Trace route works by increasing the time-to-live value of every SUCCESSIVE packets sent in batch. Every three packets that were sent first, have a time-to-live value 1. The next three packets have a TTL value of 2 and so on. The host decrements the TTL value by one and the packet is FORWARDED to the next host, when a packet passes through a host.

When a packet (with a time-to-live value of 1) reaches a host, the packets will be discarded by the host, and an ICMP time exceeded packet is sent to the sender. A list of HOSTS, whose packets have traversed enrouted to the destination, is utilized by the trace route utility.

Trace route works by increasing the time-to-live value of every successive packets sent in batch. Every three packets that were sent first, have a time-to-live value 1. The next three packets have a TTL value of 2 and so on. The host decrements the TTL value by one and the packet is forwarded to the next host, when a packet passes through a host.

When a packet (with a time-to-live value of 1) reaches a host, the packets will be discarded by the host, and an ICMP time exceeded packet is sent to the sender. A list of hosts, whose packets have traversed enrouted to the destination, is utilized by the trace route utility.