RadialNet is a project proposal for the 2007 Google Summer of Code which will provide a graphical frontend based on graph visualization for NMAP's (or Umit) XML outputs. The output graphs would be represented by a radial configuration in which nodes would represent hosts and routers, and links between nodes would represent their network (logical) connections. Navigation through this visual representation is done by cliking on nodes of the graph. This action triggers a smooth animation that would bring the selected node to the center of the graph.

The idea of radial representation of graphs was first proposed by [1]. In this work the authors have described the use of radial organization in terms of Scientific Visualization [2] principles. Below we have a image to illustrate graph layout.

    http://www.engcomp.ufrn.br/~ignotus/gsoc/2007/image/example03.png

    It's been used some Basic concepts of Scientific Visualization like colors and forms to discriminate different aspects of the displayed information. For instance, colors of hosts are mapped in three different values: green for secure host, yellow for hosts with some vulnerability and red for hosts with serious vulnerability problems. By Using a radial representation becomes easy to see the number of hops between two hosts, and the IP-address/interface that connect one host to other host or network. In right-side of the first image, the same network as the left-side image is represented, but it had its center of radial visualization focus changed, so the next hops of the subnet can be explored.

    A few other things can be explored, things like the size of the circle, in intent to represent the uptime of the hosts in the diagram. At the repository [3] of a related project there are some videos and other materials that can be visualized. The video presentation [4] shows various benefits of the radial visualization of graphs.

References:

    [1] http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~pingster/viz/ieee.html
    [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_visualization
    [3] http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~pingster/viz/
    [4] http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~pingster/viz/avi.zip