Master Linux Traceroute: Install, Use, and Advanced Options Explained

In Linux, traceroute is a network diagnostic tool that determines the route packets take from your computer to a target host such as a website or remote server.

If the tool is not installed, you can add it via the package manager.

Debian/Ubuntu and derivatives

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install traceroute

CentOS/RHEL and derivatives

sudo yum install traceroute

On newer versions you may need to use dnf instead of yum:

sudo dnf install traceroute

Basic command format

traceroute [options]... [target host]

Basic usage example

Trace the route to example.com:

traceroute example.com

Common options

-n

: Do not perform DNS lookups, show IP addresses only. -w: Set the timeout in seconds. -p: Specify the destination port (default 33434). -m: Set the maximum number of hops (default 30). -s: Set the source port number. -I: Use ICMP packets. -4 or -6: Force IPv4 or IPv6. -q: Set the number of probe packets per hop (default 3). -T: Use TCP packets. -A: Use all protocols (UDP, TCP, ICMP).

Advanced options

-P proto

: Choose protocol (tcp, udp, icmp, ip). -S srcaddr: Set source address. -g gateway: Specify a gateway to skip. -N: Use NTP mode for time queries. -F: Set the “Don’t Fragment” flag to control MTU.

Examples

Disable DNS lookup: traceroute -n example.com Use ICMP protocol: traceroute -I example.com Set maximum hops to 20: traceroute -m 20 example.com Use TCP protocol: traceroute -T example.com Use all protocols: traceroute -A example.com Send 5 probe packets: traceroute -q 5 example.com Set timeout to 10 seconds:

traceroute -w 10 example.com

Notes

Some network devices may block traceroute packets, resulting in incomplete or inaccurate paths.

When using traceroute, comply with network policies and legal regulations to avoid misuse.

On certain Linux distributions, traceroute may require root privileges. traceroute is an essential tool for network troubleshooting and performance analysis, helping identify where latency or packet loss occurs.