I was talking about the server mode that runs using that great invention that was the saviour of Unix called systemd.

BTW: I also love nano. I know how to use vi as that is what we used when I had to program in C for my BSc. The interface is second nature but it’s not 1986.

Any how, the sources are mentioned:

It automates many of the things that would take an age if done individually. Automation is good.

I would recommend using it as a quick method to pick up vulnerabilities and abuse. Like those cr@ppy demarcation devices used by some people!!!

R

-----Original Message----- From: Nishal Goburdhan via zanog-discuss zanog-discuss@lists.nog.net.za Sent: Thursday, June 27, 2024 2:04 AM To: Ron B via zanog-discuss zanog-discuss@lists.nog.net.za Cc: Nishal Goburdhan nishal@controlfreak.co.za Subject: [zanog-discuss] Re: asn tool

On 26 Jun 2024, at 10:31, Ron B via zanog-discuss wrote:

This is an awesome small tool to use:

https://github.com/nitefood/asn

It can be used with systemd, just to make Nishal happy. 😊

fine, i’ll take the bait ..

the problem with tools like this, is that while they may be useful to some, they create third party dependencies. so, sure, go ahead and use them, if you can (1) install this on a local $system, and (2) don’t aim to know and/or don’t care how this data is derived.

but if you’re in front of a shell, with no special privileges, it’s important to know how to use the base set of tools that are almost always ubiquitous in any sane operating system. this is why, it’s important to know how to use “vi” instead of “emacs” because that base permission-less shell probably gives you access to vi. always learn how to use the lowest common denominator.

i recall meeting a “cybersecurity expert” on a not-too-far-away island, who wanted to work with an RIR that i worked at. he was looking for collaboration opportunities with said RIR. he had never heard of “whois”, and instead lived under the assumption that some web-based service called “ who.is” (i actually had to look it up after) was the canonical source of truth ¯(ツ)/¯

tools are great. i use a calculator for long division, because it saves me time.

but i still suggest learning first principles for when you need them. (and no, that does not mean that i will stop using my calculator!)

so, in that light, it’s perhaps useful to mention to those that did not know it, that all the RIRs have a standard process for publishing useful information. ftp.<rir>.net/pub/stats/ is where you want to look. and for added benefit the RIRs even mirror the delegation stats from their sisters.

i’ve mailed some of you warnings about lame delegations, and/or funy looking as-sets, and/or other oddities before. that’s because a bored friend (hi frank!) and i, routinely (ie. when time permits) parse a daily diff of the afrinic-db. because, it’s fun [1]. you can too; https://ftp.afrinic.net/pub/dbase/ has a tarball with the database. imagine the joy you could have with that ;-)

—n.

[1] it’s not, really. but it’s wiser to know about problems before they occur ..

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