---
title: "What is MTR and How to Test Network Performance"
description: "MTR combines the purpose of ping and tracert/traceroute. MTR visualizes performance and latency issues across every machine, or hop, between your local machine and the destination. MTR can help..."
url: https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/server/ssh/what-is-mtr-and-how-to-test-network-performance/
date: 2020-06-05
modified: 2021-08-16
author: "InMotion Hosting Contributor"
categories: ["SSH and Root Access"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# What is MTR and How to Test Network Performance

MTR combines the purpose of `ping` and [tracert/traceroute](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/website/why-is-my-server-slow-how-do-i-run-a-ping-and-tracert-test/). MTR visualizes performance and latency issues across every machine, or *hop*, between your local machine and the destination.

MTR can help answer the following questions:

- Is my server slow?
- If the issue isn’t my server, which *hop* is?
- Does a *hop* have intermittent packet loss?
- Do I need to change my [server location](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/website/how-to-determine-your-server-location/) to improve the user experience (UX) for my target audience?

MTR is unlikely to be pre-installed on your local machine. Below we cover:

- [How to Install MTR on Your Computer or Server](#install)
  - [Install MTR on Linux](#linux)
  - [Install MTR on macOS](#mac)
  - [Install MTR on BSD](#bsd)
- [How to Use MTR](#use)
- [MTR from the server](#server)
- [WinMTR for Windows](#winmtr)

Ask how we can help you develop your next web application with our [Cloud Server Hosting](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/cloud-vps).

## How to Install MTR

### Install MTR on Linux

MTR on Debian/Ubuntu

apt-get install mtr

MTR on Fedora/CentOS

yum install mtr

MTR on Arch/Manjaro

pacman -S mtr

### Install MTR on macOS

macOS users need to use a package manager such as [Homebrew](https://brew.sh) or [MacPorts](https://www.macports.org/) to install MTR.

### Install MTR on BSD

pkg install mtr

## How to use MTR

MTR can be used for [real-time](#realtime) and [report style](#report) scans.

### Real-time MTR

To see performance results in real-time, run `mtr` with a domain, [server IP](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/cpanel/how-to-find-your-shared-ip-address-of-your-server-in-cpanel/), or [server hostname](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/cpanel/find-server-name/) (part of your [temporary URL](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/website/using-your-temporary-url/)).

mtr yourdomain.com

[![An MTR example from a Cloud server](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/mtr-example-1024x154.png)](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/mtr-example.png)

During the scan you have the following options:

- **H**elp – View command options for the current MTR test
- **D**isplay mode – Change how packet and ping statistics are shown
- **R**estart statistics – Restart the test
- **O**rder of fields – Change the order of available columns (press Enter to exit)
- **q**uit – Stop MTR

You can copy the results at any time. We recommend waiting until you’ve sent at least 50 packets to get a clear understanding.

### MTR Reports

If you need to share the results with others (e.g. [our Live support](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/amp/how-to-get-great-technical-support/)), add `-crw` and an output option for easier archival.

mtr -rw yourdomain.com -c 100

- `-c` or `--report-cycles` – Set how many pings are sent to test reliability of each hop (each cycle lasts one second)
- `-r` or `--report` – Run the test in the background and print the results once complete
- `-w` or `--report-wide` – Ensure full hostnames are present in results instead of `???`

MTR will stop after 10 sent packets if you don’t specify a number with `-c`.

To output MTR results to a CSV file:

mtr -rwC yourdomain.com -c 100 > mtr-results.csv

Output options:

- `-l` or `--raw`
- `-C` or `--csv` (separator is a semi-colon “;”)
- `-j` or `--json`
- `-x` or `--xml`

### MTR from the Server

To better understand network performance issues, you can install MTR on your web server and run it against [your local machine](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/server/ssh/how-to-find-your-local-router-ip-address-in-the-terminal/).

If the local machine is on a Small Office / Home Office (SOHO) network, you may need to ensure ICMP Ping is enabled on the local router.

## Install WinMTR on Windows

Windows users can use a fork of MTR, WinMTR, to test network connections.

As of June 2020, this application hasn’t been updated since April 2013. We recommend you use [tracert](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/website/why-is-my-server-slow-how-do-i-run-a-ping-and-tracert-test/) instead or, if you decide to install WinMTR, remove the software after you receive your results.

1. Download WinMTR from [sourceforge.net/projects/winmtr](https://sourceforge.net/projects/winmtr/)
2. Extract the file and run the executable as an administrator
3. Type the domain in the Host field
4. Select **Start**
5. Select **Stop **anytime after 100 packets in the *Sent* column

Contact our [Live Support directly](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/amp/how-to-get-great-technical-support/) with MTR results for further assistance.