Network Packet Encoding?

twerq has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Just pondering:

Does anybody else see a need for a complete Network Packet library? Tim Potter's Net::Packet was released 25th April, 1999, and hasn't been updated since. Though it was a good start, I think a more robust solution is necessary -- the ability to modify the data returned from the decoding routines and pass them back to (presently non-existant) encoding routines for raw network transmission. . . has anybody else been running into this wall?

From the Perlipq (linux 2.4 userspace packet queuing) README:

TODO
  A general packet mangling package is needed as a 
companion to this, perhaps NetPacket with encode() 
methods implemented.
[download]

Does anybody know of projects or attempts like this out there anywhere? If I start it up, will anybody else help with some of the more obscure protocols? Won't be hard. .

Comment on Network Packet Encoding? Download Code

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Re: Network Packet Encoding? by Anonymous Monk on Apr 09, 2001 at 12:28 UTC
I'm planning a new release in a couple of weeks when I get a few weeks off work. I guess one way of encoding rather than decoding packets would be to use a pack() instead of an unpack() with the same args. Take a look at libnet. I was thinking about a perl wrapper for this but the C source gets so hairy it doesn't compile with any of the Perl XS header files. Well it didn't in 1999 anyway.)-: http://www.canvasnet.com/libnet/ Tim.	[reply]
Re: Network Packet Encoding? by spacewarp (Pilgrim) on Apr 09, 2001 at 08:17 UTC
I've actually had a need for something like this for some time. As a system administrator, I'd love the ability to enhance my firewall, and screw with people who are screwing with me. I know I can't be alone in this, so there's definitely demand. I'd be willing to help you out any way I can. Spacewarp DISCLAIMER: Use of this advanced computing technology does not imply an endorsement of Western industrial civilization.	[reply]
Re: Network Packet Encoding? by BlueLines (Hermit) on Apr 10, 2001 at 05:13 UTC
Check out Net::RawIP. BlueLines Disclaimer: This post may contain inaccurate information, be habit forming, cause atomic warfare between peaceful countries, speed up male pattern baldness, interfere with your cable reception, exile you from certain third world countries, ruin your marriage, and generally spoil your day. No batteries included, no strings attached, your mileage may vary.	[reply]
Re: Network Packet Encoding? by tmbg (Novice) on Apr 09, 2001 at 19:58 UTC
A while ago I was in need of a perl way to create custom (bogus) arp packets and send them... I ended up writing it in C and systeming it in, will this solution include the ability to do this? Or is there a way and I just missed it?	[reply]