Should Virgin Media Throttle p2p traffic?

[craigj2k12]

As per the title....

I think its a reasonable idea to combat high utilisation at peak time. it is certainly the cheaper way (the alternative to upgrade the network). However as we have noticed recently the V stuff backup is being throttled, and lots of gamers are facing lag and generally bad gaming as the games use p2p hosting systems.

Another point is that people with fast connections, described as 'unlimited' should be able to download what they want, when they want.

Another point is that this could create a 2 teir internet, the reason why BT scrapped its plans to cache catch up TV services. (i dont agree with this, its a load of rubbish)

in my opinion, p2p software, in particular torrents were created as a way to speed up download speeds, and download from multiple sources at once. On faster connections, which is what you pay for from virgin media, you want to utilise this speed.

please vote and leave your opinion!

---------- Post added at 16:28 ---------- Previous post was at 16:17 ----------

okay, so if they targeted torrents, then maybe, but have you tried playing call of duty between 5pm and midnight. its up and down like a yoyo

---------- Post added at 16:35 ---------- Previous post was at 16:28 ----------

How about if they kept the current system in place, but allowed a minimum of, say, 5megabits, so you can be throttled to mimimum priority, but you will never get less than 5meg???

[Marcus125]

Virgins current P2P throttling software is believed to be crippling xboxlive access from the VM network. I don't care about p2p I do care about xboxlive!!

[craigj2k12]

Originally Posted by Marcus125

Virgins current P2P throttling software is believed to be crippling xboxlive access from the VM network. I don't care about p2p I do care about xboxlive!!

it only cripples is because it gives it minimum priority on the network, so say, outside peak hours, your xbox live and someone elses http downloading would be prioritised the same, so would balance along side each other, whereas during the management period, the http download gets priority, and your xbox loses bandwidth, once it gets below, a certain amount, probably less than 500-700k, it will lag severely, as there is not enough bandwidth for the data to be transferred, if they did it like i said above, a minimum of 5m is reserved, but still low priority, then it should solve the lag

---------- Post added at 16:58 ---------- Previous post was at 16:40 ----------

anyone have any opinion on the matter?

[Ignitionnet]

Originally Posted by craigj2k11

it only cripples is because it gives it minimum priority on the network, so say, outside peak hours, your xbox live and someone elses http downloading would be prioritised the same, so would balance along side each other, whereas during the management period, the http download gets priority, and your xbox loses bandwidth, once it gets below, a certain amount, probably less than 500-700k, it will lag severely, as there is not enough bandwidth for the data to be transferred, if they did it like i said above, a minimum of 5m is reserved, but still low priority, then it should solve the lag

That's not how it works, XBL traffic should have the same priority as HTTP at all times, if it doesn't that is a fault.

VM obviously have problems with a lot of traffic being unidentified and falling into the same class as P2P / NNTP meanwhile NNTP over SSL from well known sources continues to enjoy unimpeded access.

Poor configuration and the shaping hardware not working as advertised.

Yes - I don't think games traffic should be throttled (as some people are alleging is happening), but I don't have an issue with torrents being throttled; YMMV.

(I don't notice any problems on COD, but then I play multiplayer on PC).

[craigj2k12]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Yes - I don't think games traffic should be throttled (as some people are alleging is happening), but I don't have an issue with torrents being throttled; YMMV.

(I don't notice any problems on COD, but then I play multiplayer on PC).

i play on xbox and ps3, which chooses one of the players as host and everyone connects to the host by p2p. on pc its a bit different, they have dedicated servers, but im sure it should still be p2p?

If it is, I have not been negatively affected playing COD (except by my age and ineptitude...)

[Jayster]

Originally Posted by craigj2k11

i play on xbox and ps3, which chooses one of the players as host and everyone connects to the host by p2p. on pc its a bit different, they have dedicated servers, but im sure it should still be p2p?

Yes they work similarly (Consoles and PC), however it would depend between games on consoles or pc if there are dedicated servers or player hosts (Eg. Battlefield has dedicated servers on consoles). Also I am not sure if all traffic has to go through the host or if it is a p2p network although my guess is that would vary from game to game.

As for the topic, If there was some way to have lower quality bandwidth cheaper (maybe routed a odd way?) which would end up having higher latency although not be totally congested and then higher quality bandwidth with lower latency,jitter and then having decent software to identify say a connection using more than a certain amount of bandwidth be routed along the cheaper way and connections using under a certain amount of bandwidth say voip/gaming/web browsing using the more expensive route.

I don't even know if that's possible or commercially viable. Just my 2 pence.

[Skie]

p2p on consoles is nothing like p2p filesharing.

But this is just a hamfisted attempt by VM to throttle file sharing traffic. White lists on the internet is just an awful idea, so much stuff will be missed in them and new things are popping up all the time that will be degraded until VM get enough complaints to actually do something about it. But its par for the course :/

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by craigj2k11

As per the title....

I think its a reasonable idea to combat high utilisation at peak time. it is certainly the cheaper way (the alternative to upgrade the network). However as we have noticed recently the V stuff backup is being throttled, and lots of gamers are facing lag and generally bad gaming as the games use p2p hosting systems.

I have been assured that Vstuff is not throttled so i reinstalled the software today. Its now 5.30 which is inside the managed period and i can confirm that my vstuff is uploading at 4.2 meg. So if it has been in the management in the past ? then its not now. I will continue to monitor my upload for the next day or two.

[Marcus125]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Yes - I don't think games traffic should be throttled (as some people are alleging is happening), but I don't have an issue with torrents being throttled; YMMV.

(I don't notice any problems on COD, but then I play multiplayer on PC).

Maybe you should look HERE then.

I think with the release of 50mb and 100mb the network is like a sinking boat that keeps springing holes. They just run round banging bungs in the holes instead of doing a full repair/upgrade.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Hugh

If it is, I have not been negatively affected playing COD (except by my age and ineptitude...)

Indeed

Cod 4 BFBC2 and Black ops all run fine for me as well and all via the pc.

---------- Post added at 17:47 ---------- Previous post was at 17:45 ----------

Originally Posted by Marcus125

Maybe you should look HERE then.
.

Looks like most of those problems are for Xbox or ps3

[Marcus125]

Well I guess VM know they have a good 18 months till Infinity really takes of and rolls out to good whack of the country.

But I think they will lose a lot customers once its available to a lot of people.

[Bonglet]

It's been throttled to death for some time now wont matter which isp at the end of the day, more of the internet protocols/services are getting fenced off/throttled every few months now.
End of net neutrality in uk will mean it goes bad for everyone unless you pay said isp for more bandwith then you will have isp wars where exclusive premium website/services access means pay more and get a better experience ;s.

Originally Posted by Marcus125

Maybe you should look HERE then.

I think with the release of 50mb and 100mb the network is like a sinking boat that keeps springing holes. They just run round banging bungs in the holes instead of doing a full repair/upgrade.

Erm, all of those (except two posters) in the first two pages were on Xbox, not PCs...

btw, what you think and what is reality may differ - you are entitled to your own opinions, but not your own facts.....