X-Git-Url: http://git.indexdata.com/?a=blobdiff_plain;f=ziffy%2FFAQ;fp=ziffy%2FFAQ;h=dab0fc9e69961210f2957dfaa6a212383e7ead51;hb=5fb7fa9318c6ea4a6aeecd515cc00fcd46709a3d;hp=0000000000000000000000000000000000000000;hpb=2f1772e6ceae5de8a838b9811822a21acc49a80b;p=yaz-moved-to-github.git diff --git a/ziffy/FAQ b/ziffy/FAQ new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dab0fc9 --- /dev/null +++ b/ziffy/FAQ @@ -0,0 +1,95 @@ + + -*-text-*- + +Q. Why did you implemented ziffy? +A. because of my own personal needs! + + +Q. What can ziffy do for me? +A. ziffy can promiscuously capture network packets from different interfaces, + including of course Ethernet, PPP and ISDN lines, and other interfaces + that your OS supports. Each packet, as read from the network, is stripped + from the lower-level protocols (Ethernet/IP/TCP) header information and + then passed to a Z39.50 ASN.1/BER Decoder. All valid Z39.50 packets are + passed to a pretty print function to show all the Z39.50 information + that the packet carries. + + +Q. Why I should use this program? +A. So, if you are interestered in Z39.50 APDUs, please give ziffy a chance + to run on your system. Perhaps you are interested in network statistics + collection, security monitoring, network debugging, etc. + + If you are a trusted user, ziffy is your friend! + + +Q. Why does ziffy use the Packet Capture Library libpcap? +A. Well, the libpcap package provides a portable framework for low-level + network monitoring. Its system-independent API helps in porting and + alleviates the need for several system-dependent packet capture modules. + libpcap is the choice by default for tools such as ziffy! + + +Q. Why does ziffy use the YAZ Toolkit by IndexData? +A. This is a long story. + To perform its task ziffy needs ASN.1 run-time BER decoding and printing + routines. + + The initial version was based on the ZETA Core Library by Finsiel S.p.A., + which in turn includes and uses the Finsiel X/ASN.1 Toolkit to perform + Z39.50 encoding/decoding/printing routines. + + I still have and maintain this version of the X/ASN.1 software. But I do not + have permissions to let this software run free on the Net because of + copyrigth restrictions. That is the reason I decided to port ziffy + on freeware ASN.1 Toolkits. + + The popular Yaz Toolkit: + o provides the required Z39.50 decoding and printing functionalities + o it is largely used in different contests by several people and organizations + o it is in the public domain + + So it is the choice by default. + Thanks to Sebastian Hammer and Adam Dickmeiss + for their superb and clean work + + +Q. Had ziffy been compiled against other public domain ASN.1 Toolkits? +A. Yes. + I have a version of ziffy written on top of the SNACC ASN.1 Toolkit, + that is not so popular in the Z39.50 community so the YAZ Toolkit does. + + If you know of other public domain ASN.1 Decoders with a pretty print + APDUs routines, please drop me a mail. + I will try to include different printing routines as run-time options + in the following releases of ziffy. + + +Q. Can I know the list of OSs and supported platforms ziffy run on? +A. I written and tested the program on my intel based linux box. + And I ported it on the Solaris 2.6. + I think it should be ported with minimal effort on + o Ultrix 4.1.3 + o Irix 6.2 + + AIX? who can say? it is a so different flavor of Unix + + NT? oh no, again! please don't ask. + + +Q. Where can I get the latest version of ziffy? +A. You can download it from ftp anonymous site: + ftp://zeta.tlcpi.finsiel.it/pub/z3950/ziffy + + +Q. Where can I get more information on ziffy? +A. Visit the ziffy official home page. + http://zeta.tlcpi.finsiel.it/z3950/ziffy + + +Q. Are there any mailinglist dedicated to ziffy? +A. No! for the time being. + + +Q. If I need support can I contact you? +A. Yes, but I am so busy. So send me a mail and please be patient!