopicSoftware Defined Networking (SDN): Benefits and Challenges of Network Virtualization

← prev next →