Аналог tracert в windows

Being able to measure the time between hops of your network is really important, especially if you are responsible for ensuring uptime and network performance as part of your daily system admin roles.

Here is our list of the best TraceRoute alternatives:

1. Site24x7 – EDITOR’S CHOICE This cloud-hosted platform of system monitoring and management tools provides three alternatives to Traceroute and one of them is free forever. Try all of the TraceRoute options without paying by getting the 30-day free trial.
2. Path Analyzer Pro This straightforward tool offers a graph of the route that shows the response time to each router. Runs on Windows and macOS.
3. VisualRoute Lite by VisualWare Free for non-business use, this graphical tool shows the route with the IP address of each router in the path plus its response times. Runs on Windows and macOS.
4. PingPlotter This popular connectivity tester has three versions for individuals that test networks and run on Windows. There is also a cloud-based version for businesses that can test the route over a network or across the internet.
5. SolarWinds TraceRoute NG This free tool can be set to run continuously across the network or to a remote location and it will spot when the standard path changes. Runs on Windows Server.
6. CountryTraceRoute Nirsoft offers a list of free tools and this is one of them. The system is just the output of the command line traceroute shown in a graphical user interface. Runs on Windows.
7. NetScanTools Basic This free utility contains a bundle of useful network testing tools, including Ping and TraceRoute. Runs on Windows.
8. HyperTrace by AnalogX This free GUI system presents a straightforward traceroute across the internet and enables results to be stored in a file. Runs on Windows.

Tracert is a command line tool that lets you measure the path that your packets are taking over the network, and can tell you how long each hop takes.

If you experience a network outage, Tracert can help you to determine how far the data packet is traveling, and at which IP address, or hop, it is failing at.

Some of these include the same commands and more on top of the basic list of them, along with some cool mapping features and more!

With these selection criteria in mind, we looked for a range of systems from highly complex network and cloud monitoring systems to simple visual equivalents of a quick TraceRoute run.

1. Site24x7 – FREE TRIAL

Картинка с сайта: www.ittsystems.com

Site24x7 is a cloud-based platform of system monitoring and management tools. The brand provides three different Traceroute functions and one of them can be accessed directly for free. That free system is the Traceroute to your domain facility. You don’t need to sign up or log in to use the tool but it shows the results of a path trace in the site and anyone else can access the trace. The system lets you run a test from one of a long list of locations around the world.

Why do we recommend it?

Site24x7 is a large package of tools and it includes methods to troubleshoot your digital assets as well as automated monitoring and management systems. The Traceroute functions are comprehensive and provide great graphics that ease the task of understanding how connections are made across your network and across the internet.

The paid section of the Site24x7 system offers two Traceroute utilities. The first of these is based on a well-known package called My Traceroute, or MTR. A screenshot from this utility is shown at the top of this Site24x7 review. That unit shows a great map with illustrations of the actual path and the best path encountered recently.

The third Traceroute option in Site24x7 is part of the Website Monitoring part of the platform. This tool can be accessed through the Real User Monitoring functions of the package and it will generate a path on demand. A support technician could use this in response to a complaint by a site visitor about slow responses or a failed connection. The layout of the results illustration is almost identical to that used by the MTR-based option.

Who is it recommended for?

The entire package isn’t just about troubleshooting; most of the package provides automated monitoring tools. The Site24x7 plans are suitable for any size or type of organization. The automated processes save time for network administration technicians and that also saves money. The base packages are sized and priced for small businesses but the service is easily expandable and larger businesses pay extra for capacity expansion packs.

While the domain Traceroute test is free, the rest of the utilities on the Site24x7 platform are part of the services offered in the paid plans. You can get a 30-day free trial of the entire platform.

2. Path Analyzer Pro

Картинка с сайта: www.ittsystems.com

Next, we have Path Analyzer Pro. This is an advanced network tool that can obviously run traceroute, but has additional functionality with its performance testing, DNS queries, whois, and network resolution.

Why do we recommend it?

Helps to investigate network issues with its advanced network route-tracing capabilities. It also offers performance tests, DNS, whois, and network resolution.

This all helps to investigate network issues and connectivity problems on the network. All of these features are rolled up into a single powerful application that makes it far easier for system admins to use.

It runs on both Windows and Mac OS, so you can map out the current state of your network, regardless of what type of environment you are trying to troubleshoot from. Other great features are things like performance improvements over traditional tracerout, with over 20 times the speed.

It has built-in report generation and a very easy-to-use interface. The charting option brings a visual component that helps with fault finding, which is great as well.

Who is it recommended for?

A good choice for network administrators who want to optimize their work environments and speed up data transfers.

Anyone wishing to try out Path Analyzer Pro can download the trial from here. Pricing starts at $29.95 for the personal version and goes up to $89.95 for the business version.

3. VisualRoute Lite

Картинка с сайта: www.ittsystems.com

VisualRoute Lite is a free program for home users, and is intended primarily as an internet connection diagnostic. This is because it uses hops between routers on your internet connection’s path to the internet. If a particular piece of equipment, or path is giving issues, then users are able to track the new path, or point of failure via the software.

Why do we recommend it?

It provides a detailed connectivity analysis, including continuous testing, application port testing, and more. It also generates real-time and historical reports.

Even if your connection is working, but slow you can get valuable latency information from the user interface. There is both a Windows version, as well as a Mac OS version available for users, so you can use it on the device that suits you best. Other valuable info includes a route information analysis, packet loss data, DNS lookup information and response times, a visual graph, and information about alternate routes. Overall, this is a very basic application, but because it is aimed at home users it doesn’t need to have many other features other than the ones we have looked at here.

Who is it recommended for?

This tool works well for anyone who wants to analyze connectivity issues between a client and a server to better understand network issues.

VisualRoute Lite is free for home use.

