Looking Glass
Test network performance and connectivity to RamNode's datacenters
Table of Contents
What is a Looking Glass?
A Looking Glass is a network diagnostic tool that allows you to test network connectivity, routing, and performance from RamNode's network to your location or other networks. This helps you evaluate network quality before purchasing or troubleshoot connectivity issues.
Available Looking Glass Locations
RamNode provides Looking Glass tools for all our datacenter locations. You can perform ping tests, traceroutes, and MTR (My Traceroute) tests from each location.
North America
- New York, NY - lg-ny.ramnode.com
- Atlanta, GA - lg-atl.ramnode.com
- Los Angeles, CA - lg-la.ramnode.com
- Seattle, WA - lg-sea.ramnode.com
Europe
- Netherlands - lg-nl.ramnode.com
How to Use Looking Glass
Web Interface
Visit any of the Looking Glass URLs above in your web browser. You'll see a simple interface where you can:
- Enter a hostname or IP address to test
- Select the test type (ping, traceroute, MTR)
- View real-time results
Command Line Testing
You can also test connectivity manually using standard network tools:
# Ping test ping lg-ny.ramnode.com # Traceroute traceroute lg-ny.ramnode.com # MTR (My Traceroute) mtr lg-ny.ramnode.com
Understanding Test Results
Ping Results
- Latency - Time for packets to reach destination and return (lower is better)
- Packet Loss - Percentage of packets that didn't return (0% is ideal)
- Jitter - Variation in latency (lower is better)
Traceroute Results
- Each line represents a network hop
- Shows latency at each hop
- Helps identify where slowdowns occur
- Useful for diagnosing routing issues
MTR Results
- Shows all hops like traceroute
- Continuously monitors each hop
- Displays packet loss per hop
- Best tool for comprehensive network analysis
Good Network Performance
- Latency: Typically 1-50ms for nearby locations, up to 200ms for international
- Packet Loss: 0% is ideal, under 1% is acceptable
- Consistent Routing: Same path on repeated tests
- Stable Latency: Minimal variation between tests
Test Files for Speed Tests
Each Looking Glass location also provides test files for download speed testing:
- 100MB test file - good for most connections
- 1GB test file - for high-speed connections
- Available via HTTP for easy browser testing
When to Use Looking Glass
- Before Purchase - Test which location offers best performance for your users
- Troubleshooting - Diagnose connectivity issues
- Performance Testing - Verify network quality
- Routing Issues - Identify problematic network hops
- Comparison - Compare performance across different locations
Important Notes
- Tests are performed from the datacenter to your location
- Results may vary based on time of day and internet traffic
- Test multiple times for accurate results
- Looking Glass doesn't represent your VPS performance, only network connectivity