How to Check for Dropped Network Packets

Dropped network packets can cause issues like slow network speeds, interrupted streams, or incomplete data transfers. Here’s how you can check for dropped network packets on various platforms:

1. Windows:

Using Command Prompt:

1. Press Windows + R, type cmd, and press Enter to open the Command Prompt.
2. Type ping <destination> -n <number of pings> and press Enter.

   For example: ping google.com -n 10

3. Observe the results. The output will show how many packets were sent and how many were received. If there are any lost packets, it will be mentioned as “Lost = x”.

Using PowerShell (For Advanced Analysis):

You can use the Get-NetIPStatistics cmdlet to retrieve IP statistics, including dropped packets.

1. Open PowerShell as an administrator.
2. Enter Get-NetIPStatistics.
3. Check the results. Look for the ReceivedPacketsDropped or similar fields for dropped packet information.

2. Linux:

Using Terminal:

1. Open a terminal.
2. You can use the ping command as in the Windows example.
3. To check for dropped packets on network interfaces, use the ifconfig (deprecated but still available on many systems) or ip command:
   ifconfig


   OR

   ip -s link


   In the results, look for the RX dropped and TX dropped counters.

3. macOS:

Using Terminal:

1. Open Terminal (usually found in /Applications/Utilities/).
2. Use the ping command similarly to the Windows and Linux examples.
3. To check interface statistics, use the netstat command:
   netstat -i


   Check the Ierrs (input errors) and Oerrs (output errors) columns for dropped packets.

4. Network Monitoring Tools:

There are several third-party tools available that can provide a more detailed and visual analysis of network traffic, including dropped packets:

• Wireshark: This is a comprehensive network packet analyzer. It can capture and display the data traveling into and out of your computer.
• nload: This is a console application that provides a visual representation of incoming and outgoing traffic separately.
• iftop: This tool shows a real-time updated list of network usage per connection.
• NetFlow Analyzer: This commercial tool provides detailed insights into network traffic patterns and bandwidth utilization.

When you detect dropped packets, the next steps are to determine why they are being dropped and how to mitigate the issue. Common causes include network congestion, faulty hardware, or misconfigured devices.