Introduction
Visual Traceroute is a new feature that can be accessed by calling reflector.cgi with function=vtrace. Currently it can provide visual traceroute from 5 PingER monitors:
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We use TULIP's dynamic ping-based geolocation as compared to say database methods such as used by MaxMind derived tools like GeoIPTools, since often router locations in the database tend to be given as at the corporate HQ that owns the routers (e.g. ESnet routers may supposedly be located in Berkeley).
Performance
Normally it would take about 10 mins to perform a complete visual traceroute but we have incorporated caching to speed up the process. As the router locations are found they are automatically cached in /nfs/slac/g/net/pinger/tulip/cachetr/cache.txt
If the location of all the routers in the requested vtrace are cached then it takes only about 10 secs to give the output.
Design
The tabular traceroute is shown together with the Autonomous System Number (ASN), if known, and router's location coordinates. Clicking on the IP address will take you to the TULIP geolocation utility. Clicking on the ASN will provide information on the ASN.
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This figure shows the traceroute from SLAC to NUST Pakistan. http://www-wanmon.slac.stanford.edu/cgi-wrap/reflector.cgi?function=vtrace&target=nust.edu.pk
Comparisons between MaxMind and TULIP
This presentation was sent to Harvey.
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- CQ Traceoute, server in St Paul, Minnesota, gives country, lat/long and distance of router from server, no map
- DNSTools, server in Frankfurt, no lat/long, provides map
- WhatismyIPaddress, only takes IP addresses, tabular output identifying city, no map
- Montis, has 3 servers, in US (Pacific Northwest), Europe (Ireland) and Asia/Pacific (Singapore)
- Visualware, can choose server region and a limited number of target regions, requires Java
- VisualRoute, buy application, identifies city, no lat/longs. no map
- Free Visual, download free application, don't see a map
- VTrace multiple servers, gives lat/long plus error, provides map