Diagnosing Ping, Jitter, and Packet Loss in Networks

Introduction

Network performance is measured by latency (ping), jitter, and packet loss. Understanding these metrics helps troubleshoot connectivity issues.

Ping

Represents the time a packet takes from source to destination and back. High ping means noticeable lag.

Jitter

Measures variation in packet arrival times. High jitter causes unstable connections and call/video quality issues.

Packet Loss

Reflects the percentage of data packets that never reach their target, causing service disruptions.

Practical Tips

Use ping, traceroute, or mtr to identify bottlenecks.

Persistent packet loss may indicate hardware faults or overloaded nodes.

Conclusion

Regularly monitoring these metrics helps keep your network stable, responsive, and reliable.