mtr traceroute linux

Guri Bee

2 min read

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21-10-2024

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mtr: Your Swiss Army Knife for Network Troubleshooting on Linux

Whether you're a seasoned system administrator or a curious user, network troubleshooting is a common task. While the classic traceroute command provides a basic path visualization, a more powerful and insightful tool exists: mtr (My Traceroute).

mtr combines the functionalities of traceroute and ping into a single, comprehensive tool. It's your go-to choice for diagnosing network issues, identifying bottlenecks, and understanding network performance.

What is mtr and what makes it so powerful?

mtr offers a dynamic and informative view of your network traffic. Unlike traceroute which merely displays the path, mtr provides a constant stream of data including:

• Latency (time to reach each hop): This is crucial for identifying network delays and potential bottlenecks.
• Packet Loss: mtr highlights instances of lost packets, indicating potential network congestion or instability.
• MTU (Maximum Transmission Unit): mtr can be configured to determine the MTU size for each hop, helping you understand potential fragmentation issues.

How to use mtr:

1. Installation:

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt install mtr
   

2. Basic Usage:

   mtr google.com
   

   This will start tracing the path to google.com, continuously updating you with hop details.

3. Key Options:

   • -c <count>: Specify the number of probes to send.
   • -T <interval>: Set the interval between probes.
   • -r <resolution>: Define the resolution of the results (e.g., -r 1 for 1 second intervals).
   • -i <interface>: Specify the network interface to use.

4. Interpreting the Output:

   mtr displays a table with the following columns:

   • Host: The hostname or IP address of each hop.
   • Loss: The percentage of packet loss encountered at that hop.
   • Snt: The number of packets sent.
   • Recv: The number of packets received.
   • Last: The latency of the last packet.
   • Avg: The average latency of all received packets.
   • Best: The lowest latency observed.
   • Worst: The highest latency observed.

5. Example Analysis:

   Let's say you're experiencing slow website loading times. Running mtr reveals a high packet loss at a specific hop. This indicates a potential bottleneck or instability in the network path.

6. Advanced Features:

   • Graph Output: mtr can generate graphical representations of the network data for better visualization (e.g., using -G).
   • Data Logging: You can save the output to a file using -L.
   • Customizable Output: mtr supports various output formats for tailored reporting.

mtr vs. Traceroute:

• mtr offers real-time insights into network performance, including packet loss, latency variation, and MTU information.
• Traceroute merely displays the route without additional network metrics.

Conclusion:

mtr is an invaluable tool for network troubleshooting and analysis on Linux. Its ability to combine traceroute and ping functionalities, along with its advanced features, makes it a powerful solution for identifying and resolving network issues. Remember to refer to the mtr manual for detailed information and additional options.

Credit:

This article was created using information from various sources, including:

• mtr man page
• GitHub repository