Tracert sends 4 packets of data to and from the server or ip address you put in, you can use a web url as well here.
{l Quote}:
C:\Users\Ice_Man>tracert 212.187.208.63
Tracing route to 212.187.208.63 over a maximum of 30 hops
1 4 ms 1 ms 1 ms 10.0.0.138
2 16 ms 8 ms 9 ms ti0024a400-gw.ti.telenor.net [88.91.53.1]
3 35 ms 35 ms 35 ms ti0015c400-ae2-0.ti.telenor.net [146.172.100.241
]
4 35 ms 36 ms 35 ms ti0006c400-ae5-0.ti.telenor.net [146.172.99.85]
5 37 ms 37 ms * ti0300c360-ae4-0.ti.telenor.net [146.172.100.109
]
6 36 ms 37 ms 46 ms ti3003c400-ae6-0.ti.telenor.net [146.172.99.245]
7 36 ms 34 ms 36 ms ti6000b400-ae1-0.ti.telenor.net [146.172.105.46]
8 36 ms 35 ms * ae51.bar1.Copenhagen1.Level3.net [213.242.108.13
]
9 59 ms 58 ms 58 ms ae-7-7.ebr1.Dusseldorf1.Level3.net [4.69.142.170
]
10 58 ms 59 ms 59 ms ae-22-22.ebr2.Dusseldorf1.Level3.net [4.69.143.1
86]
11 73 ms 58 ms 59 ms ae-45-45.ebr1.Amsterdam1.Level3.net [4.69.143.19
7]
12 58 ms 58 ms 58 ms ae-22-22.ebr2.Amsterdam1.Level3.net [4.69.143.58
]
13 60 ms 57 ms * ae-48-48.ebr2.London1.Level3.net [4.69.143.82]
14 57 ms 57 ms 58 ms ae-58-223.csw2.London1.Level3.net [4.69.153.138]
15 57 ms 65 ms 61 ms ae-229-3605.edge4.London1.Level3.net [4.69.166.1
7]
16 59 ms 59 ms 60 ms 195.50.122.158
17 58 ms 57 ms 57 ms 212.187.208.63
Trace complete.
C:\Users\Ice_Man>
It shows the physical route the data takes from your PC to the selected IP address.
1 is PC to modem, ping is 1 so you know there is no fault there,
hops 2 - 7 is how your ISP routes your request, The more hops your ISP has usually means they have a larger physical area to cover.
hop 8 - 12 sends the traffic to copenhagen, then to Dusseldorf, then to amsterdam.
13 - 16 is the route into and around London hitting the server after 17 hops.
Each hop can tell you where the service drops, loses packets and slows. It isn't always the shortest route from poiint A to B as it will always take the fastest route.
hope that helps
