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Networking Fundamentals · Intermediate

Time Exceeded

ICMP type 11 message sent when a packet's TTL reaches zero (code 0) or fragment reassembly times out (code 1).

Definition

Routers send Time Exceeded back to the source when they discard a packet because its TTL expired. Traceroute relies on these messages to identify each hop. Repeated Time Exceeded messages for the same destination can indicate a routing loop.

Example

"TTL expired in transit" from ping indicates a routing loop or too low a TTL.

Exam tip

"TTL expired in transit" in ping output is the classic sign of a routing loop.

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