As the network of systems becomes more complex and interconnected, simple tools are needed to verify or check the quality of these connections, which can also be extrapolated to VPS servers. Furthermore, it is essential to detect errors as quickly as possible to maintain the interconnection of systems, both in home networks and in VPS. In this aspect, tracert or traceroute comes into play.
Tracert or traceroute is a tool that allows diagnosing connection failures in home or VPS networks. For example, if you have difficulty accessing a website, it can help diagnose whether the problem lies with you, the website, or an intermediate point in the connection, which is important for analyzing the performance of your VPS IP.
What is Tracert or Traceroute?
Tracert is a Windows application, while traceroute is the name of the same function for GNU/Linux, UNIX, and Mac operating systems. Therefore, it is known as tracert or traceroute. This application runs directly in the command consoles of operating systems. It is used in the console with the command called tracert.
Its function is to review the route that an incoming data packet takes from a host or network point to the user's device. This function examines each node or router traversed and the response time of each one. In this way, it performs a diagnosis of the network's functionality, obtaining statistics on RTT or network latency.
Additionally, it provides the IP addresses of the nodes traversed. This creates a map of the connections to detect failure points. Thus, it is widely used in local networks with many connected devices.
Moreover, it is worth noting that this tool can be applied to the analysis of the VPS IP. This is particularly useful when dealing with an unmanaged VPS service that requires personal management. However, it is essential that the VPS user verifies that the security policy of the VPS provider allows the use of this command.
How Does Tracert or Traceroute Work?
This command works by sending ICMP packets, which are a protocol for Internet Control Message Protocol. This protocol is used to send operational information messages or error messages in data transmission between the device and the Internet, considering the nodes through which this data passes.
The tracert command uses the Time to Live (TTL) field to determine how many nodes a data packet traverses. The integer value TTL is part of the IP header and decreases as each node is traversed until it reaches a value of 0. Thus, this TTL acts as a hop counter, that is, for each router or node that the packet traverses.
A message with a TTL value that expires at each node is sent, so that each of these nodes returns a message informing about its IP, its connection time, latency, and whether an error is recorded. This allows detecting where the connection problem occurs.
However, it is essential to highlight that for the tracert or traceroute command to be used, we need to have a command line or prompt open. This works differently depending on the operating system.
Due to the information obtained from the nodes, it is possible to evaluate their stability, errors, and latency. This way, not only are errors in the network diagnosed, but also other issues such as latency, that is, how well it is functioning.
How to Interpret Tracert or Traceroute Messages?
After executing the command, the result appears on the first line. It will show the IP of your address and the number of hops or nodes traversed by the information.
The first column will show the number of hops. The tracert or traceroute counts the number of hops and the time it takes to reach its destination.
The second, third, and fourth columns indicate the times, in milliseconds, for the return of each packet sent by the tracert or traceroute. If any of them shows an asterisk, this indicates the presence of a firewall blocking the procedure.
Finally, the fifth column indicates the IP addresses and names of the devices, for example, computer.server.domain.com.
Another alternative when executing the tracert or traceroute command is to receive the message "Request timed out," which would indicate the presence of a blockage in the analysis due to a firewall.
Limitations of Tracert or Traceroute
Despite the great utility of tracert or traceroute, we can identify some limitations in its use. One of the main limitations is the presence of firewalls in the path of the packets, which will block the route check. Therefore, at times, a response may only be obtained up to a certain node.
When this happens, the response from the node will only be an asterisk. The solution to a firewall blockage is to change ports to continue route checks or try a different transport protocol.
Also, some firewalls will block all incoming and outgoing traffic, so the network diagnosis via tracert or traceroute may not be performed properly.
Furthermore, as previously mentioned, the existence of specific security policies on VPS servers may block the use of the tracert command, especially in unmanaged VPS. Similarly, it is essential to consider the firewall configuration on the VPS server before executing tracert or traceroute on unmanaged VPS.
Alternatives to Tracert or Traceroute
Due to the limitations presented by this function, there are programs that perform the same operation. One of them is Visual Route in Java, which is used to obtain graphical information about the route that data packets take. It uses the information generated by the tracert command in conjunction with the data obtained from the RIPE database for each of these nodes.
Additionally, we can find traceroute servers on the Internet. They are called Looking Glass servers and operate in ISPs with networks that allow these operations to be performed.
Moreover, there are servers that enable the visualization of the traceroute result from the host to any other point, allowing the generation of maps of the data packets' journey.
As we can see, the utilities of tracert or traceroute are varied. This tool not only allows for troubleshooting but also monitoring the proper functioning of the systems we operate and the connectivity of our home or business networks. Additionally, it is a commonly used command recommended when experiencing access problems to your VPS server due to Internet connection issues or access to your VPS account, making it a convenient verification and analysis system, especially regarding the management of unmanaged VPS.
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