Using the Windows Pathping Command to Troubleshoot VoIP Calls

As more and more businesses rely on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) for their communication needs, it is essential to have tools that can help troubleshoot issues. One tool that can be particularly useful for VoIP troubleshooting is the Microsoft Windows Pathping command.

Pathping is a network diagnostic tool that combines the functionality of the ping and traceroute commands. It not only sends ICMP echo request packets to a destination, like a ping command but also shows the path that the packets take through the network, similar to the traceroute command. Pathping also provides information about packet loss and latency along each hop in the network path.

Using Pathping for VoIP troubleshooting involves running the command on the IP address of the destination where the VoIP traffic is being sent. This could be the IP address of a VoIP service provider, a SIP server, or a specific device in the network that is experiencing issues.

The output of the Pathping command can help identify network issues that may be affecting the quality of VoIP calls. For example, if the output shows high packet loss or latency on a particular hop, that could indicate a problem with a router or network link. Pathping can also help identify where in the network the problem is occurring, which can be useful in isolating and resolving the issue.

Using Pathping on a Microsoft Operating System

1. On a Microsoft Windows computer, open the **Command Prompt** 

2. Type CMD

3. Press enter.

4. Type Pathping then the name or IP address of this server: <u>pathping app.illumy.com</u>

5. Press enter

Pathping operates like ping and traceroute combined. 

Pathping only runs on Microsoft Windows computers. 

Pathping counts the hops (hand-off-points) between you and the remote network server. Each H.O.P. is a router.

Pathping sends 100 ping packets from the local computer to the remote server. 

Pathping also sends 100 ping packets between each of the devices/routers along the path. 

Pathping shows the percentage of packets lost along the network. 

Pathping helps the internet service provider (ISP) determine where to begin troubleshooting.  

As a customer, send a copy of the Pathping output to your internet provider. Your provider will help troubleshoot issues between you and the server. 

Online Resources:

1.  Microsoft Docs - Pathping: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/pathping 

2.  Get IT Done: Troubleshooting network connections with Windows 2000’s Pathping.exe:

https://www.techrepublic.com/article/how-to-use-pathping-to-troubleshoot-network-issues/

3.  Pathping more than handy network troubleshooting tool:
https://howdoesinternetwork.com/2012/pathping