The Pathping CMD command is a powerful tool that is used to diagnose network issues. It combines the features of the Ping and Tracert commands to provide a more detailed analysis of the network path between two computers. Pathping sends multiple Echo Request messages to each router between the source and destination over a period of time and then computes results based on the packets returned from each hop. This allows it to provide more detailed information about the network path, including the number of hops, the response time of each hop, and the packet loss rate of each hop.
Purpose of the Pathping CMD Command
The primary purpose of the Pathping CMD command is to diagnose network issues. It can help identify the source of network problems, such as slow response times or packet loss. It can also be used to identify the best route for a particular connection, as well as to identify any routers or links that are causing problems. Pathping is particularly useful for troubleshooting slow or unreliable connections, as it can provide detailed information about the network path between two computers.
Syntax of the Pathping CMD Command
The syntax of the Pathping CMD command is as follows:
pathping [-n] [-h maximum_hops] [-g host-list] [-p period] [-q num_queries] [-w timeout] [-i address] [-T] [-R] [-r] [-s sourceaddr] target_name
The following table provides a description of each of the options available with the Pathping CMD command:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| -n | Do not resolve addresses to hostnames. |
| -h maximum_hops | Specifies the maximum number of hops to search for the target. |
| -g host-list | Specifies a list of gateways (separated by commas) through which the packet should pass. |
| -p period | Specifies the time (in milliseconds) to wait between successive pings. |
| -q num_queries | Specifies the number of queries to send to each router. |
| -w timeout | Specifies the time (in milliseconds) to wait for each reply. |
| -i address | Specifies the source IP address to use. |
| -T | Specifies that the pathping command should use TCP packets instead of ICMP echo requests. |
| -R | Specifies that the pathping command should use IP router discovery messages instead of ICMP echo requests. |
| -r | Specifies that the pathping command should use routing information from the local routing table. |
| -s sourceaddr | Specifies the source IP address to use. |
| target_name | Specifies the name or IP address of the target computer. |
Examples of the Pathping CMD Command
The following are some examples of how the Pathping CMD command can be used:
- To trace the route to a computer with the IP address 192.168.1.1, use the following command: pathping 192.168.1.1
- To trace the route to a computer with the hostname “example.com”, use the following command: pathping example.com
- To trace the route to a computer with the hostname “example.com”, and limit the search to 10 hops, use the following command: pathping -h 10 example.com
- To trace the route to a computer with the hostname “example.com”, and limit the search to 10 hops, and use TCP packets instead of ICMP echo requests, use the following command: pathping -h 10 -T example.com
Conclusion
The Pathping CMD command is a powerful tool that can be used to diagnose network issues. It combines the features of the Ping and Tracert commands to provide a more detailed analysis of the network path between two computers. It can help identify the source of network problems, such as slow response times or packet loss, as well as to identify any routers or links that are causing problems. Pathping is particularly useful for troubleshooting slow or unreliable connections, as it can provide detailed information about the network path between two computers.