Which tool would help identify where packets are being dropped in a network connection?

Using tracert is an effective way to identify where packets are being dropped in a network connection. This tool works by sending a series of Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP) echo requests to the destination and records the time taken for each hop along the route. As it progresses from the source to the destination, it provides a time-out for each hop that does not respond. If a packet is dropped at a particular point in the network, tracert will show a time of "Request timed out" for that hop. This allows network administrators to pinpoint problematic segments of the network, enabling further troubleshooting and resolution.

The other options serve different purposes. For instance, ping checks the reachability of a host and measures round-trip times, but it does not provide route information or details about where packets are dropped along the way. Nslookup is primarily used for DNS queries to resolve domain names into IP addresses, while netstat provides information on network connections and listening ports but does not diagnose packet loss or routing issues. Each of these tools has its specific function, but tracert is uniquely suited for tracing the path and identifying where issues like packet loss occur in a network.