What is the purpose of running the command tracert -d 52.5.76.173?

The command "tracert -d 52.5.76.173" is used to trace the route packets take from the source to the specified destination IP address, in this case, 52.5.76.173. The use of the "-d" option instructs the command to resolve IP addresses to their domain names as numbers only, which can speed up the process and simplify the output.

In the context of the choices provided, the primary purpose of the command is to check the path that packets take to reach the specified IP address. By examining the output, one can observe the intermediate hops along the route, which may include routers and firewalls. This can help determine if there are any points within the network path where the Sophos Firewall is located or if there are any connectivity issues.

Tracing the route can reveal whether the Sophos Firewall is actively routing traffic to the specified IP address, thus confirming its involvement in the Internet route. It provides insight into the network topology and helps diagnose connectivity problems, making it a valuable tool for network administrators.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately describe the function of the tracert command. Analyzing network security involves deeper evaluations and not just route tracing; determining bandwidth usage requires