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#	$RCSfile: readme.dist,v $
#	$Revision: 0.16 $
#	$Author: tony $
#	$Date: 1994/05/19 14:24:49 $
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                         P R I D E


                    Policy based Routing

            Implementation, Deployment in Europe



			   README


This contains the first release of the PRIDE tools.  For the release
number of this version see the file VERSION.

This release contains the first versions of the first two PRIDE tools.

        o prtraceroute
        o prcheck
	o prpath

Prtraceroute is  a version of traceroute that presents routing policy
information together with the real time packet trace obtained from
traceroute. It adds AS information to the normal traceroute output, making use
of Routing Registry (RR) database information. It also checks with the RR
database to see how the chosen route compares with the the registered
routing policies in the RR database.
NOTE: For those who have seen an early version of prtraceroute this has many
changes.

Prcheck is a checking tool to make it easy for operators to check their RIPE-81
policy object before it is submitted to an RR. It can do various levels of
testing ranging from basic syntax checking of the policy attributes up to
full checking of policy expressions against other referenced policy objects.

prpath is a tool for showing which paths exist according to policy between any
two given destinations.

This release also contains a "contrib" directory where various useful tools
will be stored related to PRIDE. This currently contains a generic TCP talk
program known as "ciscot". The contrib directory may contain any programs/tools
deemed useful to help operators with Policy Based Routing.

If you are interested in issues related to pride you can join the general PRIDE
discussion list known as:

	pride-list@ripe.net

To do this send a mail to:

	majordomo@ripe.net

with the following in the body text.

	subscribe pride-list


To install the tools see the file INSTALL for more details.

For those of you who are unsure what PRIDE is, a short description is given
below.

WHAT IS PRIDE ?
---------------

PRIDE is a co-funded project to cope with the needs of todays network operators
to make use of policy based routing. The key to this in Europe is the RIPE
Routing Registry (RR). In order top promote the RR and the associated
technology two key components are needed:

Implementation
     A set of tools for use by local network operators. These  tools will
enable them to use the routing policy stored in the routing registry to perform
such tasks as check  actual  routing against policies defined, ensure
consistency of policies set by different operators, and simulate the effects of
policy changes.

Deployment
  In order to be useful the routing registry and associated tools need to be 
deployed rapidly by all significant network operators in the European Internet. 
This means there is a big need for information and training of the 
network operator staff, coordination of deployment and support activities. 

So PRIDE will offer both tools and education materials to network operators.

IS PRIDE LIMITED TO EUROPE ?
----------------------------

Whilst the PRIDE development and deployment is based around the European
Routing Registry and the European Internet it is far from limited in its
scope. Anyone who can represent their routing policy according to RIPE-81
(see "docs" directory for a copy of RIPE-81) can make use of the PRIDE tools
and if desired have their data present in the RIPE RR. 
	

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
----------------
This work is carried out under the RARE Technical Programme and was made
possible by support from:
 
        Joint Netowrk Team (GB)
        Uninett (NO)
        UUnet Communications Services (US)
        RENATER (FR)
        EUnet (NL)
