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Comcast: Simulating shitty network connections so you can build better systems

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Re: Comcast: Simulating shitty network connections so you can build better systems

#41

People talk about "fuck you money," meaning the amount of money you need to make before you can never work again. Personally, my "fuck you money" isn't money per se , but the fall of Comcast. When I build enough value in the world to displace Comcast, I will retire. We need to see more work in the areas of mesh networking, layer-3 routing, and consumer networking in general. This tool is a good step. Personally I'm h…

You just reminded me that I have been dragging my feet upgrading my two OpenWRT routers for the last few weeks. I guess I know what I am spending my lunch break on!

Re: Comcast: Simulating shitty network connections so you can build better systems

#43
post #16

Nice. It'd be neat to include options to simulate other pathological conditions often encountered in the field like: - Multiple layers of NAT - overlapping un-synchronized timeouts are one thing ... but the REAL fun comes in when intermediate layers have the same IP ranges as IPs you are trying to reach on the "outside" of the NAT sandwich. All kinds of "interesting" things can happen, like the "software laser": http…

My favorite enterprise network pathologies: - Randomly block specific ports "because security" - Limit RPC port ranges to some random small number. - Strange network optimizations. Example: Optimize TCP Window Size to support NT4 clients on 56k frame relay circuits. - Very Slow DNS response - Optimize core switching rules to fully utilize switch CPU. Avoid configurations that take place in an asic. - Long DHCP Leases…

I also forgot TCP through TCP tunnels, which causes strange timing and flow control behaviors due to never actually dropping packets on congestion and double-ACKing.

Re: Comcast: Simulating shitty network connections so you can build better systems

#45
post #16

Nice. It'd be neat to include options to simulate other pathological conditions often encountered in the field like: - Multiple layers of NAT - overlapping un-synchronized timeouts are one thing ... but the REAL fun comes in when intermediate layers have the same IP ranges as IPs you are trying to reach on the "outside" of the NAT sandwich. All kinds of "interesting" things can happen, like the "software laser": http…

I take it you've seen core switches on fire off the Jupiter gate?

Juniper gate.

Re: Comcast: Simulating shitty network connections so you can build better systems

#46

Google Chrome's device mode has a subset of this functionality where you can make Chrome throttle the connection simulating different conditions (GPRS, DSL, offline, etc.). Access device mode by clicking the smartphone icon on the top left of the Developer Tools (F12) right next to the Elements tab.

It's very useful. I discovered this the other day when testing some client side scripts. I was able to simulate a 3G mobile connection and determine which parts were causing the intolerable load times.

Re: Comcast: Simulating shitty network connections so you can build better systems

#47
post #16

Nice. It'd be neat to include options to simulate other pathological conditions often encountered in the field like: - Multiple layers of NAT - overlapping un-synchronized timeouts are one thing ... but the REAL fun comes in when intermediate layers have the same IP ranges as IPs you are trying to reach on the "outside" of the NAT sandwich. All kinds of "interesting" things can happen, like the "software laser": http…

My favorite enterprise network pathologies: - Randomly block specific ports "because security" - Limit RPC port ranges to some random small number. - Strange network optimizations. Example: Optimize TCP Window Size to support NT4 clients on 56k frame relay circuits. - Very Slow DNS response - Optimize core switching rules to fully utilize switch CPU. Avoid configurations that take place in an asic. - Long DHCP Leases…

It makes me wonder at how Skype manages to tunnel though almost anything.
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