sc_warts2pcap

Convert the data from several warts files into one PCAP file

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

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

sc_warts2pcap [OPTIONS] [warts_file ...]

-w <pcap_file>
    Writes the converted PCAP data to the specified output file. If omitted, output is directed to standard output (stdout).

-D
    Enables verbose debug output during the conversion process.

-h
    Displays a help message with command usage and exits.

-v
    Displays the version information of sc_warts2pcap and exits.

-N
    Suppresses the writing of scamper's measurement metadata into the pcap file.

-S
    Forces the writing of scamper's measurement metadata into the pcap file. This is often the default behavior.

-C <snaplen>
    Sets the pcap snapshot length (capture length) in bytes, limiting the amount of data captured per packet.

-i <interface>
    Sets the pcap interface name in the pcap global header.

-L <linktype>
    Specifies the pcap link-layer type (e.g., EN10MB for Ethernet) for the output file.

-t <offset>
    Applies a time offset in seconds to the packet timestamps in the generated pcap file.

-T <type>
    Specifies the type of scamper trace measurements to convert (e.g., icmp-echo, udp-traceroute, tcp-connect).

-B
    Writes the pcap file in big-endian byte order.

-s
    Writes the pcap file in small-endian byte order (default on most systems).

sc_warts2pcap is a specialized utility from the scamper suite, designed to convert network measurement data stored in warts format into the widely recognized pcap (Packet CAPture) format. Warts files are generated by scamper, a tool used for active Internet topology discovery and measurement, containing detailed records of probes and replies (e.g., from traceroutes or pings).

The primary purpose of sc_warts2pcap is to enable the analysis of scamper's raw measurement data using standard network protocol analyzers like Wireshark, tcpdump, or tshark. By transforming the data into pcap, users can visualize packet-level interactions, inspect headers, and apply various filtering techniques, providing a deeper understanding of the network events captured by scamper. This conversion utility is essential for researchers and network engineers who require detailed packet-level visibility into their scamper-derived datasets.

• Data Fidelity: Not all intricate details from warts files directly map to standard pcap packets. Some scamper-specific metadata might be lost or encoded in ways that require specific interpretation in pcap.
• Source Interpretation: To properly analyze the converted pcap, users should be familiar with scamper's measurement methodologies, including the specific ICMP types, UDP/TCP ports, and packet structures used for probes.
• File Integrity: The command assumes valid and well-formed warts input files. Corrupted or malformed warts data can lead to conversion errors or incomplete output.

sc_warts2pcap offers flexible input and output options. It can read warts data from one or more specified files, or from standard input (stdin) by passing '-' as a filename. The converted pcap output is written to standard output (stdout) by default, but can be redirected to a specific file using the '-w' option. This design facilitates seamless integration into shell pipelines for automated processing.

The '-T' option is vital for accurate conversions. Scamper can perform various types of network measurements (e.g., ICMP echo requests, UDP-based traceroutes, TCP-based connect probes). Specifying the correct trace type with '-T' ensures that sc_warts2pcap accurately parses the corresponding warts records and generates a pcap representation that correctly reflects the original probes and their replies, crucial for meaningful analysis.

sc_warts2pcap is an integral component of the scamper measurement suite, which originated from research efforts at the Cooperative Association for Internet Data Analysis (CAIDA). Developed to improve Internet topology mapping, scamper generates detailed network measurement data in its proprietary warts format. sc_warts2pcap was created as a crucial bridge, enabling the conversion of this specialized data into the universally recognized pcap format. This interoperability ensures that scamper's rich datasets can be readily analyzed using standard network analysis tools, thus broadening their accessibility and utility for network researchers and engineers.

scamper(1), sc_analysis_dump(1), tcpdump(1), tshark(1), wireshark(1)