RouteViews

RouteViews is a project that collects and distributes routing information from the global Internet. It was established in 1997 by the University of Oregon to provide a public source of real-time Internet routing data. The primary goal of RouteViews is to offer visibility into the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) routing table, which is essential for understanding how traffic traverses the internet.

The project operates a distributed network of Route Views collectors located at various Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) worldwide. These collectors peer with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and other network operators, receiving their BGP routing announcements. This data is then processed and made available to researchers, network operators, and other interested parties through various channels, including a public FTP server and a streaming API.

The data provided by RouteViews is used for a wide range of purposes. It aids in network troubleshooting, security analysis, and research into Internet topology and dynamics. By observing how routes change and evolve, network operators can identify potential problems, optimize their routing policies, and detect malicious activities. Researchers utilize the data to study the growth and behavior of the Internet, contributing to a deeper understanding of its complex architecture. RouteViews plays a crucial role in fostering transparency and collaborative knowledge-sharing within the global networking community.