CenturyLink Fiber Latency Issues (Seattle, WA)

Wed Nov 3 02:42:54 UTC 2021

If this is connection count related only, It is most likely an issue with
the CPE (router), NAT table, or similar.

On Tue, Nov 2, 2021 at 8:21 AM Neel Chauhan <neel at neelc.org> wrote:

> 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
>
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