4. PingPlotter

Картинка с сайта: www.ittsystems.com

PingPlotter is another good application for network troubleshooting and route mapping for your network traffic. It helps you to detect and inspect the route and issues relating to speed with alerts and conditions, which is quite useful for Network monitoring purposes.

Why do we recommend it?

PingPlotter identifies the source of connection problems, and more importantly, helps to prove it to the concerned stakeholders. It can come in handy for network troubleshooting as well.

You can set up conditions that start logging as soon as routing issues become apparent so that you can record any deviations from normal operating procedures over your network. There are visual tools such as graphs as well, which help with visualization and understanding problems much easier.

There is a standard and pro version of this application, with the standard features focusing more on small businesses and home users, while the pro version is more geared towards larger organizations with enterprise requirements.

Who is it recommended for?

It works well for any individual who wants to identify the cause of a network problem.

The pricing is set at $39.99 for the Standard edition and $199.95 for the Professional edition.

5. SolarWinds TraceRouteNG

Картинка с сайта: www.ittsystems.com

SolarWinds Tracert NG is a great free tool for your network that can help you with performance measuring and path changes on your network. It allows for continuous probing when troubleshooting connectivity issues, so you can monitor changes to any fault while you continue investigating a fault.

Why do we recommend it?

This tool is adept at finding network paths and measuring their performance. In the process, it can quickly identify response-time issues.

Traceroute NG is especially useful in the network path analysis segment of your network because it can easily monitor both TCP and ICMP. It stores log files in the form of TXT logfiles and can support IPV4 and IPV6, ensuring that your diagnostics are future-proof.

Overall, SolarWinds Traceroute NG is a basic tool that offers great functionality in a simple package. It does exactly what it says, and provides valuable diagnostic information in times of network issues, giving you a better understanding of where your network might have failed.

Who is it recommended for?

Ideal for network administrators who want to understand network issues like delays, dropped packets, router problems, and more.

SolarWinds Tracert NG is 100% FREE. If you think that it might be useful in your network setup, why not try downloading it here?

6. CountryTraceRoute by Nirsoft.com

Картинка с сайта: www.ittsystems.com

CountryTraceRoute is another traceroute utility that uses a graphical user interface instead of the old-style, command line interface that many system admins are familiar with. It uses a window that shows valuable information such as the IP address of each hop, the host name, country that the IP address resides in, the time of each hop, and the total hops to the destination.

Why do we recommend it?

This tool is much faster than Tracert and also comes with a GUI. Plus, it also displays the country of the owner of every IP address.

The only thing that this app is lacking is a map overlay, but that may or may not matter to you. Perhaps the best feature of this application is the fact that it runs much faster than traditional traceroute applications, which is a big plus if you are troubleshooting in a hurry.

The next great thing about this application is the fact that it is completely free to use. This means no trials, no sign-ups, and no credit card details required.

Who is it recommended for?

CountryTraceRoute is a good choice for any individual who wants to do traceroute operations to know the route and the transit delay of packets.

CountryTraceRoute is FREE.

7. NetScanTools Basic

Картинка с сайта: www.ittsystems.com

NetScanTools Basic is a freeware tool that runs in Windows and has compatibility with Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Server 2016, Server 2012, Server 2008, and Server 2003.

Why do we recommend it?

A suite of tools that include Ping, traceroute, whois, ping scan, DNS tools, and more. This makes it a one-stop tool for your basic network diagnostics.

It comes with additional tools as well as the traceroute application, and it allows users to perform Ping, Ping Scan, Graphical Ping, Traceroute, and Whois operations. This is handy as it all resides in a single application, and commands are easy to execute from within the application.

Again, as with many of the freeware applications, some people might not find exactly what they are looking for with this application as it lacks some of the basic functionality such as a global map. Although it does have some graphical output in the form of graphs and visual hops, it doesn’t seem to have much in the way of report generation and export. This means that this application might be more suitable for a home user than for a professional environment.

Who is it recommended for?

Ideal for network engineers or for anyone who wants to test their network connection.

NetScanTools Basic is a freeware tool.

8. HyperTrace by AnalogX

Картинка с сайта: www.ittsystems.com

If you have ever been stuck with connectivity options but wanted to know where the break in connectivity resides, then HyperTrace can help. It performs basic Traceroute operations via an easy-to-use graphical interface.

Why do we recommend it?

Displays the route taken by packets as they move from one machine to another on the Internet. Its GUI is highly helpful to trace the packets.

It allows you to visually inspect the route that your data packets are taking over the internet and provides valuable insight into the current state of your internet connection. It is compatible with all versions of Microsoft Windows, and best of all, it is free to use.

This is very basic as far as Traceroute tools go, but that may or may not be a good thing, depending on the requirements that you may have for using traceroute and similar network utilities within your environment.

You can safely open this application without having to worry about it draining valuable system resources, as it has a very minimalistic memory footprint, due to the simplistic interface and light resource requirements.

Who is it recommended for?

A good choice for network engineers as it is fast and efficient in identifying the traceroute.

Conclusion

Traceroute is an invaluable diagnostic tool to have in your bag of tricks, especially if you are a network technician or system administrator.

Being able to quickly visualize where the break in connectivity resides on your network, or over the internet, is greatly important.

Finding the right application for your environment is important, especially if you have specific requirements, such as reporting, mapping, and visually showing your managers exactly what is happening on your network at any given time.

TraceRoute Alternatives FAQs

Traceroute is a very useful tool that is available on any connected device. The utility is based on the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP), so it employs fundamental error reporting mechanisms to work out the most likely path a connection will take to get to a stated destination.

Each router makes its own decision on which neighbor it should forward packets to. The router references its routing table to work out where a packet should go next. Those routing tables are updated constantly, so a traceroute issued after a connection has been made from the same computer might not necessarily take the same route. However, the likelihood that a route has changed in a few minutes is not that great, so Traceroute can give you a good idea of which routers the packets of your last connection passed through.

