Comcast blocking p2p uploads

Fri Oct 19 23:40:46 UTC 2007

Sean Figgins wrote:
> Eric Spaeth wrote:
>
> > With rate-shaping they would need to have the P2P identification widget
> > in-line with the data path to be able to classify and mark traffic so
> > that it can be queued/throttled appropriately.
>
> The Sandvine, in particular, is designed to be placed in-line like 
> this.  It does, however, deploy a technology to shunt the traffic 
> through the device in the event that the server craters.  Many network 
> devices do this now.
I have previous experience with Sitara QoS devices that sported that 
same feature.  The problem was that the relay would only shut if the box 
lost power or if it received a software command to disengage.  We had 
numerous problems where the packet processing engine would become 
overwhelmed and lock up;  the relay stayed engaged because the box 
retained power and the software driver was rendered useless once the 
whole OS locked up. 

Maybe it's just me, but when a vendor is concerned enough about their 
box failing that they work out these elaborate bypass options it doesn't 
inspire a lot of confidence in the stability of the product.  IMHO, 
wedging a 99.5% available piece of hardware between your 99.99+% 
available network hardware is just bad karma.

-Eric