As the digital landscape evolves, the preservation of internet history has become increasingly critical. The Internet History Initiative (IHI), spearheaded by computer scientist Jim Cowie, seeks to address the loss of valuable data that chronicles the internet’s development.
The PingER Project’s Closure
For nearly three decades, the PingER project at the USA’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory monitored internet performance by measuring the round-trip time of data packets. However, in 2024, the project ceased operations following the retirement of its last team member, leaving behind a wealth of unpreserved data. Cowie, who previously founded Renesys—a company that provided insights into internet infrastructure—highlighted the urgency of preserving such data. He stated, “As time passes, information likes to disappear. If you do not invest, its default is to die.”
Mission and Methodology of IHI
The IHI aims to collect and safeguard records that will enable future historians to analyze the relationship between human and technical progress. Cowie envisions collaboration among archivists, library scientists, and technologists to achieve this goal. A key strategy will involve the LOCKSS principle—“Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe”—to ensure data longevity through offline storage methods designed to last a century.
Collaborative Efforts and Existing Resources
Cowie is optimistic about the IHI’s potential, citing existing initiatives like the RIPE NCC, which has maintained routing and performance data for decades, and the University of Oregon’s RouteViews project, which archives nearly 30 years of Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) routing data. Nina Bargisen, the peering coordinator for RouteViews, expressed willingness to collaborate, indicating that multiple organizations share similar goals.
Future Directions and Data Recovery
Already, the IHI has successfully preserved datasets from RIPE and recovered data from the SLAC PingER project. Cowie has identified additional data for preservation, while also acknowledging the risk of losing other critical datasets. He mentioned an academic paper analyzing data packets between the USA and the UK that remains accessible, yet the underlying data has vanished. Cowie encourages individuals with historical data—such as old traceroutes or zone files—to reach out to the initiative.
While the IHI is in its early stages and discussions about funding and structure are ongoing, Cowie remains hopeful about the initiative’s future and invites interested parties to join its mailing list for updates.
This article was produced by NeonPulse.today using human and AI-assisted editorial processes, based on publicly available information. Content may be edited for clarity and style.
