RIPE Atlas: Can we found where the cloud is?

Abstract

The Internet operates as a complex ecosystem of interconnected networks, many of which function as opaque systems that resist direct inspection. This opacity creates significant challenges when attempting to understand network performance, particularly for cloud services that increasingly dominate modern Internet traffic. This presentation explores how RIPE Atlas, a global network measurement platform, can be leveraged to characterize the performance characteristics of cloud systems and provide insights into the fundamental structure of Internet connectivity. We demonstrate how RIPE Atlas enables researchers to design and execute measurement campaigns from thousands of distributed probes worldwide, allowing for comprehensive assessment of latency, routing behavior, and service availability across diverse geographical regions.