Log files that describe the history of the internet are disappearing. A new project hopes to save them
The Register
February 14, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The history of the internet is at risk of disappearing as critical log files that document its evolution are being lost due to neglect or lack of preservation plans. The PingER project, which ran for nearly three decades at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, collected valuable data on internet performance but shut down in 2024 without saving its records. Similarly, Renesys, a company that gathered internet infrastructure data until its acquisition by Oracle in 2014, lost much of its archive during the transition. These losses highlight the urgent need to preserve such historical information before it vanishes forever.
Jim Cowie, a veteran computer scientist and entrepreneur, has taken on this challenge with the Internet History Initiative (IHI). Launched recently, IHI aims to identify and save datasets from projects like PingER and Renesys, ensuring they are available for future research. Cowie emphasizes that these records are essential for understanding how technological progress aligns with societal development. He compares it to "operational exhaust" of the internet—data that can reveal both its benefits and risks over time.
To achieve this, IHI plans to use the LOCKSS principle (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe), storing data offline in secure locations across multiple institutions. This approach ensures redundancy and long-term preservation, with portions kept in "warm storage" for easier researcher access. Cowie also envisions collaboration with existing archives like RIPE NCC and RouteViews, which have maintained routing and performance data for decades.
The initiative is already making progress. IHI has recovered SLAC's PingER dataset and secured some records from other organizations. By leveraging these partnerships, Cowie believes they can build a comprehensive resource that benefits historians, researchers, and the broader tech community. The success of IHI could serve as a model for preserving similar digital artifacts, ensuring future generations have the tools to analyze and learn from internet history.
This effort matters because the internet's evolution is deeply intertwined with societal changes. Without historical data, we risk losing insights into how technology has shaped progress—and where it might lead us next. As Cowie notes, "Everything is changing, and we don’t
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Originally published on The Register on 2/14/2026