Ethereal-dev: Re: [ethereal-dev] Spy

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From: John McDermott <jjm@xxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Wed, 04 Aug 1999 13:51:47 -0600
SPY's "protocol definition language" looks very intersting.  I like the
aspects of display rules etc.  The problem is that it appears to be a
*packet description language* not a *protocol description language*.
That is, there appears that there is no method for specifying protocol
rules at any level.

For instance, you cannot say that in POP3
DELE 100
will be followed by
+OK
or a rejection.
There are plenty of ways to specify packets (e.g. ASN.1) and one could
create a display syntax much like spy's, but I thought Richard was
looking for a *protocol* description language with state machines and
the like, as opposed to just a packet description language.  Was I
confused?

--john


Gilbert Ramirez wrote:
> 
> I was looking at Freshmeat and noticed Spy, a Unix protocol analyzer.
> It's not freeware, but you can use it for free for non-commercial uses.
> 
> It includes a protocol description language in order to extend its
> inventory of protocols. here's the URL describing that language:
> 
> http://pweb.de.uu.net/trillian.of/Spy/documentation/doc4.html#4
> 
> The main page of course is
> 
> http://pweb.de.uu.net/trillian.of/Spy/
> 
> --gilbert

-- 
John McDermott jjm@xxxxxxxxxx
Writer and Computer Consultant
J-K International, Ltd.
+1 505/377-6293 - V
+1 505/377-6313 - F