Show Route vs. Traceroute

Attribute	Show Route	Traceroute
Definition	Displays the path a packet takes from source to destination	Network diagnostic tool that shows the route packets take to reach a destination
Protocol	Not a specific protocol	Uses ICMP or UDP protocols
Usage	Primarily used for visualization purposes	Primarily used for network troubleshooting
Output	Graphical representation of the route	List of IP addresses and round-trip times

Introduction

When it comes to troubleshooting network connectivity issues, two commonly used tools are Show Route and Traceroute. Both tools provide valuable information about the path that data takes from one point to another on a network. However, there are some key differences between the two tools that make them better suited for different purposes.

Attributes of Show Route

Show Route is a command that is used in network devices such as routers and switches to display the routing table. The routing table is a database that contains information about the best path for data to take to reach a specific destination. When you use the Show Route command, you can see the routes that the device has learned through various routing protocols, such as OSPF or BGP.

One of the main advantages of Show Route is that it provides detailed information about the routes that are available to the device. This can be useful for troubleshooting routing issues or for verifying that the device has learned the correct routes from neighboring devices. Show Route can also show the next hop IP address for each route, which can be helpful for understanding the path that data will take.

Another key attribute of Show Route is that it can display the administrative distance of each route. The administrative distance is a value that indicates the trustworthiness of a route. Routes with lower administrative distances are considered more reliable than routes with higher administrative distances. By viewing the administrative distances of the routes in the routing table, network administrators can make informed decisions about how traffic should be routed.

Overall, Show Route is a powerful tool for examining the routing table of a network device and gaining insights into how data is routed within a network. It is particularly useful for troubleshooting routing issues and verifying the correctness of routing configurations.

Attributes of Traceroute

Traceroute is a network diagnostic tool that is used to trace the path that data takes from one device to another on a network. Unlike Show Route, which is used on network devices, Traceroute is typically used on end-user devices such as computers or servers. When you run Traceroute, it sends packets to the destination device with increasing Time-To-Live (TTL) values, causing each router along the path to send back an ICMP Time Exceeded message.

One of the main advantages of Traceroute is that it provides a detailed view of the path that data takes through the network. By displaying the IP addresses of each router along the path, Traceroute can help identify where connectivity issues are occurring. This can be useful for troubleshooting network problems and determining the cause of slow network performance.

Another key attribute of Traceroute is that it can measure the round-trip time (RTT) for each hop along the path. The RTT is the time it takes for a packet to travel from the source device to a router and back again. By measuring the RTT for each hop, Traceroute can help pinpoint where delays are occurring in the network.

Overall, Traceroute is a valuable tool for diagnosing network connectivity issues and understanding the path that data takes through a network. It is particularly useful for identifying where packets are being dropped or delayed, which can help network administrators troubleshoot and resolve network problems.

Comparison

• Show Route is used on network devices to display the routing table, while Traceroute is used on end-user devices to trace the path that data takes through the network.
• Show Route provides detailed information about the routes available to a device, including the next hop IP address and administrative distance, while Traceroute displays the IP addresses of each router along the path and measures the RTT for each hop.
• Show Route is best suited for troubleshooting routing issues and verifying routing configurations, while Traceroute is best suited for diagnosing network connectivity issues and identifying where packets are being dropped or delayed.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Show Route and Traceroute are both valuable tools for troubleshooting network connectivity issues, but they serve different purposes and provide different types of information. Show Route is used to examine the routing table of network devices, while Traceroute is used to trace the path that data takes through a network. By understanding the attributes of each tool, network administrators can choose the right tool for the job and effectively diagnose and resolve network problems.