>>>Jump to the list of traceroute tools<<<

Traceroute format

The basic command line Traceroute is pretty much the same whichever operating system you use it on. One of the few variations is the name of the command. On Unix, Linux, and Mac OS, the command is traceroute, but on Windows, it is tracert. Another difference between these operating system implementations lies in the parameters that are available to the command.

Traceroute on Windows

On Windows, you need to open a Command Prompt window in order to use the command line tracert utility. On Windows 10, type cmd into the search box next to the Start button and select the top entry in the results list.

Here is the schema for the tracert command:

tracert [-d] [-h maximum_hops] [-j host-list] [-w timeout]
        [-R] [-S srcaddr] [-4] [-6] target_name

Here is what those parameters mean:

So, just using the basic command, you only need to enter a destination address. You don’t need to look up the IP address of the destination because tracert will resolve a domain name if you type that in. If you just enter the command without any destination, tracert will give you the guide on the usage of the command.

Traceroute on Linux

On Linux, you really do use traceroute because the command to launch it is the same as the utility’s name. There are a lot more options with the Linux version than with the Windows tracert. To get a list of options for the command, use traceroute –help. Here are the parameters for the command:

traceroute [-46dFITUnreAV] [-f first_ttl] [-g gate,...]
            [-i device] [-m max_ttl] [-p port] [-s src_addr]
            [-q nqueries] [-N squeries] [-t tos]
            [-l flow_label] [-w waittimes] [-z sendwait] [-UL] [-D]
            [-P proto] [--sport=port] [-M method] [-O mod_options]
            [--mtu] [--back]
            host [packet_len]

Here’s what those options mean:

Traceroute is also available on Unix. The parameters on that version are not the same as with the Linux implementation.

Traceroute on Mac OS

The Mac OS implementation of Traceroute is the simplest of all. Like the Unix and Linux versions, the command on Mac OS is traceroute. This version only has one parameter, which is the host address. This can be in the form of a hostname (domain) or an IP address, eg:

traceroute google.com

or

traceroute 172.217.16.174

The command is the same in Mac OS X and macOS.

Traceroute output

The results from a Traceroute run are presented differently depending on the operating system.

On Windows the output looks like this:

Unfortunately, the columns in the report don’t have headings. The first column is the hop number. This might not necessarily be to the next router. As you can see in the example, the first two entries are to the same router, which is the router of the network that the computer originating the command was connected to – that is, the default gateway.

The next three columns in the output are three attempts to contact that router and the time it took for a packet to be sent to that router and get an error message back (the round-trip time). The last column shows the hostname and the corresponding IP address or just an IP address.

You will notice on this output that the third entry didn’t work out. A failed report on one node on the path doesn’t stop the traceroute from continuing on to the next router in the path. This is because the failure, in this case, was a reporting problem and not an operational problem on the router, so the connection can still pass through the device even though Traceroute can’t provoke that router into replying.

The output format for Linux and Mac OS is slightly different to that shown here as the output of Windows. On these operating systems, Traceroute shows the hostname and IP address of the router before the roundtrip times of the three (by default) probes. The very first field in each record is the hop number, just like in the Windows output.

Traceroute tools

Many system tool developers have created interpretations of Traceroute with GUI interfaces for Windows, Mac OS, and the GNOME environments of Linux. Some great news about these is that many are free. In the next sections, you will learn about these.

Here is our list of the best Traceroute tools:

1. SolarWinds Traceroute with Engineer’s Toolset (FREE TRIAL)
2. Paessler Traceroute Hop Count Sensor with PRTG (FREE TRIAL)
3. SolarWinds Traceroute NG (FREE TOOL)
4. VisualRoute
5. Open Visual Traceroute
6. Ipswitch Free Visual Traceroute
7. Free Ping and Traceroute Tool

These tools are explained in greater detail below.

1. SolarWinds Traceroute with Engineer’s Toolset (FREE TRIAL)

The SolarWinds Traceroute is part of the Engineer’s Toolset. This pack of useful sysadmin utilities provides all of the software that you need to manage a network.

The Traceroute module has a GUI front-end and is available for Windows. The execution method employs TCP packets to test routers. The operating procedures for the tool are very straightforward. You just have to enter a destination IP address or hostname in the only input field in the screen and then the results appear in tabulated format in the display panel, which fills up the rest of the window.

The output includes a couple of extra fields that aren’t usually included with Traceroute. These are the make and status of each router that the test runs through. These fields are not always populated because many router owners block SNMP messaging from external sources – those pieces of information are provided by a Simple Network Management Protocol query. You would stand a better chance of getting data in these fields if you use the tool to check routes on your own private network.

The Engineer’s Toolset is available for a 14-day free trial.

SolarWinds Engineer’s Toolset
Download 14-day FREE Trial

2. Paessler Traceroute Hop Count Sensor with PRTG (FREE TRIAL)

Paessler PRTG is a very large and comprehensive infrastructure monitoring tool. It covers all aspects of your system and the company ships the whole bundle no matter which modules you actually want to use. The system is made up of a collection of “sensors” and the price you pay for a license depends on how many sensors you activate, so you can tailor the monitor to just cover one aspect of your network. Traceroute Hop Count Sensor is one of the available sensors.

The results page shows each link on a separate page. You get to see the roundtrip time averaged over many runs with the minimum and maximum time for a group of probes up to the present time. The link between hops is maintained through a common parent tag.

Tagging is registered in a hierarchical structure with inheritance built in, so if you set up tags to mark connections, all of the hops in the connection will inherit the connection’s tag. This helps you group, aggregate, and sort data once you get Traceroute data into the data viewer. PRTG also includes a Ping sensor and packet capture sensors, and all of the different sensors will interact, so you can relate conditions discovered by one sensor with data collected by another.

The dashboard of PRTG is customizable and you can also set up custom alerts. That allows you to get notifications sent to you by email or SMS if the Traceroute sensor spots a slow connection. You can also set up triggers, so that would enable you to start sampling data flows if a delay is detected on a link.

