How to measure packet loss in Linux, macOS, and Windows

In some cases, your VPS may have a working network connection, but your experience is slow or unstable. This might be caused by packet loss, which can result from server-side settings or issues along the route between your computer and the server.

To diagnose such issues, MTR (My TraceRoute) or WinMTR is highly recommended. These tools combine latency and route tracking in one, giving detailed insights.

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Linux/macOS: Using MTR

Installing MTR

• CentOS / AlmaLinux / Rocky Linux: sudo dnf -y install mtr
• Ubuntu / Debian: sudo apt -y install mtr
• macOS: brew install mtr or use the official GitHub page.

Using MTR to Diagnose Packet Loss

Open your terminal and run:

mtr IPADDRESS

To collect a summary report after 20 cycles:

mtr --report-cycles=20 IPADDRESS

Replace IPADDRESS with the target IP or hostname. You can increase or decrease the cycle count as needed.

Sample MTR Output

Host Loss% Snt Last Avg Best Wrst StDev
1. gw.ams4.transip.net 0.0% 20 0.6 7.7 0.6 62.6 13.4
2. l5.f2.ams4.transip.net 0.0% 20 1.6 17.9 1.6 224.6 48.9
3. core1.ams.net.google.com 0.0% 20 1.3 2.3 0.9 12.2 2.8

The Loss% column shows packet loss. The first host with a value higher than 0.0% usually indicates where the issue begins.

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Windows: Using WinMTR

Installing WinMTR

• Download from WinMTR SourceForge
• Extract the WinMTR_x64 folder
• Delete the original ZIP file

Running a WinMTR Test

1. Open WinMTR.exe
2. Enter the server IP or hostname
3. Click Start
4. Wait for 20–30 packets
5. Click Stop to view results

Look at the Loss% column to detect issues. The first host with non-zero loss is typically the source of the problem.

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Tips and Best Practices

• Use MTR or WinMTR instead of ping/tracert for deeper diagnostics
• Send the test output to support for faster troubleshooting
• Make sure your tools support IPv6 if needed

This guide helps you analyze network instability or slow server connections by identifying where packet loss may be occurring — across all platforms.