* 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.
References:
* CompTIA Network+ study materials on network troubleshooting and diagnostic tools.