January contest

What better way to kick off the new year than with a new packet analysis contest? Following the manner of the last two contests, a packet capture is provided at the end of this post, and you'll have to extract some arbitrary bit of information from it. The challenge this time: find the IOS version running on 172.16.232.10.

The usual guidelines apply:

  • Your answer must include the exact IOS version (for example, "12.3(8)T2," not just "12.3"). The feature set ("IP Base," "Advanced Enterprise," etc.) is not required in your answer.
  • The answer is reachable with the information provided in the capture using only freely available open source tools.
  • Entries must include a brief explanation of how you arrived at your answer; no guessing.
  • One entry per person.
  • Only entries received by email (including those submitted via the contact form) will be accepted. Please do not post your answer in the comments.
  • If you want a book please be ready to provide your mailing address if you are randomly chosen (winners will be notified; your entry doesn't need to include your mailing address).

E-mail your entry to stretch at packetlife dot net (or use the contact form), with the word "contest" in the subject. Entries are due by 23:59 UTC on Thursday, 8 January. The answer and contest winners will be announced in a post the following day. Feel free to leave comments on this post until then, but please refrain from discussing answers or giving hints (comments are moderated).

Book cover

Since the prize for November's contest was Routing TCP/IP volume 1, it's only fitting that the prize this time is Routing TCP/IP volume 2! I've reviewed both volumes (also see my notes) and heavily recommend both.

Copies of these books have been graciously donated by Cisco Press. Three correct entries will be chosen at random and each will win a copy. (Unfortunately, winners of the last contest aren't eligible to win again, but participation in the challenge is of course still welcome.)

Good luck!

About the Author

Jeremy Stretch is a freelance networking engineer, instructor, and the maintainer of PacketLife.net. He currently lives in Fairfax, Virginia, on the edge of the Washington, DC metro area. Although primarily an R&S guy, he likes to get into everything, and runs a free network training lab out of his basement for fun. You can contact him by email or follow him on Twitter.

Comments

Good contest. I send my answer.

That was a fun one..., answer sent.

as usual I am lost :)

ps. using 'p0f' or 'strings' didn't help

i agree...excellent challenge!

answer submitted.

Nice one!

Nice challenge, I learned a thing or 2. Keep up the good work!!

Happy new year and thanks for that funny contest. I send you an email with my answer ;)

Another nice contest.
this one i was able to extract the info needed from the capture
( last one was a little though )

Cool contest....submitted my answer.

I love these contests.

Great contest answer sent!!

That's a great contest, answer sent!

Fun :)

That was good ;-) Answer sent!!!

cool contest, keep up the excellent work

Since I've introduces my colleagues to the cheat sheets they become daily visitors !

Very nice contest! I surely learned something here which is always a good thing. :)

Great contest. I love these things.

Nice contest.. Let's try something a bit tougher for next time ;-)

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