The customizable dashboard enables you to create accounts with different views and controls for different team members. This will enable you to delegate tasks safely.

A great thing about Paessler PRTG is that you don’t have to pay for it if you only activate up to 100 sensors. So, if you just want to use its Traceroute, you can use it free of charge. You can also get a 30-day free trial of the full system. There is also a hosted version available. The on-site version installs on Windows Server.

Paessler Traceroute Hop Count Sensor with PRTG
Download 30-day FREE Trial

3. SolarWinds Traceroute-NG (FREE TOOL)

SolarWinds Traceroute NG is a free standalone tool for Windows. However, it is run from the command line, much like the original Traceroute. A big difference between this implementation of Traceroute and the standard Windows tracert is that this utility operates in its own command line environment. This is a text-based utility and it doesn’t respond to the mouse.

Once the program has traced a route, it lists all of the routers in a table, which is neatly separated into delimited columns. The utility then continues to check response times for each router until you exit out of the display. The tool will alert you when rerouting causes the path to change.

You can choose between an ICMP trace or a TCP trace. Using a TCP connection gives you response times that better reflect real-world connections because you are unlikely to connect over the internet without using security, which requires TCP. Some nice extras in the results include packet loss, which you would normally need to run Ping to get. Records can be written to log files.

This tool would be suitable for checking private networks and also internet connections. SolarWinds have made Traceroute NG available as a free tool.

SolarWinds Traceroute NG
Download 100% FREE Tool

4. VisualRoute

VisualRoute has a very nice interface that displays several different panels of graphical data on routes all at the same time. These graphs enable instant condition recognition, so you won’t have to wade through difficult-to-read data records in order to spot a problem.

This tool installs on Windows 7 and 8 and also on Mac OS. There are several editions of the package, which include VisualRoute LITE. That version is free to use for personal usage, but businesses have to pay for it. With the regular plans, you have to buy a license that covers a number of users and you can also opt to add in a one-year maintenance contract. Traceroute lies at the heart of the VisualRoute data collection procedures. It also integrates Ping. The dashboard enables you to see the performance of a connection and then drill-down to details on individual links. The dashboard is also available as an Internet Explorer or Firefox add-on.

The combination of Traceroute, Ping, and DNS lookups gives you a complete picture of the statuses of your connections. You can store data for analysis and also adjust the settings of each data representation to get larger views of each graph.

A reverse trace feature, which requires the installation of agents on destination servers will show your connections from the remote server’s perspective. Information gathered by the tool shows packet loss and return trip times both end-to-end and link-by-link for any nominated connection. Traceroute can be set to run constantly to your most important connection destinations; that will give you live updates on the states of all the routers in the paths that you need to keep working efficiently.

VisualRoute has a lot of nice features to explore and you can get it on a 15-day free trial.

5. Open Visual Traceroute

Open Visual Traceroute is another little-known free Traceroute implementation that you should try out. This tool has a GUI front-end and it installs on Windows 7, 8, and 10, Mac OS, and Ubuntu and OpenSUSE Linux.

The front-end features some great route representations that are overlaid on real-world maps. This gives a very sophisticated display, which would look great in presentations to the boardroom or clients. While the 3D maps look really good, they can use up a lot of processing power, so the Open Visual Traceroute package also includes a series of 2D map views for lighter processing. The software is open source, so you can read through the code to check its security features and even adjust the code to suit your implementation.

The traceroute data is listed in one panel of the dashboard, while another panel shows how each link contributes to the total round trip time of the connection.

Other tools in this package include a packet sniffer and a Whois function that will give you ownership details for the hosts that you encounter during your Traceroute sessions.

This is a great tool that is well worth investigating and one of the few network utilities around that can run on Macs.

6. Ipswitch Free Visual Traceroute

Ipswitch produces a network monitoring tool, called WhatsUp Gold. You don’t need to have that system installed in order to use the Free Visual Traceroute, because it is a standalone system.

This utility runs Traceroute queries on demand through a graphical interface. You can choose to run the Traceroute probe with ICMP, UDP, or TCP. Other query features allow you to specify the source and destination ports for the probe and you can also set the probe packet length and the response timeout tolerance.

The dashboard displays Traceroute results as a table and also as a graph. That graph shows the round-trip time of each router in the path, so you can quickly identify which node is causing delays. As well as running on demand, you can set the Free Visual Traceroute probe to run constantly, providing updated live data.

This is an attractive and efficient network monitoring tool that installs on Windows.

7. Free Ping and Traceroute Tool

ManageEngine is another major producer of infrastructure management. Its Free Ping and Traceroute Tool combines the facilities of these two well-known network administration commands to bring you insights into your network and connections across the internet. This free tool can be installed on Windows or on Linux.

The base display in the GUI dashboard shows the Traceroute output in a table. For each hop, you will see probes that timed out and the round-trip time. You will also get reports on the end-to-end transmission speed of the link.

You can drill down on reach router record and launch a Ping session for it, monitoring the performance of that device in greater detail. This lightweight free tool gives you a fast and useful service for troubleshooting the quality of your connections.

Using Traceroute

Give the command line version of Traceroute a try in order to familiarize yourself with the basic functions of this handy tool. Once you are comfortable with the utilities operating methods, you will be able to look for more sophisticated solutions, such as the GUI tools listed in this guide.

Tools that combine the Traceroute utility with other services, such as Ping and SNMP monitoring, are very useful and form basic network management tools.

Do you have a favorite Traceroute utility? Leave a message in the Comments section below to share your experiences with the community.

Traceroute is a popular network troubleshooting tool that will trace the route of a package as it moves from one computer to another. This is a useful tool that not only tests connectivity, but also the path through which data packets travel, and through it, the possible issues that could affect this path such as delays and losses.

