AAREADME.1ST =============================================================================== THE SOFTWARE Probe is a network monitoring tool which allows the real-time capture and/or graphical display of Ethernet traffic activity and the tabular formatting of previously collected frame and/or data. The main features are: o Extensive user-specified attributes allow fine-grained filtering and enhanced presentation of raw or computed traffic data. Key attributes are dynamically modifiable. o Sampling can be performed unattended (in batch for example) by setting a cycle of alternating collection and sleep intervals. Statistics are produced for every cycle. o Automatic and static symbolic representation of Ethernet addresses. o Optional (complete or partial) frame data capture and playback. o Automatic line counters (collision) tracking. o Runs on both VAX and Alpha/AXP. Heavily speed-optimized high-priority multi-process MACRO32 user-mode code (assembled on VAX, compiled on AXP) for capture/display. Playback program in VAXC. Please consult the help file (PROBE.HLP) for full details. =============================================================================== KIT The following files are included in the distribution: AAREADME.1ST This file. AAREADME.2ND Building instructions. Some history and future... DEFAULT.TBL Template protocol & node definitions. More info (*). FORMAT.COM Recording file formatting DCL procedure. FREEWARE_DEMO.TXT Typical outputs and description. FREEWARE_README.TXT Packaging information for VMS freeware CD. PROBE.CLD Main command-line interface definition. PROBE.HLB Help library. SETUP.COM Command procedure for logicals/symbols set up. [.AXP]ACQ.EXE Network listener executable. (Alpha VMS 6.2) [.AXP]DMS.EXE Display/statistician executable. (Alpha VMS 6.2) [.AXP]PROBE.EXE Primary control executable. (Alpha VMS 6.2) [.SRC]ACQ.MAR Source for network listener. [.SRC]BUILD.COM Command procedure for generating the executables. [.SRC]CRTL.OPT Linker playback option file (VAX-C-RTL). [.SRC]DMS.MAR Source for display/statistician. [.SRC]PROBE.HLP Help file. New features... [.SRC]PROBE.MAR Source for primary control program. [.SRC]PROBE.MSG Source for primary messages. [.SRC]PROBELIB.MLB Global definitions and miscellaneous macros library. [.SRC]REPLAY.C Source for playback. (VAXC) [.SRC]REPLAY.MSG Source for playback messages. [.SRC]TABLE.CLD Table command-line interface definition. [.SRC]V22$LOGDEF.H Recording file layout. [.SRC]V22$MACROS.H Playback global structure & definitions. [.VAX]ACQ.EXE Network listener executable. (VAX VMS 5.4-2) [.VAX]DMS.EXE Display/statistician executable. (VAX VMS 5.4-2) [.VAX]PROBE.EXE Primary control executable. (VAX VMS 5.4-2) [.VAX]REPLAY.EXE Playback executable. (VAX VMS 5.5) [.VAX]REPLAY.OBJ Object for playback. (VAXC 3.1-051) (*) This file also contains master listing of known ethernet protocols and manufacturers codes. This kit was produced to conform to VMS Freeware CDrom conventions. Although it contains (VAX and Alpha) executable files, I encourage you to rebuild to your specific version of VMS. (see AAREADME.2ND) This release is an update of PROBE 2.2, specifically for Alpha support, but also contains functional enhancements. Refer to the Release_notes topic in the help library. Check on FTP.WKU.EDU, FTP.SPC.EDU and other VMS archives for eventual updates of this software. =============================================================================== THE AUTHOR Comments, suggestions, questions and/or potential code-modifications can be directed to the author: Stephane Germain via E-Mail at: germain@eisner.decus.org (Support and development on a "time-permitting" basis only) =============================================================================== COPYRIGHT NOTICE This software is COPYRIGHT © 1989-1996, Stephane Germain. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Permission is granted for not-for-profit redistribution, provided all source and object code remain unchanged from the original distribution, and that all copyright notices remain intact. DISCLAIMER This software is provided "AS IS". The author makes no representations or warranties with respect to the software and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose. =============================================================================== THANKS I wish to acknowledge: (1) Brian Schenkenberger (schenkenberg@eisner.decus.org) for providing insight about a subtle Alpha/AXP (AMACRO32) behavior.