How to use the command 'sc_warts2pcap' (with examples)

The command sc_warts2pcap is a utility tool designed to facilitate the conversion of warts files into the more widely recognizable packet capture format, PCAP. Warts files are typically used within the context of network measurement tools like Scamper, which records various network data such as tracing and probing. Converting these files to PCAP format with sc_warts2pcap allows network analysts and engineers to utilize a broader suite of tools for analyzing and visualizing network behavior, including Wireshark and tcpdump, by transforming warts records into packets.

Use case 1: Convert the data from several warts files into one PCAP file

Code:

sc_warts2pcap -o path/to/output.pcap path/to/file1.warts path/to/file2.warts ...

Motivation:

Network engineers and analysts might often deal with multiple warts files, especially after conducting extended or distributed network measurement campaigns. Converting multiple warts files into a single PCAP file streamlines analysis by consolidating all relevant packet data into a unified format. This is especially beneficial when dealing with large datasets, as it allows for cohesive examination and visualization of the data using common PCAP tools, rather than analyzing each warts file individually.

Explanation:

• sc_warts2pcap: The command used to convert warts files to PCAP.
• -o path/to/output.pcap: The -o option specifies the output file path where the converted PCAP will be saved. This is required to ensure the command knows where to write the converted data.
• path/to/file1.warts path/to/file2.warts ...: Specifies the input warts files that need to be converted to a PCAP file. Multiple files can be listed here, allowing for batch conversion into a single PCAP output.

Example Output:

After execution, you would obtain an output.pcap file which contains all the packet data merged from the specified warts files. This output can be opened in a tool such as Wireshark to visualize and analyze the network packets.

Use case 2: Convert the data from a warts file into a PCAP file and sort the packets by timestamp

Code:

sc_warts2pcap -s -o path/to/output.pcap path/to/file.warts

Motivation:

When analyzing network data, particularly in scenarios involving performance testing or traffic pattern studies, the sequence and timing of packets are critical. Sorting packets by timestamp is essential for temporal analysis, allowing analysts to accurately reconstruct the sequence of network events and examine behaviors such as delays or congestion. By sorting packets during the conversion process, this use case provides a crucial capability for time-sensitive network investigations.

Explanation:

• sc_warts2pcap: This is the conversion tool that transforms warts data into PCAP format.
• -s: This option specifies that the packets should be sorted by timestamp in the output PCAP file. Sorting ensures the data is organized temporally, enabling more precise analysis.
• -o path/to/output.pcap: This indicates where to save the resulting PCAP file.
• path/to/file.warts: The input warts file to be converted into a sorted PCAP file.

Example Output:

Once the command is executed, the output.pcap will contain packets ordered by their timestamps. Using a packet analyzing tool like Wireshark, you can review the packet flow sequentially as they occurred over time, aiding in temporal-based analysis.

Conclusion:

The sc_warts2pcap command is a crucial tool for converting warts files into the PCAP format, making packet data accessible to a wider range of analysis tools. Whether merging multiple files for comprehensive analysis or sorting packets by timestamp for detailed temporal studies, sc_warts2pcap provides flexibility and functionality that enhance the accessibility and usability of network measurement data. These use cases demonstrate how the command can be effectively used in network research and troubleshooting to gain deeper insights into network traffic.