Observations of an Internet Middleman (Level3)

Fri May 16 11:56:25 UTC 2014

On , Livingood, Jason wrote:
> On 5/15/14, 12:49 PM, "arvindersingh at mail2tor.com"
> <arvindersingh at mail2tor.com> wrote:
> 
> 
>> I have two issues with the comments:
>> 
>> 2. You mention that all packets treated equally - no games.  Why does
>> AS7922 assign the speed test different DSCP from regular internet
>> connection?
> 
> I have no idea what you are talking about. Our Internet traffic, 
> including
> to speedtest web sites, is all best effort class data. Do you have more
> specific information?
> 
> Jason

I think he's questioning why packets from speedtest.comcast.net have CS1 
if everything is supposedly equal, and what that is used for. A quick 
Wireshark shows that to be true right now running to your Plainfield, NJ 
speedtest site, and my network peers directly with Comcast.

I'm kind of curious too. What is the purpose of this? Is it the 
traditional purpose of CS1 to be less than best effort or something 
else? If this is the case it seems Comcast would be purposely putting 
themselves at a disadvantage in speed tests when congestion is 
involved... or is this possibly on purpose to make peering problems look 
even worse during congestion?

-Vinny