How this test works
One selected Globalping probe traces the ICMP path toward the target, up to 30 hops. Some routers choose not to reply.
NETWORK PATH
Online Traceroute
Trace the network path from a selected Globalping region.
Remote synthetic measurement
Test completedResults are ready.
How to read the result
An asterisk marks a hop without a reply and is not automatically a fault. Look for sustained delay or loss across later hops.
Frequently asked questions
What does * mean in traceroute output?
That router didn't reply within the timeout. Most routers drop ICMP probes by design, so a few asterisks are normal. If later hops respond, the route is working.
How many hops is normal?
Most internet routes are 8 to 20 hops. Longer paths are common on satellite links or routes crossing many countries; very short ones happen when hosts sit on the same provider.
Why does hop 1 show my router?
Because it's the first device outside your computer. Every packet leaves through it. A private address like 192.168.1.1 confirms it.
What is TTL in traceroute?
Time-to-live: a counter in every IPv4 packet, decremented at each router, that discards the packet when it reaches zero and normally triggers an ICMP Time Exceeded reply. Traceroute sets it to 1, 2, 3... to discover responding router interfaces in sequence. IPv6 calls the field Hop Limit.
Can traceroute prove where packet loss starts?
Not from one trace. Apparent loss at an intermediate hop is often ICMP rate limiting. Loss is more credible when it begins at one hop and continues through every later hop and the destination; confirm it with repeated ping or MTR.
Learn how online traceroute works
Read the guide Traceroute explained: read hops, RTT, latency and asterisks, compare Windows and Linux commands, and find real network problems without false alarms.