Suzanne Taylor

RIPEstat: New Text Service Now Available

Suzanne Taylor
Contributors: Christopher Amin

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RIPEstat is now also available as a text-based interface for users who prefer a command-line interface (CLI) and those interested in including RIPEstat data in shell scripting.


RIPEstat users have been asking for an alternative text-based interface, and we listened. We’re pleased to announce the RIPEstat Text Service , which offers the same consolidated, useful information about IP addresses and Autonomous System Numbers as the regular web interface, but is designed for users who prefer to use a command-line program and are interested in including RIPEstat data in their own scripts.

RIPEstat users can access the plaintext TCP service using standard tools on stat.ripe.net port 43 . They also have the option to download and install the open source code, which includes a command-line program.

This also means users can customise the code for their own needs, such as creating their own widget, and share their contributions with the rest of the community.

The RIPEstat Text Service uses a simple line-based protocol that works with a number of text-based network clients, including whois . However, it differs from standard whois interfaces like the one for the RIPE Database.

Below you can see an example output of a whois query.

 whois -h stat.ripe.net as3333
 % Results for 'as3333'
% You can see graphical visualizations at https://stat.ripe.net/as3333

as-overview:        AS3333
announced:          yes
description:        RIPE-NCC-AS - Reseaux IP Europeens Network Coordination Cen
part-of:            AS1-65535: the 16-bit ASN Block
query-time:         2012-10-27T14:56:00 to 2012-10-30T14:56:00

geoloc:             AS3333
location:           100.0%  NL
query-time:         2012-10-01T00:00:00

registry-browser:   AS3333
type:               aut-num
as-name:            RIPE-NCC-AS
descr:              Reseaux IP Europeens Network Coordination Centre 
org:                ORG-RIEN1-RIPE
admin-c:            JDR-RIPE
admin-c:            BRD-RIPE
tech-c:             OPS4-RIPE
mnt-by:             RIPE-NCC-END-MNT
mnt-by:             RIPE-NCC-MNT
num-versions:       90
% The ref-by- fields show which objects refer to AS3333
ref-by-route:       193.0.0.0/21|AS3333
ref-by-route:       193.0.10.0/23|AS3333
ref-by-route:       193.0.12.0/23|AS3333
ref-by-route:       193.0.18.0/23|AS3333
ref-by-route:       193.0.20.0/23|AS3333
ref-by-route:       193.0.22.0/23|AS3333
ref-by-route6:      2001:67c:2e8::/48|AS3333

routing-status:     AS3333
ipv4-visibility:    100% of 91 peers
ipv6-visibility:    100% of 83 peers
first-seen:         before Jan 2001
announced-v4:       6 prefixes; 4608 IPs
announced-v6:       1 prefixes; 1 /48 equivalents
bgp-neighbours:     165
query-time:         2012-10-29T00:00:00

Figure 1: Example of a query result in the new text service

To start with, eight of the RIPEstat data calls currently available in the web interface have been specifically tailored for the text service. However, the other data calls will still produce a “best effort” output. Additional functionality will be developed based on the feedback we get from you, the users, about what would be most useful.

You can see more examples of queries and the output format, and learn how to request new data calls and contribute your own enhancements to the service on the RIPEstat Text Service documentation page .

Feedback

Please send your comments, questions and suggestions to stat [at] ripe [dot] net or join the Measurement Analysis and Tools (MAT) working group mailing list or more in-depth discussions about RIPEstat.

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About the author

Suzanne Taylor is a Public Policy & Internet Governance Consultant. In her work with the RIPE NCC, she has engaged with a broad range of Internet stakeholders including the RIPE NCC membership, governments, law enforcement and intergovernmental organisations. From 2012 to 2016, she worked in communications at the RIPE NCC and has previously worked as a journalist and in media relations and science communications.

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