What is the primary function of the traceroute command?

The primary function of the traceroute command is to trace the path packets take from the source to the destination. This command helps network administrators and engineers understand the route that data packets follow through the network, identifying each hop along the way, which typically represents a different router or gateway.

While using traceroute, the command sends packets with incrementally increasing Time to Live (TTL) values. As these packets travel through the network, each router decrements the TTL by 1. When the TTL reaches 0, the router sends back a "Time Exceeded" message. This allows the traceroute command to determine the addresses of the intermediate devices (routers) and the time it took for the packets to reach those devices.

Traceroute is a powerful tool for diagnosing network issues, as it can reveal if a packet is getting stuck at a particular hop or if there are delays at any point along the route. Understanding the path that packets take can provide insights into network performance and connectivity problems.