Looking Glass server

Server (computing)

In the context of client-server architecture, a server is a computer program running to serve the requests of other programs, the "clients". Thus, the "server" performs some computational task on behalf of "clients"...

s are computer

Computer

A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...

s on the Internet

Internet

The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...

 running one of a variety of publicly available Looking Glass software implementations. A Looking Glass server

Server (computing)

In the context of client-server architecture, a server is a computer program running to serve the requests of other programs, the "clients". Thus, the "server" performs some computational task on behalf of "clients"...

 (or lg server) is accessed remotely for the purpose of viewing routing

Routing

Routing is the process of selecting paths in a network along which to send network traffic. Routing is performed for many kinds of networks, including the telephone network , electronic data networks , and transportation networks...

 info. Essentially, the server

Server (computing)

In the context of client-server architecture, a server is a computer program running to serve the requests of other programs, the "clients". Thus, the "server" performs some computational task on behalf of "clients"...

 acts as a limited, read-only portal to routers of whatever organization is running the lg server. Typically, publicly accessible looking glass servers are run by Internet service provider

Internet service provider

An Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...

s (ISPs) or NOCs

Network Operations Center

A network operations center is one or more locations from which control is exercised over a computer, television broadcast, or telecommunications network....

.

External links

• Packet Clearing House
  Packet Clearing House
  Packet Clearing House or PCH is a non-profit research institute formed in 1994. It supports operations and analysis in the areas of Internet traffic exchange, routing economics, and global network development.-Overview:...
  
   looking glass servers around the world.
• Looking Glass server source code
• Clickable map of known Reverse Lookup and Looking Glass servers in the world
• Looking Glass Wiki - List of hundreds of Looking Glass servers, sorted by Autonomous System Number.
• IPv4 and IPv6 BGP Looking Glasses at BGP4.as
• Looking glass software written in PHP at phplg.com (down 2011-11-17)