PT Announces FreeNote

FreeNote is a distributed system for measuring the time different types of Internet connections take. The FreeNote system is composed of many probes distributed across the Internet that collect data about network connections. A central data repository manages the probes, collects data, and then reports on that data. The data collected currently includes DNS performance, basic ping testing, and the time it takes to download a specific web page. By collecting this data from sources that are both geographically and topologically diverse, FreeNote can accurately measure the reliability and speed of both individual sites and the Internet as a whole.

However, to do this, FreeNote needs thousands of probes spread out across the world. Only with probes everywhere - from the major data centers of the Internet to dial-up connections in rural areas - can we present an accurate picture of a site's availability and of a network's performance. We also need probes that are reliable and secure; without reliability and security, probes could transmit incorrect or malicious data back to our database servers and corrupt our results. For this reason, a tremendous amount of thought was put into the design of the FreeNote system.

It is not just our own personal curiosity that drives the collection of performance information about the Internet. Internet Service Providers, especially in large data centers, have Service Level Agreements - SLAs - with their customers, guaranteeing certain levels of connectivity. High-level SLAs often specify not only time connected to the network, which is usually measured in decimal points after 99%, but the quality of connection. A tool such as FreeNote allows for excellent monitoring of SLA compliance, and both service providers and clients have an interest in such monitoring.

Metrics and monitoring services are not only useful for SLAs, however. Individual service providers, even if they are not contractually bound to provide service 99% of the time, will find benefit from knowing when their service is performing poorly or not at all. Individual users will be able to collect statistics about different ISPs and web content providers, measuring which are more reliable in their area. Essentially, more publically available information about the performance of the Internet leads to more public knowledge about the performance of the Internet - which we hope will lead to more accountability for service providers and more informed decisions by consumers.

While this information is free of monetary cost to the public and to service providers, it does require effort. Without probes in large data centers as well as probes on diverse client connections, FreeNote will not be able to provide accurate information. The more probes FreeNote has, the more accurate data it can provide; while everyone does not need to run a probe, anyone can, and everyone who does helps make the project better. Look for the chance to run your own FreeNote probe very soon!

Coming Soon!