This is an old tool that was released way back in 1987. It was first introduced in Unix systems and has since then been adapted to work well on other operating systems too such as Linux, OS X and Windows.

Though traceroute is a widely used tool, it is also highly limited in what it can do from a troubleshooting perspective. For example, this tool will show the path from source to destination, and not the path back. This obviously doesn’t give a complete picture, especially when there are problems in the return path.

Also, the results tend to be inaccurate when destinations are load-balanced on many servers. To overcome these limitations, many developers have come up with alternative for traceroute, so administrators like you can get more out of it.

Below is a list of some of the Best Traceroute alternatives available today online – including both free & paid download.

Let’s now take a detailed look into each of these alternatives to Traceroute.

1. Traceroute NG – FREE TOOL

Картинка с сайта: www.netadmintools.com

Traceroute NG comes from SolarWinds and it helps to perform an accurate analysis of the network path.

Key Features

The key features of Traceroute NG are:

• Identifies IP addresses and host names
• Gives detailed information about packet loss
• Detects changes in path and sends notifications
• Allows continuous probing
• Offers TCP and ICMP network path analysis
• Creates a log file in text format for reference
• Supports IPv4 and IPv6.
• Identifies latency issues during packet transmission

Why do we recommend it?

Traceroute NG, with its pedigree from SolarWinds, offers unparalleled precision in network path analysis. Not only does it generate comprehensive insights into packet loss and latency issues, but its capabilities for continuous probing, detailed logging, and instant notifications on path changes affirm its superior position in network analysis tools.

Who is it recommended for?

This tool is designed for network administrators and IT professionals who need an accurate and real-time overview of their network paths. Its notification system and logging make it invaluable for those wanting immediate updates and comprehensive records of their network’s performance.

2. Open Visual Traceroute

Картинка с сайта: www.netadmintools.com

Open Visual Traceroute is a cross-platform tool that also acts as a packet sniffer and Whois tool.

Key Features

The salient features of Open Visual Traceroute are:

• Displays data in a 3D or 2D map format.
• Shows the path that a packet takes to reach from source to destination.
• Analyzes packets to understand the contents that are sent from one computer to another. This feature is particularly useful for identifying security loopholes.
• Comes with a “whois” feature using which you get public information about a domain.
• Data can be exported to an image or text.
• Also, provides Gantt view

Why do we recommend it?

Open Visual Traceroute sets itself apart with its visually engaging 2D and 3D map displays, providing an intuitive understanding of network routes and hops. The combination of packet sniffing, Whois integration, and multi-platform support, alongside its capability for data export, positions it as a dynamic and essential tool for network analysis.

Who is it recommended for?

Open Visual Traceroute is tailored for IT professionals, network administrators, and security enthusiasts who appreciate a graphical representation of data and are keen on pinpointing security vulnerabilities. Its versatility in data visualization makes it suitable for both seasoned professionals and beginners.

Open source and free to use.

3. MTR (My Traceroute)

Картинка с сайта: www.netadmintools.com

MTR (My Traceroute) was originally developed by Matt Kimball in 1997 and this is why it was initially called Matt’s Traceroute. This tool was taken over byRoger Wolffe in 1998 and he changed the name to My Traceroute.

Key Features

The features of MTR are:

• Works well in UNIX and UNIX-like operating systems.
• Probes routers on the route path by limiting the number of hops a packet can make as it goes from source to destination. Keeps track of the response time of hops to identify problems.
• Probes continuously, about once every second.
• Works well in a text console and a GTK+ based graphical user interface.
• Relies primarily on ICMP, but also has a UDP mode.
• Provides information such as list of routers traversed by a packet, average round-trip time and packet loss.
• Helps to identify network overuse problems.
• Licensed under GPL

Why do we recommend it?

MTR has carved its niche as a stalwart in network diagnostics, especially for UNIX and UNIX-like systems. Its ability to probe routers continuously, combined with real-time monitoring of hop response times and comprehensive packet data, makes it indispensable. The dual functionality with both text console and GTK+ graphical interface ensures versatility in use.

Who is it recommended for?

MTR is a match for network administrators, IT professionals, and individuals using UNIX or UNIX-like operating systems who seek a reliable, in-depth tool for route path diagnostics. Its continuous probing feature is also beneficial for those requiring immediate identification of network overuse or bottlenecks.

This tool is 100% free

There is a slight variation to this tool called WinMTR. This tool is designed for Windows and follows the same working mechanism of MTR.

4. Monitis Online Visual Traceroute tool

Online Visual traceroute tool from Monitis is a simple online tool that allows you to trace the route of your packets and in the process, helps to identify network issues.

Key Features

The features of Monitis Online Visual Traceroute tool are:

• Simple and easy-to-use interface.
• Available online, so there is no download or installation. You can get the information you want within minutes.
• You can perform a traceroute test from around the world right from your browser.
• Diagnoses network connectivity problems.
• Identifies routers that experience high latency.
• Available on all devices, including mobile ones.
• Monitors users, websites, applications and more.
• Comes with API
• Supports standard web protocols
• Gives detailed reports based on preset and custom data ranges.

Why do we recommend it?

Monitis Online Visual Traceroute tool stands out due to its accessibility and simplicity. Being an online tool, it circumvents the hassle of downloads or installations, making it effortlessly convenient for users. Its ability to diagnose connectivity issues, identify high latency routers, and provide detailed reports straight from a browser on any device demonstrates its modern approach to network diagnostics.

Who is it recommended for?

This tool is ideal for IT professionals, website administrators, and individuals who prioritize flexibility and ease of access. Its online nature caters to those who require on-the-go diagnostics without being bound to specific installations. Additionally, its detailed reporting feature is perfect for those keen on in-depth network insights without a steep learning curve.

This tool is fFree to use.

5. Gsuite Tools Traceroute

Картинка с сайта: www.netadmintools.com

Gsuite.Tools traceroute is an online tool that measures the time taken for a packet to do a return trip from host to destination.

