Understanding Network Packet Loss Troubleshooting

In network communications, the smooth transmission of data packets is the basis for ensuring a smooth user experience.
However, in actual use, network packet loss often occurs, which not only affects the speed and quality of data transmission, but also may lead to a poor online service experience, such as video freezes, voice call interruptions and other problems.

The most common reasons for network packet loss are oxidation of the crystal head, damage to the network card adapter, network cable loops, and excessive light attenuation.

When there is a problem with the network, we will first use the ping command to test whether there is packet loss. Those who have used it know that you can use the command: ping -t 192.168.16.1 or ping 192.168.16.1.

But there are many reasons for packet loss, and the positioning problem has stumped many newbies. Today, I will share some common packet loss situations and solutions, hoping that you will not panic when you encounter packet loss.

What is network packet loss?

Network packet loss refers to the phenomenon that data packets fail to reach their destination due to various reasons during network transmission. Data packets are the basic unit of Internet communication, and each data packet contains a certain amount of information data and necessary control information.

When data packets are transmitted in the network, they may be lost due to network congestion, equipment failure or other reasons, which will directly affect the integrity of data transmission and service quality.

01 Influencing factors

• Hardware failure: such as aging or damage of network equipment.
• Software issues: such as bad drivers or improper configuration.
• Network congestion: insufficient bandwidth or server overload, etc.
• Wireless signal interference: Wireless signals are interfered by other electronic devices.
• Malicious attacks: such as network paralysis caused by DDoS attacks.

Typical fault phenomena and solutions

01 Network data packets are intermittently sent, and packet loss is serious

During network communication, data packets are sometimes sent successfully and sometimes lost, resulting in unstable network connection.

Troubleshooting and solutions

• Check network devices: Log in to the management interface of the router or switch, check the device status and logs, and ensure that there are no fault alarms.
• Update firmware and drivers: Make sure your network devices have the latest firmware and drivers.
• Check the physical connection: Make sure all network cables and connectors are secure and reliable, and replace the network cable or fiber optic patch cord if necessary.
• Optimize network configuration: Adjust the configuration of routers/switches, such as enabling QoS (Quality of Service) functions to prioritize critical business traffic.
• Check network congestion: Use network monitoring tools to check network traffic and avoid packet loss caused by network congestion.

02 The network data packet sending timeout phenomenon is serious, and there is irregular packet loss from time to time

The data packet does not receive a response for a long time during the sending process, or random packet loss occurs.

Troubleshooting and solutions

• Use the Ping command to detect the packet loss rate and response time: Use the command line tool to ping the target address and observe the packet loss rate and average response time.
• Run the Traceroute/Tracert command to trace the packet path: Use the Traceroute or Tracert command to trace the packet transmission path and find possible bottlenecks.
• Check for malware or viruses: Run anti-virus software to scan your system to ensure that there is no malware or virus affecting network performance.
• Contact your ISP to inquire about network conditions: If packet loss persists, contact your ISP to inquire whether there is a network failure or ongoing maintenance.

03Severe delays in network data packets, and services such as downloading and browsing cannot be used normally

There is a noticeable delay in the transmission of data packets, which affects the normal operation of services such as file downloads and web browsing.

Troubleshooting and solutions

• Use the MTR (My Traceroute) tool to monitor changes in network latency : Run the MTR tool to continuously monitor network latency in order to detect abnormal nodes.
• Check your local network settings: Make sure the DNS server address is correct. Try changing the DNS server to improve latency.
• Change ISP or Internet service plan: If the latency problem is caused by poor line quality provided by the ISP, you can consider changing service providers or upgrading your Internet service plan.
• Optimize wireless network: If it is a wireless network, check whether there is interference from other devices, try changing the Wi-Fi channel or using the 5GHz band.

Detection and diagnosis of network packet loss

01 Detection Method

• Ping test: Checks connectivity with the target host by sending ICMP Echo Request (ping). If the number of responses received is less than the number sent, it indicates packet loss.
• Traceroute/Tracert: Used to trace the path that a data packet takes from the source host to the destination host. It can help identify problematic nodes on the path.

• Dedicated network tools, such as Wireshark, can capture and analyze network traffic to see if there is packet loss.
• Real-time monitoring system: Deploy special monitoring tools to continuously monitor network performance and detect problems such as packet loss in a timely manner.

02 Diagnostic Tools

• MTR: Combines the functions of Ping and Traceroute to display the average response time and packet loss rate of each hop.
• Packet Loss Simulator (PLS): simulates a network packet loss environment to test the performance of applications under different packet loss rates.
• SNMP: Use the SNMP protocol to collect status information of network devices, including packet loss statistics.

03 Troubleshooting Steps

1. Check the physical connections: Make sure all cables and connectors are secure.
2. View device status: Log in to the management interface of network devices such as routers and switches to view device logs and status information.
3. Optimize network configuration: adjust QoS (Quality of Service) policies and allocate bandwidth resources reasonably.
4. Upgrade hardware: Replace old network equipment to improve network stability.
5. Contact your ISP: If there is a problem with the line provided by your ISP, you should contact them in time to seek a solution.