System, computer program and method for determining a transmission path of
datagrams in an IP network from a source device to a destination device.
The source device receives from a network manager station, a message for
retrieving information related to the transmission path of datagrams to
the destination device. The message comprises a destination address and a
source address. The destination address is an IP address of the
destination device, and the source address is an IP address of the
network manager device. The source device sends a plurality of probe
datagrams to a respective plurality of IP network devices along the
transmission path to the destination device. Each probe datagram
comprises as destination address, the IP address of the destination
device and as source address, the IP address of the network manager
station. Consequently, replies, if any, to the probe datagrams are sent
back directly to the network manager station by the IP network device
along the transmission path, bypassing said the device. The invention
also resides in the network manager station and the computer program
product executing at the network manager station which sends the message
to the source device, and receives and analyzes the replies to the probe
datagrams to locate the break in the transmission path.