Key Features

You have the following features in Gusite.Tools.

• Sends 1 to 30 packets to the target, incrementing the time-to-live (TTL) for each ping.
• Measures the response time of each node within the path of an IP packet.
• Available online, so no need for downloads
• Gives the hostname associated with each hop, whenever possible.
• Has a color-coded schema to help you better understand the path
• Relies heavily on ICMP protocol

Why do we recommend it?

Gsuite Tools Traceroute offers a straightforward and intuitive way to evaluate network paths. Its color-coded schema, coupled with the feature that reveals the hostname associated with each hop, provides a user-friendly experience. The capability to send up to 30 packets incrementally and measure the response time of each node sets it apart, making network diagnostics more thorough and comprehensive.

Who is it recommended for?

This tool is tailored for those who are looking for quick, online solutions to trace packet routes without any installation hassles. Its user-friendly interface makes it apt for beginners and non-tech-savvy individuals. IT professionals and network administrators who require a clear visualization of packet paths will also benefit immensely from the color-coded schema.

Gsuite.Tools is free to use

Conclusion

In short, traceroute is one of the oldest and most widely used tools for monitoring network and for identifying problems in packet transmission. The original traceroute is more than 30 years old and is highly limited in the information it can provide.

This is why many developers and companies have come up with their own traceroute alternatives, so you can get more information from the traceroute utility.

The above discussed options are free. Some of it require a download while others can be accessed online. We hope you find it useful!

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We look at the best traceroute alternatives – and three online options – that can provide you with more network traffic insights than good old TRACERT or TRACEROUTE commands.

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System and network administrators know, and appreciate, the tracert (Windows OS) or traceroute (Linux/Mac OS) tool. They know that with this command, they can spot and identify issues with their networks or the devices that are connected to them.

But, apart from using the command-line interfaces (CLI) on your computer, we have a collection of alternative traceroute solutions that make it easier to use this tool.

Here is our list of the best traceroute alternatives:

1. SolarWinds Engineer’s Toolset EDITOR’S CHOICE This package of network administration tools includes a Traceroute facility as well as other troubleshooting utilities. The bundle installs on Windows Server.
2. Open Visual Traceroute Free alternative that presents the output in 3D maps for easier comprehension; it works on any operating system and is easy enough for even non-tech savvy users to operate.
3. PingPlotter Free network monitoring and route analysis tool; it comes in various editions that cater to all requirements from individual devices to corporate networks and even Cloud Computing.
4. Paessler PRTG Network Monitoring Suite of tools that give full control of a network to the administrator; the traceroute feature works in collaboration with the other tools which helps in getting a deeper insight into the current state of a network’s health.
5. Path Analyzer Pro Light, no-nonsense traceroute tool that delivers quickly and presents its findings in a clear comprehensible format; it comes with other network troubleshooting tools too.
6. NetScanTools This suite of tools packs a heavy punch when it comes to network traffic data analysis; it has tools that help administrators truly understand their network.

Three online traceroute alternatives

1. KeyCDN Although primarily a Content Delivery Network system provider, they have an impressive traceroute tool that bends over backward to make sure you get the information you need.
2. Uptrends Website monitoring solution provider; their traceroute tool also lets you choose from a selection of cities too.
3. GeoTraceroute Online traceroute tool that is fast and displays the whole route on a realistic globe.

Why use traceroute?

Administrators use the traceroute command to find out information about their networks and devices that include:

• Trace the Route and map out the network
• See the hops a packet has to make before it reaches its destination
• Find out if there is a “break” in the network or if a device is “dropping” packets
• Gauge the speed of each hop between devices to troubleshoot latency or jitter issues

Depending on the results or input they get from traceroute, the admins can now make the correct decisions and take actions to remedy the issues.

How does traceroute work?

When you run the traceroute command it sends out three UDP packets towards the destination host. As soon as it encounters a network device an echo is sent back to the origin host which indicates a “hop” has been encountered. The round-trip time (RTT) is registered which lets you know how long it took for the packets to reach each device.

This process is repeated all along the way, with each hop resulting in information about the device and how long it took to reach it until the destination host is reached.

By the time the destination host has been reached, the administrator will have built a clear picture of the path that packets traverse to reach it. The admin will also know if there is a connection problem (when the packets are dropped and no reply is sent back) or latency (when it takes too long for the “echo” to return to the origin host).

Why do I need a traceroute alternative?

Ok; we have just seen that traceroute is indeed a powerful tool in an administrator’s arsenal. But, running the command over and over will soon become a tedious undertaking – especially in a large, corporate networking environment. Why would anyone want to waste time typing in CLI commands when there are application suites and websites to do the whole thing, and more, with a click of a button or two?

Besides, it would look more professional if admins were to run these powerful suites of traceroute tools that can:

• Perform more efficiently than CLI commands
• Save time because they use threads instead of locking on to a single execution
• Deliver accurate information in real-time, round-the-clock
• Report their findings in clear, more understandable, and aesthetical formats

But, let’s not forget that there are online web applications or websites that also do a great traceroute job. We will see them after the six best traceroute alternatives.

The best Traceroute alternatives

1. SolarWinds Engineer’s Toolset

Картинка с сайта: www.comparitech.com

Apart from the traceroute tool, SolarWinds Engineer’s Toolset has several additional network troubleshooting features that further enhance the results – and usefulness – of each scan.

Key Features:

• Easy to operate
• Well-laid out results
• Identifies DNS server
• Shows hop response time
• Part of a package of 60 tools

Why do we recommend it?

The SolarWinds Engineer’s Toolset provides a large package of system monitoring, management, and troubleshooting tools. The Traceroute utility is one of the most important features of this package. The output of this tool is a straightforward table of the traditional Traceroute report. Results are not shown on a map.

The traceroute reports are detailed, informative, and very aesthetic. The domain names and response times are displayed for each hop and represented in tables that can be easily comprehended or analyzed on their RTT, DNS, last boot times, or locations.

