IPv4

Pathping

PathPing

PathPing is similar to Tracert except that PathPing is intended to find links that are causing intermittent data loss. PathPing sends packets to each router on the way to a final destination over a period of time and then computes the percentage of packets returned from each hop. Since PathPing shows the degree of packet loss at any given router or link, you can use PathPing to pinpoint which routers or links might be causing network problems.
To use the PathPing utility, at a command prompt type PathPing remote_host, where remote_host is the name or address of a destination computer, server, or router on whose path to which you want to test intermittent data loss.
The following shows a sample PathPing output:


D:\>pathping -n testpc1
Tracing route to testpc1 [7.54.1.196]
over a maximum of 30 hops:
0 172.16.87.35
1 172.16.87.218
2 192.168.52.1
3 192.168.80.1
4 7.54.247.14
5 7.54.1.196
Computing statistics for 25 seconds...
Source to Here This Node/Link
Hop RTT Lost/Sent = Pct Lost/Sent = Pct Address
0 172.16.87.35 0/ 100 = 0% |
1 41ms 0/ 100 = 0% 0/ 100 = 0% 172.16.87.218
13/ 100 = 13% |
2 22ms 16/ 100 = 16% 3/ 100 = 3% 192.168.52.1
0/ 100 = 0% |
3 24ms 13/ 100 = 13% 0/ 100 = 0% 192.168.80.1
0/ 100 = 0% |
4 21ms 14/ 100 = 14% 1/ 100 = 1% 7.54.247.14 0/ 100 = 0% | 5 24ms 13/ 100 = 13%
0/ 100 = 0% 7.54.1.196 Trace complete.

Notice how the output above first lists the five hops on the path to the specified destina- tion and then computes the percentage of data lost over each of these hops. In this case, PathPing shows that data loss at a rate of 13% is occurring between the local computer (172.16.87.35) and the first hop (172.16.87.218).

Ping & ICMP

ICMP is, however, blocked by default by Windows Fire- wall in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, and it is also blocked by some routers and stand-alone firewalls. Consequently, to perform adequate troubleshooting of network con- nectivity, you need to ensure that ICMP is not blocked by the remote host. To enable a fire- wall exception for ICMP in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, enable File Sharing in Network and Sharing Center.

If you want to be able to ping a computer, you don't have to turn off the firewall. You only need to TURN ON the file sharing in network sharing center.