Network and Tech Support

This article will take you through how to perform ping, netstat & traceroute tests on Windows & Mac devices.

Just pick your operating system below and follow the steps.

• Windows
• Mac

 Windows

The following 3 tests are performed in the 'command prompt' application.

To launch command prompt:

1. Click the 'start' menu in the bottom left-hand corner of your screen
2. Type 'cmd' and press enter
3. This will open the command prompt application

Ping test

The ping test is designed to show how your connection & device is communicating with a server. Essentially, it tracks the sending and return of information, or 'packets', and shows how long information is taking to be sent and received. The test also shows if any of this information is being lost, and can help diagnose problems.

To perform a ping test:

1. In the command prompt application, type 'Ping -n 100 www.google.com', and press enter
2. Once the test has finished, highlight and copy the summary of results, and paste them into a word document

Netstat-a test

The netstat test shows outgoing and incoming connections on your network - it can help identify if there are particular devices or software causing slow problems.

To perform a netstat-a test:

1. In the command prompt application, type 'netstat -a', and press enter
2. Once the test has finished, highlight and copy the results, and paste them into a word document

Traceroute test

The traceroute test shows the specific path that data is taking when leaving your connection. It can help show if there is a routing problem causing slow speeds.

To perform a traceroute test:

1. In the command prompt application, type 'tracert www.google.com', and press enter
2. Once the test has finished highlight and copy the results, and paste them into a word document

These tests are also used by the wholesaler to investigate slow speeds on a network level - unfortunately, we are unable to use screenshots of the results, they must be copied and pasted into a word document and sent to us.

Mac

The following 3 tests are performed in the 'Terminal' on Mac.

Opening Terminal through the Finder

1. Click the Finder logo, located in the bottom toolbar of your screen (it looks like a two-toned smiling face).

2. On the left toolbar, click "Applications" (if that was the last folder you visited within the Finder, Finder will open to this folder automatically).

3. Scroll down and open the "Utilities" folder.

4. Double click "Terminal" to launch it.

Opening Terminal through Spotlight

1. Press the "Command" button and the space bar, simultaneously (this will open a search bar on your screen).

2. Type "Terminal" (as you type, it should auto-fill).

3. Double click "Terminal" in the left sidebar to open your Mac's Terminal

Ping test

The ping test is designed to show how your connection & device is communicating with a server. Essentially, it tracks the sending and return of information, or 'packets', and shows how long information is taking to be sent and received. The test shows if any of this information is being lost, and can help diagnose speed problems.

To perform the Ping test;

1. Open a new Terminal
2. Type ping followed by a space and type www.google.com and hit enter and wait for the results
3. Once the test has finished highlight and copy the results, and paste them into a word document

Netstat-a test

The netstat test shows outgoing and incoming connections on your network - it can help identify if there are particular devices or software causing slow speed problems.

To perform the Netstat test:

1. Open a new Terminal
2. Type netstat and hit enter and wait for the results.
3. Once the test has finished highlight and copy the results, and paste them into a word document

Traceroute test

The traceroute test shows the specific path that data is taking when leaving your connection. It can help show if there is a routing problem causing slow speeds.

To perform a Traceroute test:

1. Open a new Terminal
2. Type traceroute followed by a space and then www.google.com then hit enter and wait for the results.
3. Once the test has finished highlight and copy the results, and paste them into a word document