Subject: Re: netstat -i in /etc/daily
To: None <tech-userlevel@netbsd.org, tech-net@netbsd.org, itojun@iijlab.net>
From: None <alexis@panix.com>
List: tech-net
Date: 01/23/2000 23:16:10
Here's an example from earlier in this thread:
>smaug% cat x | awk '{ if ( $4 !~ /:/ || $3 ~ /Link/ ) print ; }'
>Name Mtu Network Address Ipkts Ierrs Opkts Oerrs Colls
>sm1 1500 <Link> 00:00:86:05:80:fa 2358 0 2581 0 38
>sm1 1500 202.232.15.96 202.232.15.108 2358 0 2581 0 38
>lo0 32976 <Link> 96 0 96 0 0
>lo0 32976 127 127.0.0.1 96 0 96 0 0
>lo1* 32976 <Link> 0 0 0 0 0
Itojun wrote:
> the above example assumes that we have "-in" in command line,
> and is not true at this moment ("-i"). is it okay if I add "-n"?
> I believe "-n" is better for diagnosis, and for no reverse query delays.
First of all, by all means, add "-n"...
But, while we're at it, let me offer a slightly different example, which
illustrates some severe brokenness in the current netstat, and shows why I
think my proposal (combine network & address using /bits notation) is superior:
> Name Mtu Network Address Ipkts Ierrs Opkts Oerrs Coll
> de0 1500 <Link> 00:c0:f0:1f:23:77 1326852479 0 1490221988 4 0
> de0 1500 166.84.0.128/ 166.84.0.135 1326852479 0 1490221988 4 0
> lo0 32976 <Link> 1029052137 0 1029052137 0 0
> lo0 32976 127 127.0.0.1 1029052137 0 1029052137 0 0
(Note that I've removed some spaces to prevent it from running off the edge of
the screen- only mentioned because that's part of what drove this discussion.)
So... What's my netmask? Worse, if this happens with an alias (so you can't
look at it with ifconfig), I'm not sure there's *any* way to find out without
writing code. (Well, any reasonable way, anyway.)
So here's what I suggest:
1) By default, combine network and address. This provides the most useful
info, as well as shortening the average line length.
2) For those who are concerned about the binary-impaired being able to
figure out their network/broadcast address, add another flag (-v?) which
adds a "Network Base" and "Broadcast Address" field, and gives up any pretense
of trying to fit everything on one line.
BTW, this just points out that netstat -i has been twisted a bit from its
original intended purpose. Obviously, we don't really need to see all the
packet-counting data for every alias on an interface. For the sake of users
of other Unixes, I don't think we should change this, but perhaps we need
a new command, just for listing all of a machines interfaces and the
adresses/masks they have. This might even be better done in ifconfig than
in netstat.
/a
---
Alexis Rosen
PANIX Public Access Unix & Internet, NYC.
alexis@panix.com