Which commands and IP fields does Tracert utilize for its operations?

Tracert, or Traceroute, is a network diagnostic tool used to track the path that packets take from a source to a destination across an IP network. It primarily utilizes the Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) for its operations. When Tracert sends packets, it employs the Time to Live (TTL) field in the IP header to determine the route taken.

When a packet is sent with a specific TTL value, routers along the path decrement this value down to zero. When the TTL reaches zero, the router discards the packet and returns an ICMP "Time Exceeded" message back to the source. This allows Tracert to identify the routers (hops) that the packets traverse, effectively mapping the route.

Therefore, the selection that accurately aligns with Tracert’s functionality is the combination of Ping and TTL. Ping is a command that uses ICMP as well and can also provide similar functionalities in terms of checking connectivity, but specifically for Tracert, the critical element is how it manipulates TTL to trace the path of packets through a network. This makes the answer a strong representation of what Tracert requires for its operation.