pathping:tldr:16373

This command is a combination of two commands: "pathping" and "${hostname} -q ${queries}".

1. "pathping":

   • "pathping" is a network diagnostic tool available in Windows operating systems.
   • It combines the features of "ping" and "tracert" commands to provide a more detailed analysis of network performance and routing information.
   • It sends ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) Echo Request messages to each hop (router) along the network path taken by packets from the source to the destination.
   • It also records the round-trip time (RTT) and packet loss data for each hop.
   • This command helps in identifying the network nodes causing latency or packet loss issues.

2. "${hostname} -q ${queries}":

   • Here, "${hostname}" refers to the hostname or IP address of the target destination.
   • "${queries}" refers to the number of queries (ICMP Echo Requests) sent to each hop along the network path. It determines the number of times each router is probed.
   • This parameter helps in generating more comprehensive data by sending multiple requests and averaging the results.

So, when you use the command "pathping ${hostname} -q ${queries}", you are instructing the system to perform a pathping analysis to the specified hostname or IP address. The tool will send ICMP Echo Request messages to each hop along the network path, record the round-trip time and packet loss data, and display the results in the command prompt. The number of queries sent to each hop will be determined by the value provided for "${queries}".