Daemon News 199902 : BSD News

BSD News

Internet Tomography project modifies FreeBSD kernel to probe the 'Net

Reporting in the January 7 issue of the British scientific journal Nature, researchers describe a system to dynamically map and analyse the Internet using simple network packets. Their main tool relies on a custom kernel module for FreeBSD to accurately timestamp network transactions.

By mapping the Internet, researchers K. Claffy, Tracie Monk, and Daniel McRobb of the University of California's San Diego Supercomputer Center, hope to gain an overall understanding of the Internet. They offer the analogy of an ecosystem to model the intractable complexity of the ever-expanding global network. They expect to gain insights into network behaviour when portions are congested, segments fail, or when performance is degraded due to the presence of older hosts that don't implement current routing protocols.

The tool they use, named skitter, uses small packets to study the current routes and delays between known hosts, much the same as the "traceroute" network analysis tool. The difference is that skitter uses multiple synchronised packets to build up a large-scale view of the state of the network at a given moment. The tool provides graphical displays of the network that suggest the comparison to tomography, the technique of visualising the human body's interior by X-rays and other radiation.

More Information

"What are you running" poll.

Full poll results

The Linux-friendly daily webzine Slashdot ran a "I'm currently running..." poll Wednesday January 27. Out of 19,000 votes, only one thousand were cast for *BSD. However, daemon advocates can take heart in knowing they beat out Win9x/NT users in the poll -- Microsoft products were not listed, so we must presume they are lumped in with the four percent who marked "Other".

BSD-based network server connects small offices to the Internet.

OTTAWA, Canada - January 13, 1999 - WindDance Networks Corporation, a leading provider of Web site management and integrated network solutions, today announced the release of Breeze, an all-in-one network server that significantly reduces the amount of time and money necessary for small and medium-sized enterprises to create an effective office network. The product requires no user training and eliminates the need for expensive IT support.

The Breeze Thin Server, which includes a LAN server, Web server and Internet gateway, is a ready-to-use, turnkey, hardware and software solution that is operational in just 15 minutes. The software comes pre-installed and is administrated via a Web browser, making it easy to set up and maintain. The all-in-one concept also eliminates the time-consuming process of matching hardware and software for its initial set up and subsequent upgrades.

"WindDance is committed to meeting the growing market demand for IT products that are as simple to use as the telephone," said Rainer Paduch, President of WindDance Networks Corporation. "Small and medium-sized enterprises must compete in a world that has embraced the Internet as the new standard for doing business."

Priced at $3,300 US, the Breeze Thin Server is BSD-UNIX based and can handle up to 100 users without additional license fees. It is compatible with Windows 95/98, Windows NT and Macintosh environments.

The Breeze Thin Server appliance is available directly from WindDance Networks Corporation by calling 1-613-728-1700, 1-800-290-1038 or via the Internet at http://www.winddancenet.com/.

WindDance Networks Corporation

	BSD News Internet Tomography project modifies FreeBSD kernel to probe the 'Net Reporting in the January 7 issue of the British scientific journal Nature, researchers describe a system to dynamically map and analyse the Internet using simple network packets. Their main tool relies on a custom kernel module for FreeBSD to accurately timestamp network transactions. By mapping the Internet, researchers K. Claffy, Tracie Monk, and Daniel McRobb of the University of California's San Diego Supercomputer Center, hope to gain an overall understanding of the Internet. They offer the analogy of an ecosystem to model the intractable complexity of the ever-expanding global network. They expect to gain insights into network behaviour when portions are congested, segments fail, or when performance is degraded due to the presence of older hosts that don't implement current routing protocols. The tool they use, named skitter, uses small packets to study the current routes and delays between known hosts, much the same as the "traceroute" network analysis tool. The difference is that skitter uses multiple synchronised packets to build up a large-scale view of the state of the network at a given moment. The tool provides graphical displays of the network that suggest the comparison to tomography, the technique of visualising the human body's interior by X-rays and other radiation. More Information "What are you running" poll. Full poll results The Linux-friendly daily webzine Slashdot ran a "I'm currently running..." poll Wednesday January 27. Out of 19,000 votes, only one thousand were cast for *BSD. However, daemon advocates can take heart in knowing they beat out Win9x/NT users in the poll -- Microsoft products were not listed, so we must presume they are lumped in with the four percent who marked "Other". BSD-based network server connects small offices to the Internet. OTTAWA, Canada - January 13, 1999 - WindDance Networks Corporation, a leading provider of Web site management and integrated network solutions, today announced the release of Breeze, an all-in-one network server that significantly reduces the amount of time and money necessary for small and medium-sized enterprises to create an effective office network. The product requires no user training and eliminates the need for expensive IT support. The Breeze Thin Server, which includes a LAN server, Web server and Internet gateway, is a ready-to-use, turnkey, hardware and software solution that is operational in just 15 minutes. The software comes pre-installed and is administrated via a Web browser, making it easy to set up and maintain. The all-in-one concept also eliminates the time-consuming process of matching hardware and software for its initial set up and subsequent upgrades. "WindDance is committed to meeting the growing market demand for IT products that are as simple to use as the telephone," said Rainer Paduch, President of WindDance Networks Corporation. "Small and medium-sized enterprises must compete in a world that has embraced the Internet as the new standard for doing business." Priced at $3,300 US, the Breeze Thin Server is BSD-UNIX based and can handle up to 100 users without additional license fees. It is compatible with Windows 95/98, Windows NT and Macintosh environments. The Breeze Thin Server appliance is available directly from WindDance Networks Corporation by calling 1-613-728-1700, 1-800-290-1038 or via the Internet at http://www.winddancenet.com/. WindDance Networks Corporation