Картинка с сайта: www.comparitech.com

But, and like we’ve said, apart from troubleshooting hops and latency issues, SolarWinds Engineer’s Toolset gives administrators even more detailed insights into their networks’ current situation with features like:

• Traffic Generator – this tool creates a packet flood to simulate a network overload to see how the architecture, and the devices on it, performs in a traffic-intensive scenario
• MAC Address Scanner – admins can account for every device that is on their network and use the information to see if any are online without authorization
• Open Port Scanner – they can also find out which ports are open on your network and close them before they are compromised
• Bandwidth Gauge – admins can trace if there are any bottlenecks or bandwidth drops before they cause network slowdowns
• Subnetting Tool – they can quickly configure and reconfigure your network by using this tool for an optimized network
• View and Edit Configurations – you don’t need to log in to a Cisco switch or router to configure it when you have Engineer’s Tools at your disposal
• Edit passwords – you can take it a step further and even decrypt Cisco router passwords when you have forgotten them or the admin has quit on you

These are only a few of the numerous features that you can expect from this superb network monitoring tool.

Who is it recommended for?

The Engineer’s Toolset is much bigger than just a Traceroute tool and it isn’t free. So, it isn’t appropriate for a small business’s network administrator. Rather, this is a package that will appeal to a mid-sized business. The software bundle for the Toolset runs on Windows Server.

Try a 14-day fully functional trial version.

2. Open Visual Traceroute

With Open Visual Traceroute, we get a free and open-source tool that displays network routes and hops in detailed maps and graphs that are easy enough for even a novice user to understand and work with.

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For one, it works on all popular operating system platforms – Windows, Linux, and Mac – which makes it the choice tool in mixed networking environments. Also, in case of resource scarcity or there is an inability to run 3D maps, Open Visual Traceroute can be run with less resource-intensive 2D maps.

Key Features:

• Real-world map
• Table of results
• Performance graph
• Network troubleshooting tools

Why do we recommend it?

Open Visual Traceroute presents a busy interface with a map, a table of results, and a graph. The system operates on paths to remote locations; it doesn’t provide network discovery or network mapping, so the visuals are not so impressive if you are testing your LAN.

It also offers more network troubleshooting features like a network packet sniffer for the identification of the data that is on a network and WhoIs to help query for information about domains.

Who is it recommended for?

This is a nice free tool that will be of interest to home users. However, its inability to depict network paths means that it won’t be a good choice for network administrators. Identifying the performance of paths across the network can be informative, but there isn’t much that an administrator can do to fix internet problems.

For tech experts who expect more from the traceroute tool, they can download the source code for further customization.

Otherwise, you can simply download your FREE versions of Open Visual Traceroute for Windows, macOS, and several versions of Linux.

3. PingPlotter

Картинка с сайта: www.comparitech.com

PingPlotter gives you the clearest window you could ask for when you need real-time insights into your network.

This traceroute tool is available for Windows, Linux, macOS, and iOS devices. PingPlotter collects end-to-end data and plots important diagnostic insights on detailed graphs. It works faster than any other solution out there, which helps in taking immediate action based on informed decisions.

Key Features:

• Real-world map
• Table of results
• Performance graph

Why do we recommend it?

PingPlotter is an impressive tool and its community forum that enables network administrators to provide advice to each other is a definite plus. However, the tool is limited to testing paths, Traceroute style, and it doesn’t provide constant monitoring. The Professional edition provides network discovery.

PingPlotter uses both Ping and traceroute; this means issues like latency, jitter, or packet loss are displayed for each hop in a route making it easy to immediately pinpoint connectivity problems. The tool can be configured to trigger automated actions.

Картинка с сайта: www.comparitech.com

Despite such functionalities, PingPlotter has a tiny footprint. This is because it uses a software-based agent which allows it to be up and running and start collecting evidence and performance metrics, in mere minutes.

It is easy to collaborate with colleagues who also use this tool; whole teams can monitor hundreds of devices at once. It even helps with troubleshooting and resolving issues that remote work-from-home users may be having.

There are three versions of PingPlotter: Standard Edition, Professional Edition, and Cloud Edition. PingPlotter Cloud lets admins share live test results via URLs, show live proof, and talk through any issues. It only tests the network connections without sifting through or snooping on, user data or network traffic making it safe and non-invasive.

Who is it recommended for?

PingPlotter is most useful for frequent tests to specific remote locations, such as between sites or out to the devices of remote workers. It isn’t the best choice for a network tester and its different versions don’t build on one another – the Professional edition includes network monitoring but the higher Cloud edition doesn’t.

Download a 14-day FREE trial version of PingPlotter Professional.

4. Paessler PRTG Network Monitoring Tool

Paessler is one of the bigger players in the network monitoring and management tools market. They have numerous impressive and powerful solutions that cover architectures from personal computers up to cloud servers. PRTG Network Monitor is one such remarkable tool.

Картинка с сайта: www.comparitech.com

It is a comprehensive tool for system monitoring that employs several techniques to map and monitor networks and their connected devices. It is this constant monitoring that automates the traceroute task for administrators who can also configure it to receive alerts in case there is an issue.

Key Features:

• Part of a wider monitoring package
• Free option
• Runs repeatedly

Why do we recommend it?

The Paessler PRTG network monitoring tool provides network discovery and mapping plus constant performance monitoring. The tool also includes traffic analytical tools that use NetFlow, IPFIX, and other traffic statistics protocols. You can run a Traceroute test with this tool and check on paths across the network or the internet.

In other words, they don’t need to “run” any command; they just add a sensor to start monitoring the network.

PRTG has various sensors that perform various tasks. The Traceroute Hop Count Sensor is responsible for tracing packets on the network to find out if there are any changes in configuration or if any devices are offline.

