Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about TraceMapper
What is a traceroute?
A traceroute is a network diagnostic tool that maps the path packets take from your device to a destination. It shows every router (hop) along the way, along with latency and packet loss at each step.
What protocols does TraceMapper support?
TraceMapper supports ICMP (standard ping), UDP (works without root), and TCP (best for bypassing firewalls). You can select the protocol before starting a trace.
Why do some hops show as * * * (timeout)?
Some routers are configured to not respond to traceroute probes for security reasons. This is normal and doesn't necessarily indicate a problem: the packets are still being forwarded.
How accurate is the geolocation data?
We use MaxMind GeoLite2 databases which are generally accurate to the city level. However, IP geolocation is not always precise: it reflects where the IP address is registered, not necessarily the physical location of the device.
What is an ASN?
An Autonomous System Number (ASN) identifies a network operator (ISP, cloud provider, etc.). Seeing which ASNs your traffic passes through helps understand which networks are involved in routing your data.
What is the difference between the Free and Pro plans?
The Free plan allows 3 traces per day, one of them from another country, with the last 10 saved. Pro offers unlimited traces from every location, 12 months of trace history (monitoring runs are kept 90 days), CSV / JSON / PDF export, trace comparison, API access, and monitoring with packet loss, latency and route-change alerts. Pro starts with 7 free days (card required, cancel before day 7 and pay nothing), and the 7-day Pass gives you all of Pro for a one-off problem, for €4.99 with nothing to renew.
Can I trace from different geographical locations?
Yes. Every trace starts from one of our measuring points, never from your own computer: our servers in Falkenstein (Germany) and Gravelines (France), or probes in more than 30 cities. Without a paid plan, one trace a day can start from another country; the 7-day Pass and Pro remove the limit, and Gravelines is reserved for them. Comparing the same destination from several places shows routing differences and regional latency issues.
Is my data private?
Yes. Traceroute results are only accessible to your account. You can optionally share individual traces via a unique link. We don't sell or share your data with third parties.