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Trace the Path and MTU with tracepath

Diagnose where packets are fragmented or dropped on the route — no root needed.

LinuxnetworktracepathDiagnosticsLow risk
Run tracepath -n example.com to hop-by-hop show the route and each hop's MTU; look for 'pmtu' changes or repeated hops.

01Command

Command
$ tracepath -n example.com

02What it does

tracepath, part of iputils, works like traceroute but additionally discovers the path MTU, so it reveals tunnels or links where packets must be fragmented. Unlike traceroute it needs no root or raw sockets. If a website loads slowly or handshakes hang, a sudden pmtu drop mid-path (for example 1500 to 1492 for PPPoE) is a common cause.

03Risk

RiskLow risk

04Undo

✓No undo needed — this command does not change persistent state.

05Sources

  • tracepath(8) — Ubuntu manpage
    Ubuntu · community · 2026-09-17
    Evidence: Ubuntu manpage documents tracepath tracing the path to a host while discovering MTU along the way, with -n for numeric output
  • tracepath(8) — Arch Linux manual
    Arch Linux · community · 2026-09-17
    Evidence: Arch manual describes tracepath's MTU discovery along the network path and -m max hops option

Last verified: 2026-09-19 · Category: Network

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