tcptraceroute software employs TCP packets for tracerouting functionality.
The tcptraceroute project is an innovative implementation of traceroute that utilizes TCP packets. This is in contrast to the more traditional traceroute(8), which sends out either UDP or ICMP ECHO packets with a TTL of one and increments the TTL until the destination is reached. Through printing the gateways that generate ICMP time exceeded messages along the way, traceroute(8) is able to determine the path packets take to reach the destination.
However, the rise of firewalls on the modern Internet poses a significant problem for traceroute(8), as many packets end up being filtered, making it impossible to trace the path to the destination completely. Fortunately, firewalls often permit inbound TCP packets to specific ports, ports that hosts behind the firewall are listening for connections on. This is where tcptraceroute shines.
By sending out TCP SYN packets instead of UDP or ICMP ECHO packets, tcptraceroute is able to get around the most common firewall filters. This makes it a reliable and efficient tool for tracing network paths, even in the face of strict firewalls. Overall, tcptraceroute is a valuable software tool that should be in the toolkit of any network administrator or IT professional.
However, the rise of firewalls on the modern Internet poses a significant problem for traceroute(8), as many packets end up being filtered, making it impossible to trace the path to the destination completely. Fortunately, firewalls often permit inbound TCP packets to specific ports, ports that hosts behind the firewall are listening for connections on. This is where tcptraceroute shines.
By sending out TCP SYN packets instead of UDP or ICMP ECHO packets, tcptraceroute is able to get around the most common firewall filters. This makes it a reliable and efficient tool for tracing network paths, even in the face of strict firewalls. Overall, tcptraceroute is a valuable software tool that should be in the toolkit of any network administrator or IT professional.
What's New
Version 1.5 Beta6: N/A