maxmind

What is maxmind?

The maxmind npm package provides tools for IP geolocation and other related functionalities using MaxMind's GeoIP2 and GeoLite2 databases. It allows developers to determine the geographical location, ISP, and other details of an IP address.

What are maxmind's main functionalities?

IP Geolocation

This feature allows you to determine the geographical location of an IP address. The code sample demonstrates how to use the GeoLite2-City database to get the city information for the IP address '8.8.8.8'.

const maxmind = require('maxmind');
const lookup = async (ip) => {
  const cityLookup = await maxmind.open('GeoLite2-City.mmdb');
  const city = cityLookup.get(ip);
  console.log(city);
};
lookup('8.8.8.8');

ISP Information

This feature allows you to get the ISP information of an IP address. The code sample demonstrates how to use the GeoIP2-ISP database to get the ISP details for the IP address '8.8.8.8'.

const maxmind = require('maxmind');
const lookup = async (ip) => {
  const ispLookup = await maxmind.open('GeoIP2-ISP.mmdb');
  const isp = ispLookup.get(ip);
  console.log(isp);
};
lookup('8.8.8.8');

Anonymous IP Detection

This feature allows you to detect if an IP address is associated with anonymous networks such as VPNs, proxies, or Tor. The code sample demonstrates how to use the GeoIP2-Anonymous-IP database to get anonymous IP details for the IP address '8.8.8.8'.

const maxmind = require('maxmind');
const lookup = async (ip) => {
  const anonLookup = await maxmind.open('GeoIP2-Anonymous-IP.mmdb');
  const anon = anonLookup.get(ip);
  console.log(anon);
};
lookup('8.8.8.8');

Other packages similar to maxmind

ipstack

The ipstack package provides IP geolocation services similar to maxmind. It offers detailed information about the location, currency, timezone, and connection of an IP address. Unlike maxmind, ipstack is a cloud-based service and requires an API key for access.

geoip-lite

The geoip-lite package offers a lightweight IP geolocation solution using a local database. It provides basic geolocation information such as country, region, and city. Compared to maxmind, geoip-lite is less comprehensive but is easier to set up and use for simple geolocation needs.

ipinfo

The ipinfo package provides IP address information including geolocation, ASN, and company details. It uses the IPinfo API and requires an API key. Compared to maxmind, ipinfo offers additional data points such as company information and is also cloud-based.

README

node-maxmind

IP geo lookup using Maxmind databases, written in pure javascript with no dependencies.

GEO databases

You can download free geo databases here: http://dev.maxmind.com/geoip/geolite.

Installation

npm install maxmind

Main features

• Location lookup
• Country lookup
• Distance between two IP addresses (locations)
• Timezone lookup by IP
• Autonomous System Numbers (ASN) lookup

Usage

** see code samples in ./examples directory **

City/Location lookup

    var maxmind = require('maxmind');
    maxmind.init('/path/to/GeoLiteCity.dat');
    console.log(maxmind.getLocation("66.6.44.4"));

Country Lookup

    var maxmind = require('maxmind');
    maxmind.init('/path/to/GeoIP.dat');
    console.log(maxmind.getCountry("66.6.44.4"));

Autonomous System Numbers (ASN) lookup

    var maxmind = require('maxmind');
    maxmind.init('/path/to/GeoIPASNum.dat');
    console.log(maxmind.getOrganization("66.6.44.4"));

Caching

By default module does not use cache, and works directly with file system. Enabling cache leads to better performance, howerver consumer more memory. Currently module supports two options:

• indexCache saves in memory only the country index
• memoryCache saves in memory full database file

If you decided to enable caching you can pass it as a flag in init method:

    var maxmind = require('maxmind');
    maxmind.init('/path/to/GeoIP.dat', { indexCache: true });

Caching could significantly increase performance, refer to this camparison which was made on average laptop:

• default: 18,000 lookups / second
• indexCache: 80,000 lookups / second
• memodyCache: 130,000 lookups / second

Tests

If you want ot run tests you will need mocha installed, then just run it:

$ mocha

Disclaimer

Module is quite young and serious bugs are possible. Feel free to send pull request / bug reports.