Tips on how to check for packet loss on Linux, macOS, and Windows
Tips on how to check for packet loss on Linux, macOS, and Windows
Performance-oriented network communications, gaming, real-time video chats, and user experience all suffer from packet loss. Network administrators must understand how to use tools like ping, traceroute, MTR, and pathping to test packet loss in their networks.
The tools that network managers can use to test for and detect packet loss and pinpoint its location along the communication line are covered in this article. Network experts can fix problems and enhance end-user performance with packet loss tests.
What leads to packet loss?
Routers, switches, hardware firewalls, and load balancers are examples of network devices that occasionally receive more traffic than they can manage. Devices may lose data packets they are unable to process quickly as a result of this network congestion. The following problems may also force devices to lose packets:
- Equipment malfunction.
- Harm to the media.
- Interference from Wi-Fi.
- Flaws in software.
- Protocols that are not supported.
While some applications use the TCP/IP transport layer protocols to control dependability, others use packet loss detection or partial transmissions. Two protocols have different approaches to handling packet loss and function at the transport layer:
TCP – This retransmits missed packets, verifies packet delivery, and numbers packets to reduce loss. Characterized as connection-oriented, stateful, or dependable.
UDP – This does not ensure packet delivery and does not track or number packets to reduce loss. Characterized as connectionless, stateless, or untrustworthy.
Almost anywhere in the network channel between the system and the distant target, packet loss can happen.
Tools for measuring network performance
Usually found below the transport layer, network testing tools allow administrators to use Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) to verify functionality and performance closer to the hardware. Among these tools are the following:
- Ping
- Traceroute/tracert.
- Pathping.
- MTR.
In the sections that follow, each program is examined in greater detail along with instructions for using it on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
1. Instructions for using ping
Ping requests a response from the destination system by sending request messages. It confirms connectivity if it gets the response, which indicates that the remote host can send and receive. Sending a lot of ping packets and keeping an eye out for unsuccessful answers will test the dependability of the network.
Windows machines send out four ping requests by default. With the /n command-line option, you can indicate how many messages to display, like in this example:
ping /n 100 <destination>
Each request message’s status and performance details are displayed in the output.
Unless you restrict the test, Linux, macOS, and other Unix-related operating systems deliver constant pings. The amount of test messages can be specified with the -c option, as shown in this command prompt:
ping -c 100 <destination>
High latency responses are those that take longer than 100 milliseconds (ms). Keep an eye out for persistently excessive latency. Additionally, be mindful of network jitter, which is a phenomenon in which latency fluctuates quickly instead of staying constant at either a high or low level.
Ping floods and Smurf assaults are two examples of network attacks that may use ICMP packets. Because of this, some administrators set up firewalls and routers to ignore ICMP requests, which significantly diminishes the utility of ping.
2. How traceroute and tracert are used
ICMP messages are also used by the traceroute/tracert to test network performance and connectivity. By showing reaction times for every hop, it assists you in identifying potential network problems.
C:\WINDOWS\system32>tracert www.google.com
Tracing route to www.google.com [74.125.130.106]
over a maximum of 30 hops:
