“The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) last week launched
a working group to develop ICMP Traceback Messages, which would let
network managers discover the path that packets take through the
Internet. Nicknamed itrace, the new working group plans to
submit a proposed standard for traceback messages to the IETF
leadership next January.”
“Itrace can’t prevent denial-of-service attacks. But it will be
an important tool for network managers trying to isolate and stop
these attacks. The itrace approach also can address
denial-of-service attacks inside a far-flung corporate network
built on Internet standards.”
“Itrace also faces a deployment challenge because it becomes
effective only after the technology is installed across the
Internet’s backbone and edge routers. In the best-case scenario,
the itrace rollout will take 18 months.”