Peak Time Shaping

[Scotty]

Guys, I'm interested in trying to pinpoint where/if the shaping still exists.

I've seen many comments recently, with people saying that the shaping still occurs during peak hours, and I also see arguments that it doesn't.

I also see arguments that it occurs on older packages, to try and get people onto the newer ones..

Could it be related certain packages? Certain exchanges? Maybe even certain individuals?

Me personally, I don't seem to experience any form of shaping during peak hours, and I am on the pro1 package, however we never really reach our limit at all, and don't do much heavy downloading through the night.


Let me know your thoughts

[commandergc]

Well i went 4 GB over the pro1 limit still haven't noticed any shaping at all. Unlike when i left them earlier this year.

[superleeds27]

Max package. Option 4

Shaping kicks in around 3-4PM Up until 12ish.

HU7

[bobthebuilder]

ad no probs over xmas full speed all day and night

[Sean]

I still think this page is great:

http://www.kc.co.uk/home/broadband/traffic-management/

It starts with:

We have made a commitment to a voluntary code of practice to make traffic management easier to understand.

Great, the easier to understand the better.

Our Karoo Lite, Mid and Pro services have no traffic management applied on the majority of internet traffic such as browsing, emailing, streaming, downloading, gaming and VOIP.

Great, that's easy to understand, I buy Karoo Mid, I'll see no management.

But then:

Section 2: Traffic management to optimise network utilisation

Is traffic management used during peak hours?          Yes

Hmm but surely not browsing, because you said earlier not.

Type                                                     Slowed Down*****
Browsing/email                                           Yes

So browsing is managed?  And it's so easy to understand, I now have to look at what ***** means in the small print

Peer to Peer and Newsgroup traffic may be managed to a target average speed 3Mbps. All other traffic types are managed to target average speed of 10 Mbps except for the Weekday package where all managed traffic types have a target speed of 64kbps during peak hours

OK, So on my up to 24mbps service, with no traffic management, I can only expect 10mbps on my browsing.

[David]

We will have to wait for either 'Karoo' or even better, friendlykcengineer to respond.

[Scotty]

Sean, glad you posted that page.
It completely contradicts itself, in my opinion.

[Hígh Treason]

I expect nothing less from a corporate entity, this is known as marketing. Not saying I agree with it, but just saying it is to be expected.

[DarkJester]

On Pro2 - No evidence of any shaping whenever... I used to see nntp shaping from 6pm to 10pm(ish) on the Pro package...

[grabo1530]

Shaping is used anytime the network is used to the top end of the bandwidth capacity for the package you are on.
below is from 9.40am I am on the mid package.


DiffProbe beta release. October 2009. Build 1002.
Shaper Detection Module.

Connected to server 203.5.76.153.

Estimating capacity:
Upstream: 574 Kbps.
Downstream: 13255 Kbps.

The measurement will take upto 3.0 minutes. Please wait.

Checking for traffic shapers:

Upstream: Burst size: 71-73 KB;
Shaping rate: 485 Kbps.

Downstream: No shaper detected.
Median received rate: 12992 Kbps.


and another from 9.48am

Connected to server 80.239.168.233.

Estimating capacity:
Upstream: 873 Kbps.
Downstream: 14106 Kbps.

The measurement will take upto 2.5 minutes. Please wait.

Checking for traffic shapers:

Upstream: Burst size: 1100-1111 KB;
Shaping rate: 597 Kbps.

Downstream: No shaper detected.
Median received rate: 13776 Kbps.

[friendlykcengineer]

Hi All, just thought I'd clarify the position for you.

We put traffic into two main categories, Priority traffic (such as video streaming, browsing etc where a very quick response is required) and Non-priority traffic (basically Newsgroups & File sharing where a slower response may be acceptable).
When we introduced our Lite, Mid & Pro packages we set an upper download speed limit for non-priority traffic during peak hours (6pm to midnight).
This was to protect bandwidth for priority traffic.
The investments we made in upgrading our network last year (which are continuing) have increased available bandwidth, so in late September we removed the upper speed limit for non-priority traffic.
Non-priority traffic will still be slowed down more than priority traffic if there is very high demand on the network, but this should hopefully be a rare occurrence.
Our increased network capacity also means that priority traffic should very rarely be slowed down in peak time.

Happy New Year

FKCE

[David]

Hi All, just thought I'd clarify the position for you.

We put traffic into two main categories, Priority traffic (such as video streaming, browsing etc where a very quick response is required) and Non-priority traffic (basically Newsgroups & File sharing where a slower response may be acceptable).
When we introduced our Lite, Mid & Pro packages we set an upper download speed limit for non-priority traffic during peak hours (6pm to midnight).
This was to protect bandwidth for priority traffic.
The investments we made in upgrading our network last year (which are continuing) have increased available bandwidth, so in late September we removed the upper speed limit for non-priority traffic.
Non-priority traffic will still be slowed down more than priority traffic if there is very high demand on the network, but this should hopefully be a rare occurrence.
Our increased network capacity also means that priority traffic should very rarely be slowed down in peak time.

Happy New Year

FKCE

Hi FKCE, is xbox live gaming considered as realtime priority traffic? and how high is it rated? higher than VOIP? it would be interesting to see the QoS priority list for reference.

[friendlykcengineer]

Hi David,

To put it simply, non-priority traffic is NNTP, bittorrent, etc, ie anything that involves downloading files for later use.
All other traffic is included in the priority category, this includes x-box live and other gaming.

Cheers

FKCE

[Sean]

Hi All, just thought I'd clarify the position for you.

Regarding the traffic management page's reference to 10mbps target for browsing and browsing being a target to be "slowed down", is that still the case?  That page just doesn't quite read right and maybe giving the wrong impression.

[bobthebuilder]

i am old max package

just did a test  1755 i was downloading from nntp at 300-350k a sec

1805 i was get over 800k asec