What is an MTR?
MTR stands for My Traceroute. It is a tool that checks the path between your computer and a server. Data does not go straight there. It hops through many stops, called routers. A router is a device that passes data along, like a post office sorting mail.
MTR shows every stop on the way. For each stop it shows how many packets are lost and how long they take. A packet is a small piece of data. Think of it as one letter in the mail.
Why run one?
- Your site is slow for you.
- Your site drops and loads again.
- You cannot connect to the server at all.
The report helps support see where the problem is. It might be your own internet, a stop in the middle, or the server.
Steps on Windows
Windows has no built-in MTR. Use WinMTR, a free tool.
- Download and open WinMTR from its official page.
- In the Host box, type your domain name or server IP address.
- Click Start.
- Let it run for about five minutes.
- Click Stop.
- Click Copy Text to clipboard and paste it in your support ticket.
Steps on Linux or Mac
- Open a terminal.
- Run this command, using your own domain:
mtr -rwc 100 example.comThis sends 100 test packets and prints a final report. If mtr is missing, install it with your package manager first.
How to read the report
| Column | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Loss% | Percent of packets that did not come back |
| Snt | Number of packets sent |
| Last, Avg | Time in milliseconds for packets |
| Best, Wrst | Fastest and slowest times |
Loss in the middle of the list alone is not always a problem. Some routers ignore tests. Worry when loss starts at one stop and stays on every stop after it.
Quick recap
- MTR shows the path and quality of a connection.
- Use WinMTR on Windows and
mtron Linux or Mac. - Look for loss that continues to the end.
- Send the full report to support.