CenturyLink Fiber Latency Issues (Seattle, WA)

Tue Nov 2 14:28:52 UTC 2021

I tried that back in September, it didn't work. It doesn't happen on my 
hop but the one after that. Even a second GPON connection shows the 
issues if one is running the offending traffic.

The issue occurs even if I'm using 50 Mbps out of my 940.

It may be bufferbloat on CL's side but they keep denying the issue.

I guess I'll have to break the bank and get Comcast Gigabit Pro.

CenturyLink should just get bought out by another telco, like how 
Cablevision got bought by Altice.

-Neel

On 2021-11-01 20:52, Ryan Hamel wrote:
> Neel,
> 
> Sounds like buffer bloat.
> 
> Run a speed test, whatever is your maximum for your download and upload 
> take
> 10% away from it, and setup traffic shaping in OPNsense
> (https://docs.opnsense.org/manual/shaping.html) with those values. If 
> the
> issue goes away, then you're exceeding the buffer of CenturyLink's 
> device
> with the bursts of traffic.
> 
> Ryan
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NANOG <nanog-bounces+ryan=rkhtech.org at nanog.org> On Behalf Of 
> Neel
> Chauhan
> Sent: Monday, November 1, 2021 6:44 PM
> To: nanog at nanog.org
> Subject: CenturyLink Fiber Latency Issues (Seattle, WA)
> 
> Hi NANOG Mailing List,
> 
> I don't know if any of you work at CenturyLink/Lumen, very less on 
> their
> Fiber network in Seattle, WA. However, here's my story.
> 
> If I attempt to run certain applications that use 1000, or 10000 TCP
> connections, I get latency spikes. It is based on how many connections, 
> but
> also how much bandwidth is used. This means certain things like Tor 
> relays
> are off limits to me (which I wish to run).
> 
> On an idle connection, the PingPlotter outputs look like this:
> https://centurylinklatencyissues.com/image-000.png
> 
> If I attempt to run BitTorrent with 1000 connections in Deluge, 
> PingPlotter
> looks like this:
> https://centurylinklatencyissues.com/image-002.png
> 
> Getting support, or even executive contacts to admit the issue hasn't
> worked. They all love to blame my equipment or applications, when CL 
> routers
> also show the issue when I run the same things whereas my same exact
> OPNsense box on Google Fiber Webpass running Tor at another address had 
> no
> issues whatsoever, and I can ping other Tor relays on CenturyLink AS209 
> just
> fine (from a VPS).
> 
> The most competent person I dealt with was actually one tech. He told 
> me
> there was "capacity issues" in our neighborhood, and that's the reason 
> for
> the issues. However, nothing was done about it afterwards, I'm guessing
> since I turned off my Tor relay after the visit to avoid complaints 
> from
> family members.
> 
> On an AT&T forum, people have said GPON gives latency spikes/packet 
> loss on
> congestion:
> https://www.dslreports.com/forum/r33242889-How-rare-is-GPON-XGSPON-saturatio
> n
> 
> The capacity managers in Seattle are literally dragging their feet: 
> it's
> 100x worse than AT&T's 802.1X. I know AT&T and CenturyLink don't 
> compete,
> but if I had to choose between AT&T Fiber and CenturyLink, I'll take 
> AT&T in
> a heartbeat, no ifs, no buts, even if I have to use AT&T's crappy 
> router
> instead of my OPNsense box.
> 
> Going back, do any of you who work at CenturyLink/Lumen can get me to 
> the
> right people, hopefully the capacity managers in Seattle?
> 
> I could go with Comcast, but it's either (a) 35 Mbps uploads or (b) 
> $329/mo
> for "Gigabit Pro" with a 2-year contract and a steep install fee. I am
> seriously considering Gigabit Pro even if it breaks the bank, but hope 
> I
> won't have to go there.
> 
> I don't need 2 Gbps and would rather pay $65 than $329. 300-500 Mbps 
> uploads
> when I need it is the sweet spot for me (even without Tor) which CL 
> GPON
> should easily handle without a sweat. I also don't exactly
> **trust** Comcast, they're a horrible company in many metrics, but in 
> some
> ways Comcast is more competent than CenturyLink.
> 
> Best,
> 
> Neel Chauhan