COAST is a Perl-based software that allows for Change of Authority requests to be sent to network devices. It stands for COA Service Tester and simplifies the process of requesting access to network resources.
One notable attribute of COAST is its ability to support the '.coastrc' file, making it easier for users to access data. With its encrypted attribute support, COAST provides users with a safe and secure platform for network testing. Additionally, the tool comes equipped with an identifier verification system, which ensures the accuracy of the test results.
COAST also has a system in place to detect and handle duplicate (or delayed) reply requests, and comes with support for retries. The software debugs NAS' returned error codes and ensures they are correctly interpreted. Furthermore, COAST is capable of identifying the correct variable type for octets and comes with an in-built, autodetecting CGI handler, making the software accessible over the web.
This software is flexible, and comes with automatic MTU support. It is also equipped to handle packets greater than the MTU size. COAST also provides support for per RND structure base and manipulation. For instance, {rnd10+1000} or {cnt+1000} can be manipulated using the in-built 'eval' function (Note: Use at your own risk).
Users can install, remove, and update components easily with the Makefile. To run the software, use the command "./coast {< options >} -v {< vendor >}:< attr >{:< tag >}=< val >{;..}" and specify the preferred options.
Various options like -r, -p, -a, and -w provide the flexibility required to perform various tests accurately. COAST is sensitive to caps and can support abbreviated names. It can process multiple matches, and use the alphabetically last one found.
To use COAST, you need Perl, libpcap, and Net::RawIP installed. This release of COAST comes with several updates, including -i as the new command-line option for disconnecting; a configuration file option (-c) with the file defaulting to $HOME/.coastrc, and an example of the configuration file. Additionally, the default dictionary was changed to "dictionaries" instead of "dict".
COAST is an intuitive, safe, and easy-to-use software, perfect for testing Change of Authority requests on BRAS devices.
Version 0.5 Alpha: N/A