--- /dev/null
+
+ -*-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 <quinn@indexdata.dk> and Adam Dickmeiss
+ <adam@indexdata.dk> 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!
projects / yaz-moved-to-github.git / blobdiff