Cable modem speed boost with connection teaming

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Speed up your cable modem with Conenction Teaming!

(Advanced level article)

Chris Kaminski 3/16/2001

At NetWorld+Interop 2001 I found an interesting piece of software called MidPoint from MidCore Software. Midpoint has a feature called ‘connection teaming’. Connection teaming aggregates multiple connections to the Internet for increased bandwidth. Along with connection teaming, the software splits large files being downloaded into multiple smaller parts and downloads each part at the same time along each connection. Wow!

I came up with this idea for cable modem users. Cable modem companies sometimes allow you to purchase additional IP address’ for a monthly fee. @Home does this for $5 per IP address. @Home caps your bandwidth per account, not IP address - but at the very least, it might increase the efficiency of your conenction and allow your throughput to closer reach your capped maximum speed.... So I set off to test my hypothesis.

Planning the network

Because I would be testing the aggregation of 2 Internet IP address, I needed a computer that could handle 3 network cards – three for the WAN and one for the LAN. A stripped down Pentium 233 fit the bill nicely.

Problems with the testing

One of the biggest problems in testing this setup is finding a way to push the speed of the cable modem. To do this, I had to find some servers willing to let suck up a whole lot of bandwidth without running into something that would throttle my connection. This is VERY HARD to find. My best performance came from some TUCOWS.COM mirrors. Since TUCOWS is mirrored all over the country, I was able to locate some servers willing to let me suck up some bandwidth.

Measuring Bandwidth

The next thing I needed was a measurement tool. IE’s meter on the download is good for measuring speed because it averages things over a long period of time and does not allow you to ‘see’ what is going on. MyVitalAgent was a good solution because I could see how solid the connection was. If there were major connection pauses I could see them visually – plus the software is free!

Bandwidth measurement on the Internet is not an exact science. It is impossible to recreate the exact conditions across a public network. Because of this, I chose to measure bandwidth at its peak if sustained for 10 seconds or more. To do this, I chose files of no less than 5Mb to download.

How Fast?

For Reference, I tried pushed each if two IP address’ individually first. IP address A gave me about 840kbps sustainable bandwidth and IP address B could give me about 600kbps sustained bandwidth. I was surprised at the difference since they were from the same cable modem - They did however have different default gateways and were on different subnets. These speeds will of course vary betweed service providers. Notice that my speed is capped at 1.4~1.5 but my throughput is unstable and reaches only about 850kbps.

With connection teaming enabled, I was able to sustain speeds of 1300kbps, or 1.3Mbps when downloading multiple large files (note, the cap is still 1.5Mbps). This is not bad for a single cable modem! In addition, web page surfing seemed to ‘spring’ to life. A single web page might require 7 or more requests for text and graphics. When these requests are being done over two different IP address response time improves dramatically. This does not push your 'throughput' but it does make web pages come up faster due to the increased network efficiency.

IMPORTANT: The Key is the Subnets

They key to my success seemed to be in the fact that the two tested IP address’ were on different subnets with different default gateways. I tried running the same test on two IP address’ that were on the same subnet / same default gateway and had almost no improvement. This is a VERY important note. These tests were done with STATIC IP address.

ATTN: @Home Users

When you sign up for multiple computers, you are getting multiple IP address' - STATIC ONES! Instead of setting your computer name, set IP, Subnet, default gateway and DNS servers manually. You can get all that information from this @Home networking site. When you set your IP info manually, you do NOT need a specific computer name!

Reference:

Viacom's Bandwidth Aggregation Article

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User Comments	109 comments
Cable modem speed boost with connection teaming

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Thanks by David - 7/14/2001 8:36:00 AM

Re: Thanks by Joe - 10/26/2001 12:17:00 PM

Nice Speed by Ryan - 7/15/2001 6:56:00 PM

@Home by Chris Kaminski - 7/17/2001 4:25:00 PM

Unfortunately Chris is right by Dave - 7/20/2001 10:29:00 AM

static IP listed by Pat - 8/1/2001 3:01:00 PM

Re: @Home by Chris - 11/24/2001 7:22:00 PM

2 hubs? by sam - 7/23/2001 9:45:00 PM

i just discovered something REALLY WEIRD/AWESOME by sam - 7/24/2001 1:39:00 AM

Great Connection by Chris Kaminski - 7/24/2001 10:06:00 AM

Re: Great Connection by zero kill - 11/13/2001 7:48:00 PM

Re: i just discovered something REALLY WEIRD/AWESOME by DDK - 12/11/2001 12:18:00 AM

