traceroute for path tracing in Linux CLI - Interactive Code Practice

Practice - 5 Tasks

1fill in blank

easy

Complete the command to trace the path to example.com.

Linux CLI

traceroute [1]

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

Atracepath

B-n

Cexample.com

Dping

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using ping instead of traceroute.

Using options like -n without specifying the destination.

Using tracepath which is a different command.

The traceroute command followed by the destination domain (example.com) traces the path packets take to reach it.

2fill in blank

medium

Complete the command to run traceroute without resolving hostnames.

Linux CLI

traceroute [1] example.com

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A-n

B-q 3

C-m 5

D-w 2

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using -q which changes the number of queries per hop.

Using -m which sets max hops.

Using -w which sets timeout.

The -n option tells traceroute to skip DNS lookups and show IP addresses only.

3fill in blank

hard

Fix the error in the command to limit traceroute to 5 hops.

Linux CLI

traceroute [1] 5 example.com

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A-n

B-m

C-q

D-w

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using -n which disables hostname resolution.

Using -q which sets number of queries per hop.

Using -w which sets timeout.

The -m option sets the maximum number of hops traceroute will probe.

4fill in blank

hard

Fill both blanks to run traceroute with 2 queries per hop and a timeout of 1 second.

Linux CLI

traceroute [1] 2 [2] 1 example.com

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A-q

B-n

C-w

D-m

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Mixing up -q and -w options.

Using -n which disables hostname resolution.

Using -m which limits max hops.

The -q option sets the number of queries per hop, and -w sets the timeout in seconds.

5fill in blank

hard

Fill all three blanks to run traceroute with max hops 10, 3 queries per hop, and no hostname resolution.

Linux CLI

traceroute [1] 10 [2] 3 [3] example.com

Drag options to blanks, or click blank then click option'

A-n

B-q

C-m

D-w

Attempts:

3 left

💡 Hint

Common Mistakes

Using -w instead of -n to disable hostname resolution.

Mixing the order of options.

Using options without values.

The -m option sets max hops, -q sets queries per hop, and -n disables hostname resolution.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of the traceroute command in Linux?

easy

A. To display current network connections

B. To list all files in a directory

C. To change the IP address of the system

D. To show the path data takes to reach a destination

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand traceroute function

   The traceroute command traces the route packets take to reach a network host.

2. Step 2: Compare options

   Options A, B, and D describe unrelated commands or functions.

3. Final Answer:

   To show the path data takes to reach a destination -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Traceroute purpose = show path [OK]

Hint: Traceroute maps network path hops quickly [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing traceroute with ping
• Thinking traceroute changes network settings
• Mixing traceroute with file commands

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to run traceroute to example.com with a maximum of 5 hops?

easy

A. traceroute -m 5 example.com

B. traceroute -max 5 example.com

C. traceroute --maxhops=5 example.com

D. traceroute -h 5 example.com

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall traceroute max hops option

   The option -m sets the max number of hops in traceroute.

2. Step 2: Check syntax correctness

   Only traceroute -m 5 example.com uses the correct option and format.

3. Final Answer:

   traceroute -m 5 example.com -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Max hops option = -m [OK]

Hint: Use -m to limit hops in traceroute [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using -max or --maxhops which are invalid
• Confusing -h (help) with hop limit
• Placing options after the hostname

3. What will be the output of the command traceroute -n 8.8.8.8?

medium

A. It shows an error because -n is invalid

B. It shows the route to 8.8.8.8 with hostnames only, no IP addresses

C. It shows the route to 8.8.8.8 with IP addresses only, no hostnames

D. It shows the route with both hostnames and IP addresses

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the -n option in traceroute

   The -n option disables hostname resolution and shows IP addresses only.

2. Step 2: Analyze output format

   Therefore, the output will list IP addresses without hostnames.

3. Final Answer:

   It shows the route to 8.8.8.8 with IP addresses only, no hostnames -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   -n means no hostname lookup [OK]

Hint: -n shows IPs only, no names [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking -n shows hostnames
• Assuming -n causes error
• Expecting both IP and hostname with -n

4. You run traceroute -m 3 example.com but it shows more than 3 hops. What is the likely cause?

medium

A. The -m option was ignored because of a syntax error

B. Traceroute always shows all hops regardless of -m

C. The command is correct; traceroute shows up to 3 hops only

D. The hostname resolves to multiple IPs causing extra hops

Solution

1. Step 1: Check syntax of the command

   The correct syntax requires a space between -m and the number, so -m 3 is correct.

2. Step 2: Consider possible syntax errors

   If the option was typed incorrectly (like -m3 without space), traceroute may ignore it and show default hops.

3. Step 3: Evaluate other options

   Traceroute does not always ignore -m; it respects it if syntax is correct. Multiple IPs do not increase hops count.

4. Final Answer:

   The -m option was ignored because of a syntax error -> Option A

5. Quick Check:

   Syntax error causes option ignore [OK]

Hint: Check option syntax carefully for -m [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using -m3 without space causing ignore
• Assuming traceroute ignores -m always
• Confusing hops with IP resolution count

5. You want to trace the path to example.com but skip hostname lookups and limit hops to 4. Which command achieves this?

hard

A. traceroute -m 4 -h example.com

B. traceroute -n -m 4 example.com

C. traceroute --no-hostname --max-hops=4 example.com

D. traceroute -4 -n example.com

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify options for skipping hostname and limiting hops

   -n skips hostname lookup; -m 4 limits hops to 4.

2. Step 2: Verify option correctness and order

   traceroute -n -m 4 example.com uses both correctly. traceroute -m 4 -h example.com uses invalid -h. traceroute --no-hostname --max-hops=4 example.com uses non-standard options. traceroute -4 -n example.com limits to IPv4 but not hops.

3. Final Answer:

   traceroute -n -m 4 example.com -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   -n and -m 4 combined = correct command [OK]

Hint: Combine -n and -m for no hostname and hop limit [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using -h instead of -m for hops
• Assuming --no-hostname is valid
• Confusing -4 (IPv4) with hop limit