This README_FIRST file describes software which is made available in the
directory '/pub/network' on the machine 'ftp.nikhef.nl' [192.16.199.1]
Up-to-date copies may be retrieved from other sites only if they mirror
this directory officially.


host.tar.Z		(Version 980903)
	A completely new version of 'host', a nameserver query utility
	a la 'nslookup' and 'dig', but much more versatile and robust.

	Among the new features are:
	o  Extensive error checking.
	o  Optionally (very) verbose output and debugging info.
	o  Checking for extraneous conditions during zone listings
	   such as non-authoritative glue records and lame delegations.
	o  Checking for illegal characters in certain domain names.
	o  Verify that some host-related domain names are canonical.
	o  Perform ttl consistency checking during zone listings.
	o  Recursive traversion of delegated zones up to a given level.
	o  Maintaining of resource record and host count statistics.
	o  Option to check reverse mappings of host addresses.
	o  Option to compare SOA records at the primary and secondary
	   nameservers of a zone to check for anomalies such as
	   out-of-sync serial numbers, and other discrepancies.
	o  Recognition of the new RR types as defined by RFC 1183/1348.
	o  Basic NSAP support according to RFC 1637.
	o  Implement PX/GPOS RR types as defined by RFC 1664/1712.
	o  Implement LOC RR type as defined by RFC 1876.
	o  Recognize AAAA RR type as defined by RFC 1884/1886.
	o  Support for new RR types KEY/SIG/NXT/SRV (still in draft).
	o  Support for RR type NAPTR. Recognize EID/NIMLOC/ATMA.
	o  Support for RR type KX. Recognize CERT.
	o  Allow multiple arguments on command line or from stdin.
	o  Configurable default options via an environment variable.
	o  Anticipate non-BIND behaviour during zone listings.
	And many more; see the manual page, the RELEASE NOTES, and
	the extensively documented code for details.

	You want to link with a BIND 4.9.3 (or newer) resolver library.
	But it is backward compatible with 4.8.3 and even with 4.8.2.
	In order to make queries about toplevel domains, the "domain"
	directive should *not* be present in the nameserver boot file.

	It runs at least on the following platforms:
	HP/HPUX, SGI/IRIX, IBM/AIX, SUN/SunOS, SUN/Solaris,
	DEC/Ultrix, DEC/Alpha, Apollo/DomainOS, NeXT/MACH,
	BSDI/4.4BSD, SCO/ODT3, SCO/OS5, Linux, Cray/Unicos
	BIND 8.1.*, BIND 4.9.*, BIND 4.8.3, BIND 4.8.2

	On non-unix platforms it runs on:
	Windows-NT, Windows-95
	To compile, you need the NT port of BIND 4.9.*
	A pre-compiled executable is available as host_YYMMDD.exe.Z
	It expects a resolv.conf file in the %windir% directory.


ping.tar.Z		(Version 980831)
	A completely new version of good old 'ping'. New features are:
	o  Redesign for proper flood and cisco style ping handling.
	o  Packet loss is now properly reported in all modes.
	o  Support for loose source route option besides record route.
	o  Quick ping without normal output, quit when target is alive.
	o  Option to probe all addresses of multi-homed destinations.
	o  Support for pinging to broadcast address.
	o  Portability hooks for easy installation on various platforms.
	o  Recognize various new icmp packet types and subcodes.
	o  Recognize bounce messages to our own ping requests.
	o  Round-trip time reporting in fractional milliseconds.
	o  Display rtt standard deviation in statistics summary.
	o  Cache nameserver lookups to minimize DNS queries.
	o  Auto-adjust timeout period to cope with slow links.
	o  Multiple gateways to define explicit loose source route.
	o  Define explicit source address for multi-homed hosts.
	Contains a patch for making ip route recording work in
	case you have a SUN with an NC400 ethernet controller.

	It runs at least on the following platforms:
	HP/HPUX, SGI/IRIX, IBM/AIX, SUN/SunOS, SUN/Solaris,
	DEC/Ultrix, DEC/Alpha, Apollo/DomainOS, NeXT/MACH,
	BSDI/4.4BSD, SCO/ODT3, SCO/OS5, Linux
	BIND 8.1.*, BIND 4.9.*, BIND 4.8.3, BIND 4.8.2

	It should also run (but I haven't tested it myself) on the
	platforms: Cray/Unicos


traceroute.tar.Z	(Version 980831)
	A new version of 'traceroute', a utility to show the network
	route to a certain destination. Among the new features are:
	o  Optional ttl reporting.
	o  Optional use of the loose source routing facility,
	   to show the route between arbitrary destinations.
	o  Enhanced portability, to run on a variety of platforms.
	o  Improved timeout handling during icmp packet catching.
	o  Option to probe all addresses of multi-homed destinations.
	o  Option to disable fragmentation and perform MTU discovery.
	o  Recognize various new icmp packet types.
	o  Round-trip time reporting in fractional milliseconds.
	o  Option to display the Autonomous System number for each hop.
	o  Option to display the network name for each hop.
	o  Configurable default options via environment variables.
	o  Optional setting of initial ttl to skip first hops.
	o  Optional min/avg/max rtt statistics summary for each hop.
	o  Include standard deviation in rtt statistics summary.
	o  Cache nameserver lookups to minimize DNS queries.

	This version has been further adapted so that it can run on
	platforms which do not support IPPROTO_RAW manipulation, or
	on which IP_HDRINCL interferes with IPOPT_LSRR.

	It runs at least on the following platforms:
	HP/HPUX, SGI/IRIX, IBM/AIX, SUN/SunOS, SUN/Solaris,
	DEC/Ultrix, DEC/Alpha, Apollo/DomainOS, NeXT/MACH,
	BSDI/4.4BSD, SCO/ODT3, SCO/OS5, Linux
	BIND 8.1.*, BIND 4.9.*, BIND 4.8.3, BIND 4.8.2
	*without* any kernel modifications.

	It should also run (but I haven't tested it myself) on the
	platforms: Cray/Unicos


vrfy.tar.Z		(Version 980820)
	'vrfy' is a tool to verify email addresses and mailing lists.
	In its simplest form it takes an address "user@domain", figures
	out the MX hosts for "domain", and issues the SMTP command VRFY
	at the primary MX host (optionally all), or at "domain" itself
	if no MX hosts exist. Without "domain" it goes to "localhost".
	More complex capabilities are: recursively expanding forward
	files or mailing lists, and detecting mail forwarding loops.
	Full-blown RFC822 address specifications are understood.
	Syntax checking can be carried out either locally or remotely.
	Various options are provided to exploit alternative protocol
	suites if necessary, and to print many forms of verbose output.
	Obvious limitations exist, but on average it works pretty well.
	Needless to say you need internet (nameserver and SMTP) access.
	See the man page and the extensive documentation in the source
	for further details.

	It runs at least on the following platforms:
	HP/HPUX, SGI/IRIX, IBM/AIX, SUN/SunOS, SUN/Solaris,
	DEC/Ultrix, DEC/Alpha, Apollo/DomainOS, NeXT/MACH,
	BSDI/4.4BSD, Linux, Cray/Unicos
	BIND 8.1.*, BIND 4.9.*, BIND 4.8.3, BIND 4.8.2


Please send comments and suggestions to Eric Wassenaar <e07@nikhef.nl>

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