Difference between ping, traceroute/tracert and pathping

Ping and Traceroute/tracert are two TCP/IP connectivity troubleshooting tools available in almost all Operating Systems. Pathping is another TCP/IP connectivity troubleshooting tool available in Windows Operating Systems (mtr is an alternative in Linux). Please visit following links to learn more about ping, traceroute/tracert and pathping.

Please visit following links to learn how ping, traceroute/tracert and pathping works.

• How ping command works
• How traceroute/tracert command works
• How pathping command works

Ping command tool

Ping command is used to test the network connectivity between end points, that is between source and destination. If you are getting a proper success output from the ping command, the meaning is that the IPv4 datagram packet can reach up to destination IPv4 address. Ping command works using ICMP Echo request and ICMP Echo Reply messages.

Traceroute/tracert command tool

Traceroute/tracert command can be used to test the network connectivity between end points, that is between source and destination. The difference between Ping and Traceroute/tracert is that, Traceroute/tracert can trace the path followed by and IPv4 datagram from source to destination. Remember in modern networks we have many paths to reach the destination from source. Traceroute/tracert command works using TTL value at IPv4 header, ICMP Echo request and ICMP Echo Reply messages and ICMP Time exceeded message.

Pathping command tool

Pathping command can be used to test the network connectivity between end points, that is between source and destination. Pathping command can also trace the path followed by and IPv4 datagram from source to destination. But pathping command can also find the packet loss and network latency between source and destination and also between network links.