Re: i just discovered something REALLY WEIRD/AWESOME by empyr3al - 1/30/2003 1:05:00 AM

Hey by IbZ - 7/13/2004 10:37:00 AM

service violation by Sam - 7/24/2001 11:54:00 AM

Don’t think so by Chris Kaminski - 8/1/2001 8:49:00 AM

Re: Donâ€™t think so by Nigel - 9/9/2005 12:02:00 AM

Gaming? by Sam - 7/24/2001 1:12:00 PM

My Speed by Sam - 7/24/2001 1:56:00 PM

Re: Gaming? by Ol Jade - 7/25/2002 11:59:00 PM

A request for help on this scenario by Clyph - 8/19/2001 9:32:00 AM

Re: A request for help on this scenario by phenderson - 8/19/2001 9:19:00 PM

Need some step by steps if possible by xman - 9/9/2001 6:20:00 PM

Re: Need some step by steps if possible by pakcelica2k1 - 9/19/2001 9:05:00 PM

I need step-by-step as well by fro - 10/2/2001 2:21:00 AM

similar idea that dident work by dsmith - 9/26/2001 12:02:00 AM

Re: similar idea that dident work by RabidDragon - 5/1/2002 9:05:00 PM

Networking Assistance by Jim - 9/29/2001 6:45:00 PM

Re: Networking Assistance by Jonathan - 12/12/2001 4:54:00 PM

Re: Networking Assistance by Millimeter - 1/23/2002 2:01:00 AM

problem with cable modem @home by Jon Campbell - 10/7/2001 8:41:00 PM

Re: problem with cable modem @home by humm - 10/26/2001 9:30:00 AM

what about this by wishpuppet - 10/14/2001 12:51:00 PM

Re: what about this by Millimeter - 1/23/2002 2:25:00 AM

something not-so-ethical by Feanish - 10/21/2001 3:27:00 AM

upload speed by Zero Kill - 10/31/2001 9:16:00 PM

Re: upload speed by Graham Spice - 10/31/2001 9:57:00 PM

Corrections, Tips, Etc by Michael - 11/1/2001 2:54:00 PM

Upstream and Teaming DSL by Pablo Martin - 11/5/2001 5:13:00 AM

Re: Upstream and Teaming DSL by Millimeter - 1/23/2002 2:39:00 AM

@home upload speed by mike - 11/7/2001 12:48:00 AM

Re: @home upload speed by spockers - 11/10/2001 7:58:00 PM

Re: @home upload speed by Mike - 11/17/2001 11:18:00 PM

Re: @home upload speed by headnoize - 11/22/2001 5:16:00 PM

Re: @home upload speed by FourthRome - 11/23/2001 12:59:00 PM

Re: @home upload speed by IlJuniorlI - 11/26/2001 9:02:00 PM

Power Pumper? by Mike - 11/17/2001 11:16:00 PM

Double NIC by Willem - 11/20/2001 3:23:00 PM

Re: Double NIC by FourthRome - 11/23/2001 1:05:00 PM

I Want to use static IP by CyberMan - 11/29/2001 2:17:00 AM

Drop @home and join AT&T by gap - 12/2/2001 3:51:00 PM

2 nics by Myst3K - 1/1/2002 8:51:00 PM

Re: 2 nics by Dan - 3/2/2002 3:50:00 AM

Would this work with RoadRunner? by Tony - 1/24/2002 5:18:00 AM

Re: Would this work with RoadRunner? by Bob - 9/10/2006 11:30:00 PM

Posted by Bob

9/10/2006 11:30:00 PM.

