What Is Port Forwarding and How Does It Work?
Port forwarding maps internet traffic from a public IP and port to a private device. Learn how it works, when to use it, and security trade-offs.
Dig Trace Blog
Clear explainers, deep dives, and practical guides on networking and internet infrastructure. Written by the people behind Dig Trace network tools.
Subscribe via RSS
What Is the Difference Between a Router and a Switch?
A router connects networks at Layer 3 using IP addresses. A switch connects devices within a LAN at Layer 2 using MAC addresses. Learn the key differences.
What Is ICMP?
Learn what ICMP is, how it works, and why the Internet Control Message Protocol matters for network diagnostics and troubleshooting.
What Is a Subnet Mask and How Does It Work?
A subnet mask splits an IP address into network and host portions. Learn how it works, how to read one, and why it matters.
What Is a MAC Address? A Guide to Network Hardware IDs
A MAC address is a unique hardware ID assigned to network interfaces. Learn how it works, how it differs from an IP address, and why randomization matters.
What Is the Dig Command? DNS Troubleshooting and Lookup Explained
Learn what the dig command is, how it queries DNS servers directly, and why it's the standard tool for network troubleshooting.
What Is SSL/TLS and How Does It Secure Internet Traffic?
SSL/TLS encrypts internet traffic, authenticates servers, and ensures data integrity between clients and servers using modern protocols TLS 1.2 and 1.3.
What Is Ping? How the Network Diagnostic Utility Works
Ping is a network diagnostic utility that tests host reachability and measures latency using ICMP echo requests and replies.
What Is the Difference Between Public and Private IP Addresses?
Learn how public and private IP addresses differ, how NAT translates between them, and what CGNAT and IPv6 mean for your network.
What Is an IP Address and How Does It Work?
An IP address is a unique network identifier. Learn what an IP address is, how IPv4 and IPv6 differ, and how to find your public IP address instantly.
How to Run an Accurate Internet Speed Test and Actually Interpret the Results
Learn how to benchmark internet speed accurately, interpret latency-under-load, spot bufferbloat, and choose the right tool for real network diagnostics.
What Is an Internet Speed Test and How Does It Work
An internet speed test measures download, upload, latency, and jitter between your device and a test server. Learn how it works and how to read results.