Skitter

First released in 1998, skitter is a tool for actively probing the Internet in order to analyze topology and performance.

Skitter was also used in reference to the Macroscopic Topology Measurements Project and the Skitter infrastructure, which has since been replaced with the Archipelago (Ark) infrastructure.

On Feb 8, 2008, after 10 years of data collection and 4TB of data, we deactivated skitter data collection and transitioned to our next generation topology measurement infrastructure named Archipelago (Ark). We already perform large-scale topology measurements on Ark, and we recommend researchers use this new dataset, which employs an improved measurement methodology. The new IPv4 Routed /24 Topology Dataset collected on Ark extends back to Sep 13, 2007 and overlaps with the last five months of skitter data.

| Macroscopic Topology Project Skitter AS Links Dataset Data Access |

| architecture ITDK results sample analysis code visualizations router adjacencies |

Skitter Goals

Sample Visualization from skitter Data

The research goals of this project are described on our Macroscopic Topology Measurements page. Specific data collection goals include:

Measure Forward IP Paths
skitter records each hop from a source to many destinations. by incrementing the "time to live" (TTL) of each IP packet header and recording replies from each router (or hop) leading to the destination host.
Measure Round Trip Time
skitter collects round trip time (RTT) along with path (hop) data. skitter uses ICMP echo requests as probes to a list of IP destinations.
Track Persistent Routing Changes
skitter data can provide indications of low-frequency persistent routing changes. Correlations between RTT and time of day may reveal a change in either forward or reverse path routing.
Visualize Network Connectivity
By probing the paths to many destination IP addresses spread throughout the IPv4 address space, skitter data can be used to visualize the directed graph from a source to much of the Internet.

Acceptable Use Agreement

All skitter data are publicly available since February 2014.

Access to these data is subject to the terms of the following CAIDA Acceptable Use Agreement (printable version in PDF format)
CAIDA ACCEPTABLE USE AGREEMENT for PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE DATASETS The following terms comprise the Acceptable Use Policy and Data License Agreement for all publicly accessible datasets (the "Public Agreement") made available by the Center for Applied Internet Data Analysis (CAIDA), a research unit at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and governed by The Regents of the University of California. LICENSE CAIDA's authorization to access the data grants You a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-assignable, and terminable license to copy, modify, and use the data in accordance with this Public Agreement. No license is granted for any other purpose and there are no implied licenses in this Agreement. Nothing in this License is intended to limit any rights You may have arising from fair use or due to other limitations on CAIDA's exclusive rights under copyright law or other applicable laws. CAIDA has the authority and reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to discontinue further access and use to anyone who violates this AUA. If You create a publication (including web pages, papers published by a third party, and publicly available presentations) using data from this dataset, You should cite the data as follows: The CAIDA UCSD [DataSet Name] - [dates used], https://www.caida.org/data/[dataset-URL] We encourage You to provide CAIDA with a copy of (or a link to) the publication. We use this information in reports to our funding agencies. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES. CAIDA USES ITS BEST EFFORTS TO PROVIDE DATA IN ACCORDANCE WITH ETHICAL PRINCIPLES AND SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY. HOWEVER, THE DATA PROVIDED HEREIN IS ON AN "AS IS" BASIS. NEITHER CAIDA, ITS RESEARCHERS, RESEARCH PARTNERS, LICENSORS, AND DATA PROVIDERS, NOR THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AND ITS TRUSTEES, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS MAKE ANYWARRANTY, EITHER IMPLIED OR EXPRESS, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE ACCURACY, TIMELINESS, COMPLETENESS, RELIABILITY, OR AVAILABILITY OF CAIDA DATA, APPLICATIONS, OR SERVICES ACCESSIBLE THROUGH OR MADE AVAILABLE BY CAIDA. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. TO THE EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL CAIDA AND THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BE LIABLE TO YOU OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE DATA. If You have any questions about the data or about this Public Agreement, please email data-info@caida.org.

When referencing this data (as required by the AUA), please use:

The CAIDA UCSD Macroscopic Skitter Topology Dataset - < dates used >,
https://www.caida.org/tools/measurements/skitter

Also, please, report your publication to CAIDA.

Data Access

Access the publicly available CAIDA Macroscopic Skitter Topology Dataset

Research and Publications Based on Skitter Data

CAIDA publications based on skitter data
Non-CAIDA publications based on skitter data (list compiled based on Internet search)
Non-CAIDA publications using skitter data (list compiled based on feedback from skitter data users)
Non-CAIDA publications referencing skitter tool or data

Please send any questions regarding skitter to skitter-info@caida.org.