January 16, 2026
Routing drama, not packets
Show HN: BGP Scout – BGP Network Browser
New internet map drops, but users say: ditch the signup, add live alerts
TLDR: BGP Scout launches to browse global internet routing data. Commenters weren’t impressed: they prefer existing tools, hate the sign-up wall, and say it’s only useful with real-time alerts during outages—otherwise it’s just another dashboard.
Meet BGP Scout, a shiny browser for the internet’s routing system, promising data from thousands of networks worldwide. If Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) is the internet’s postal service, this tool claims to track every envelope. But the comment section turned it into a reality check: veterans shrugged and reached for familiar tools instead.
User yesod set the tone with “I usually just grab the RIS data from RIPE,” a polite way of saying “we already have this.” Then eqvinox dropped the memeable line of the day: “Sorry, too lazy to sign up just to try it out.” The sign‑up wall became the villain, stealing more attention than the feature list.
The most constructive heat came from erinnh, answering what would make it truly useful: real‑time monitoring of BGP changes for network IDs (ASNs), especially minute‑by‑minute during outages. Meanwhile pjf threw down a comparison challenge, pointing to bgp.tools, bgproutes.io, bgp.he.net, and radar.qrator.net. Translation: if you want love, beat the incumbents and ditch friction.
So the vibe? Interest, tempered by “another dashboard” fatigue. The crowd wants alerts, not archives; access, not accounts; and proof it’s faster when the internet melts. Until then, the hype router is stuck in rush-hour traffic on HN.
Key Points
- •BGP Scout is introduced as a “BGP Network Browser.”
- •The tool provides access to comprehensive BGP data.
- •Its coverage spans thousands of networks worldwide.
- •The article focuses on BGP data exploration via a browser-style tool.
- •No further technical or commercial details are provided in the article.