sniffit.5

NAME

       sniffit - configuration file for sniffit (name arbirtary)

DESCRIPTION

       This  page  describes  the  format for the config file for
       sniffit (see sniffit(8) ). This file allows you to specify
       in great detail witch packets should be processed by snif­
       fit.  This file also controls (or will control) some func­
       tions for the continuous logging ('-L' option).

       A  sniffit  config file might look like (Be sure to end it
       with a BLANK line):

              # Sniffit Sample Config file -- Brecht Claerhout

              logfile /var/adm/sniffit.today.log

              # First select all packets!
              select both mhosts 1
              select both mhosts 2

              # Now deselect all packets from/to those damn 'surfers'
              deselect both port 80
              deselect both port 8001

       This file will tell sniffit to process all packets on  the
       subnet  except  those  FROM/TO  ports 80 and 8001 (thus we
       don't want logs of those mass WWW connections  witch  turn
       our logs unreadable).

GLOBAL FORMAT

       The  file  consists  of lines, lines are formed by fields,
       fields are separated with SPACES (NO TABS).  Unix  comment
       lines (starting with '#' are allowed).  So this gives us:

              <field1> <field2> <field3> <field4> <field5>

FIELD FORMAT

       <field1>
              select  -  Sniffit will look for packets that match
              the following description (other fields)

              deselect - Sniffit will ignore packets  that  match
              the description

              logfile  -  change  the  logfile  name  to <field2>
              instead of the default 'sniffit.log'

       <field2>
              from - Packets FROM the host matching the following
              desc. are considered.

              to - similar, Packets TO the....

              both - similar, Packets FROM or TO the....

              a  filename  -  as  an  argument  of  'logfile'  in
              <field1>

       <field3>
              host - The (de)selection criteria involves a  host­
              name.

              port - similar, ... a portnumber

              mhosts - The (de)selection criteria involves multi­
              ple-hosts, like with the  wildcars  in  0.3.0,  but
              without the 'x'

       <field4>
              Either  a hostname, a portnumber, a service name or
              a numbet-dot partial notation  indicating  multiple
              hosts  depending  on  <field3>  (service names like
              'ftp' are resolved as the services  available  pre­
              sent  on the host that runs Sniffit, and translated
              into a port nr)

       <field5>
              A portnumber, if <field3> was  'host'  or  'mhosts'
              (optional, if not filled in, all ports are going to
              be (de)selected)

FILE INTERPRETING

       The config file is interpreted SEQUENTIAL,  so  watch  it,
       don't mix lines in a file. Example:

                    select both mhosts 100.100.12.
                    deselect both port 80
                    select both host 100.100.12.2

              This file will get you the packets:
                    a) Send by hosts '100.100.12.*'
                    b) EXCEPT the WWW packets
                    c) BUT showing the WWW packets concerning
                       100.100.12.2

                    select both mhosts 100.100.12.
                    select both host 100.100.12.2
                    deselect both port 80

              Will give you the packets (probably unwanted result):
                    a) Send by hosts '100.100.12.*'
                    b) Send from/to 100.100.12.2 (useless line)
                    c) deselecting all WWW packets on the subnet

AUTHOR

       Brecht Claerhout <coder@reptile.rug.ac.be>

SEE ALSO

       sniffit(8)