Understanding Tracert:
Traceroute Tool: tracert (Windows) or traceroute (Linux) is a network diagnostic tool used to trace the path that packets take from a source to a destination. It lists all the intermediate routers the packets traverse.
Determining Traffic Path:
Path Identification: By running tracert to the web application's destination IP address, the technician can identify which route the traffic is taking and thereby determine which internet link is being used.
Load Balancing Insight: If the office uses load balancing for its internet links, tracert can help verify which link is currently handling the traffic for the web application.
Comparison with Other Tools:
netstat: Displays network connections, routing tables, interface statistics, and more, but does not trace the path of packets.
nslookup: Used for querying DNS to obtain domain name or IP address mapping, not for tracing packet routes.
ping: Tests connectivity and measures round-trip time but does not provide path information.
Implementation:
Open a command prompt or terminal.
Execute tracert [destination IP] to trace the route.
Analyze the output to determine the path and the link being used.
Reference:
CompTIA Network+ study materials on network troubleshooting and diagnostic tools.