Bounce (network)

Bounce, often abbreviated as BNC, is used to relay traffic and connections in computer networks.

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Using a bouncer allows a user to hide the original source of his connection, providing privacy as well as providing the possibility of routing traffic through a specific location. A bouncer can also be used to hide the true target that a user connects to.

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One common usage is over IRC (Internet Relay Chat) via programs like psyBNC running on remote servers. In such an environment, where it is very easy to ascertain a user's IP Address a BNC may help to hide the original connection source, as well as providing the opportunity for fun "vhosts" or "vanity hosts". The use of a vhost does not conceal the connection any better, but merely adds an amusing statment as the hostname.

Related Topics:
Internet Relay Chat - PsyBNC - Server - IP Address

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A bouncer may also remain connected to an IRC server in the event the client should disconnect from the Internet. Often times state changes are tracked so that they may be relayed to the client upon reconnection. Some implementations opt to store all messages sent across the network that the client would have normally received, and send them upon the clients reconnection; this is often considered to be much too resource dependent for commercial hosting services to provide. Other logging features and bot like functions may be included with various implementations but are not standard.

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BNCs are also often used for the FTP protocol, again to either hide the user and server from each other and also to route traffic through a specific location.

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This should not be confused with e-mail, which may redirect or "bounce" back to the sender if the recipient's mailbox is full.

Related Topics:
E-mail - Mailbox

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Example:

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:User A logs onto IRC directly and appears as USER!user@127.0.0.1

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:User A logs onto IRC indirectly through a bnc and appears as USER!user@user.is.the.best.net

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NB. user.is.the.best.net is a fictional example, and is this context it would resolve to the IP Address of the BNC.

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