Can P2P applications learn to play fair on networks?

Thu Oct 25 15:58:48 UTC 2007

On Wed, 24 Oct 2007, Iljitsch van Beijnum wrote:
>> The result is network engineering by politician, and many reasonable things 
>> can no longer be done.
>
> I don't see that.

Here come the Congresspeople.  After ICANN, next legistlative IETF 
standards for what is acceptable network management.

http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9804158-7.html

Rep. Boucher's solution: more capacity, even though it has been 
demonstrated many times more capacity doesn't actually solve this 
particular problem.

Is there something in humans that makes it difficult to understand
the difference between circuit-switch networks, which allocated a fixed 
amount of bandwidth during a session, and packet-switched networks, which 
vary the available bandwidth depending on overall demand throughout a 
session?

Packet switch networks are darn cheap because you share capacity with lots 
of other uses; Circuit switch networks are more expensive because you get
dedicated capacity for your sole use.

If people think its unfair to expect them to share the packet switch 
network, why not return to circuit switch networks and circuit switch 
pricing?