How to Use the 'peerindex' Command (with Examples)

peerindex is a robust command-line tool designed for inspecting MRT (Multi-threaded Routing Toolkit) TABLE_DUMPV2 Peer Index Tables. It’s especially beneficial for network engineers and administrators who need to analyze large volumes of routing data. The tool can seamlessly read files that are compressed using popular compression methods like gzip, bzip2, and xz. This functionality makes it adaptable and efficient for processing different datasets. More information about this tool can be found on its project page on Codeberg.

Use Case 1: List All Peers

Code:

peerindex master6.mrt

Motivation:

Listing all peers from a TABLE_DUMPV2 file is crucial for network management and diagnostics. By having a comprehensive list of all peers, network administrators can assess the network’s overall health and detect anomalies, such as unexpected peers or missing expected peers. This functionality is fundamental for establishing a baseline understanding of the network’s peer-to-peer arrangements and is instrumental when preparing for deeper analyses or troubleshooting efforts.

Explanation:

• peerindex: This is the core command that initiates the peer index inspection process.
• master6.mrt: This is the specific MRT TABLE_DUMPV2 file that the tool will process. The filename suggests this file might be related to IPv6 routes, though the naming is arbitrary and up to the user’s discretion.

By issuing this command, peerindex will parse the master6.mrt file and list all peers contained within it, irrespective of their individual characteristics or the data they have provided.

Example Output:

Peer Index Table:
- Peer 1: AS12345, 192.0.2.1
- Peer 2: AS23456, 198.51.100.3
- Peer 3: AS34567, 203.0.113.5
...

Use Case 2: Display All Peers That Have Provided Routing Information

Code:

peerindex -r master6.mrt

Motivation:

In situations where a network administrator needs to conduct a more focused analysis on network activity, particularly the routing data exchanges among peers, getting a list of all peers that have actively provided routing information is invaluable. This use case highlights which peers are not only part of the network but are also contributing to the routing table data, which can be crucial for performance tuning, routing policy assessment, and even security evaluations.

Explanation:

• peerindex: As before, this is the command to start parsing the peer data from the specified file.
• -r: This option tells peerindex to filter the peer list to only those peers which have actively provided routing information. It’s essentially a switch that narrows down the dataset to active participants in routing information exchange.
• master6.mrt: This file is the source of the peer data. The same file used in the first use case, now processed with an additional filter, provides more focused insights.

After executing this command, peerindex outputs a list of peers that have been detected as participants in the routing exchange, enhancing the network administrator’s ability to assess the current operational peers in a dynamic routing environment.

Example Output:

Active Routing Peers:
- Peer 1: AS12345, 192.0.2.1
- Peer 3: AS34567, 203.0.113.5
...

Conclusion:

peerindex is an essential tool for network professionals who need to analyze MRT TABLE_DUMPV2 files. By providing functionalities to list all peers and specifically highlight those involved in routing data exchanges, the tool aids in understanding and managing complex network environments. Whether ensuring that network peers are correctly configured or detecting those contributing routing information, peerindex serves as a critical component in network analysis and troubleshooting.