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Also, PRTG has the ability to monitor the performance of web services and applications. The tool also extends its visibility to remote sites. This means admins can control several sites from one dashboard.

The results from traceroute polls can be used in collaboration with other monitoring sensors’ data for better troubleshooting and issue resolution.

Who is it recommended for?

Paessler PRTG is a good option for all businesses. The package is charged for as an allowance of sensors, so you only pay for the monitoring systems that you activate. The system is permanently free if you only activate 100 sensors. Access this system as a SaaS platform or install it on Windows Server.

You can try the FREE Unlimited Version of Paessler PRTG Network Monitor for 30 days (following which the tool reverts to the free version).

5. Path Analyzer Pro

Administrators looking for a no-nonsense traceroute tool that works quickly and reports its findings in concise, yet informative, presentation formats will be delighted with Path Analyzer Pro.

This traceroute tool is compatible with both Windows and Mac operating systems and platforms.

Картинка с сайта: www.comparitech.com

Once it starts running traceroute, it displays the route taken and includes information like the IP addresses, hostnames, average latency, and standard deviation for each device in a hop. A graph plots the route out in a way that makes it clear where the delays occur. Users can zoom in and out for clearer views. Once they are satisfied with what they see, they can print or export the reports for offline analysis.

Key Features:

• Results table
• Live performance graph
• DNS resolution

Why do we recommend it?

Path Analyzer Pro provides the standard table of Traceroute results and also has a number of graphical representations of performance. You can see a graph of times to each node on a path or access a real-world map to identify a route to a remote location. This tool is better at tracing paths across the internet than on a network.

Of course, Path Analyzer Pro has other tools that can further help with network traffic analysis: path discovery, WhoIs, firewall detection, geo-location, and network testing. Users can even trace email addresses for forensic analysis.

Картинка с сайта: www.comparitech.com

This charming little traceroute tool is pleasant to work with, is easy to install and use, and delivers results quickly – it has too tiny a digital footprint to even be noticed.

Who is it recommended for?

Path Analyzer Pro is available for macOS and Windows. It is a useful tool for checking on internet connections. However, its business versions are a little pricey and you can get a full network monitoring service that includes Traceroute, such as PRTG for less money.

You can download and try Path Analyzer Pro for free.

6. NetScanTools

Although they say they created NetScanTools Pro “with Network Administrators, Network Engineers or Technicians or Training Instructors in mind,” users will realize that this tool is really powerful enough to be applied in the use of penetration testing or even Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) gathering on a network. In other words, hackers can use it to gain insight into your network.

Картинка с сайта: www.comparitech.com

But, getting back to the traceroute capabilities of this tool; it is included in all versions of this network analysis tool. The feature uses ICMP, TCP, or UDP protocols to trace the routes taken by packets and works with both TCP IPv4 and IPv6.

Key Features:

• Flexible troubleshooting tool
• IPv6 capabilities
• Free version available

Why do we recommend it?

NetScan Tools is available in two levels and the capabilities of each are very different. The Basic package is free and it gives you straightforward network and internet connection testing systems that include Ping and Traceroute. NetScan Tools Pro provides network discovery and port testing utilities.

It also gathers statistics about packet loss and timing and displays it all, in real-time, on easy-to-comprehend charts. Admins can combine this information with data from IP scans and sweeps to find out if there are any latency or jitter issues on the network.

Картинка с сайта: www.comparitech.com

But that’s not all; there are even more tools that help administrators take control of their network’s performance and security: WhoIs and DNS querying, email address verification, stress testing capabilities by generating and flooding packets, and much more.

Although this tool is only available for the Windows operating system, it really would be worth the investment to get a computer or even a virtual machine and use it.

Who is it recommended for?

The audiences for NetScan Tools Basic and NetScan Tools Pro are different. The free version is a handy tool to have for ad-hoc checks on network connections. The paid system is a lot more sophisticated and can be used for security testing of networks. Penetration testers and hackers would also use the Pro version.

Download the free NetScanTools Basic, or try NetScanTools Pro free for 30 days.

The best online traceroute alternatives

It is a matter of convenience when it comes to using online traceroute tools: you simply enter an IP address or domain name and wait for the results to be plotted in charts or maps.

But, also remember: the disadvantage of relying on online traceroute tools is that you have no control over them – it is here today and could be gone tomorrow.

So, let’s now have a look at the online versions of the traceroute tool. Some of the best websites out there are:

1. keyCDN

This content delivery network (CDN) service provider has a dedicated page for their Traceroute Test Tool.

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Users can simply enter the URL of a website or an IP address to start the traceroute process. What makes this traceroute tool stand out from the others is that the report you get shows the results of tests performed from various locations around the world including Amsterdam, Sydney, Singapore, and Bangalore, to name a few.

Key Features:

• Online service
• Remote test launch locations
• Tabulated results

This way, admins can see the user experience (UX) their clients would have if they were to connect to them from any part of the world.

2. Uptrends

This traceroute tool comes to us from Uptrends, a website monitoring service provider that knows the value of keeping hop times low. Just like any similar tool, this tool gives details of packet hops and the times of each of their three RTTs.

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Key Features:

• Website availability checker
• Choice of launch location
• Online system

But, that’s not all; here too administrators can choose the countries they want the tests to be run from with option cities including far-fetched cities like Auckland, Guadalajara, Harlem, and Honolulu.

3. GeoTraceroute

Anyone who lands on this little website will immediately feel like a kid in a toy store. It is a charming website that makes you want to start route-testing immediately.

Картинка с сайта: www.comparitech.com

Key Features:

• Globe display
• Choice of test launch locaitons
• Attractive display

GeoTraceroute is a tool for that one quick time you need to make sure your host device is available for users in countries like Austria, Belgium, Germany, or New Zealand. It is fun looking at the places the packets go through on the interactive globe, but what is really fun is the statistics telling you exactly how far the two servers are in real life via “Path/real distance.”

Traceroute FAQs