Re: Would this work with RoadRunner?

will this work with cablevision-optonline
i also have with it boost service

reply

More simple idea by vehf263 - 1/25/2002 12:37:00 PM

Re: More simple idea by xrayallen - 2/4/2002 12:29:00 AM

Re: More simple idea by n - 2/16/2002 4:35:00 PM

Re: More simple idea by Ice - 5/25/2003 5:00:00 PM

I tried another thing with at&t by Marti - 2/24/2002 4:33:00 AM

Re: I tried another thing with at&t by Zak - 3/20/2002 7:18:00 PM

eithernet cards by John McIntyre - 3/13/2002 1:53:00 AM

Midpoint is dropped !! by giang tran - 3/19/2002 11:17:00 PM

Thanks by pfunk - 3/23/2002 3:25:00 AM

Twin cable? Anyone know how? by James Kim - 4/11/2002 4:42:00 PM

True? by equate - 4/21/2002 1:42:00 PM

another senario by uzer - 7/25/2002 1:11:00 AM

Re: another senario by PhaseShift - 8/17/2002 6:11:00 PM

MidPoint, Nextland Pro800 Turbo & Compex NP15 by Trader914 - 8/2/2002 7:20:00 PM

Midpoint = Artera? by don andre - 8/22/2002 9:02:00 AM

Re: Midpoint = Artera? by Rob - 11/4/2002 9:45:00 PM

another wrench.....wireless by xracer - 8/22/2002 1:18:00 PM

Cable/ Dsl Router to share 2 IPS by Jim - 9/19/2002 6:38:00 PM

Cable/ Dsl Router to share 2 IPS by Jim - 9/19/2002 6:41:00 PM

wont run? by sundeep - 9/23/2002 9:23:00 AM

would dual modems work by mike - 11/17/2002 8:59:00 AM

2 Modems/companies by Mike Mac - 12/19/2002 1:15:00 PM

Re: 2 Modems/companies by Riv - 1/24/2003 7:53:00 PM

Virtual by inhuman_4 - 6/11/2003 6:40:00 PM

DSL Connection Teaming? by Kenneth - 6/27/2003 9:18:00 PM

Re: DSL Connection Teaming? by Dan P - 7/12/2003 10:45:00 AM

Re: DSL Connection Teaming? by rtr - 9/19/2004 5:26:00 AM

Connection Cap by Steven Penny - 8/20/2003 5:12:00 PM

Midpoint Mindcore Not There... by David - 11/26/2003 12:54:00 PM

Re: Midpoint Mindcore Not There... by imkzru - 12/22/2003 12:27:00 AM

Re: Midpoint Mindcore Not There... by Bill - 1/7/2004 8:40:00 PM

Re: Midpoint Mindcore Not There... by RICH - 1/28/2004 7:06:00 AM

Re: Midpoint Mindcore Not There... by sarge - 3/31/2004 6:26:00 PM

Re: Midpoint Mindcore Not There... by Harry - 1/29/2004 2:52:00 PM

Re: Midpoint Mindcore Not There... by Derald - 1/6/2005 4:30:00 PM

Re: Midpoint Mindcore Not There... by Derald - 1/6/2005 4:29:00 PM

Using 2 modems?? by Todd - 1/26/2004 11:02:00 PM

Re: Using 2 modems?? by anon sysadmin - 2/18/2004 7:26:00 AM

Re: Using 2 modems?? by T3ch0nly - 4/2/2004 10:47:00 PM

Connection Teaming (Midpoint) by David - 5/2/2004 2:46:00 AM

latency problem with caps by Amit Thapa - 8/24/2004 4:41:00 AM

Nice speed by Mark - 9/9/2004 3:00:00 PM

2 adsl lines!! by konores - 10/16/2004 11:01:00 AM

Re: 2 adsl lines!! by Static - 10/21/2004 4:17:00 AM

Internet connection by Charles - 11/19/2004 2:54:00 PM

where to get by need_help - 12/29/2004 5:54:00 PM

Re: where to get (Artera/Intergate) by Derald - 1/6/2005 4:28:00 PM

2CM 2NICS, How boost my speed? by Covenant - 1/26/2005 5:00:00 AM

ADSL Australia by Dave - 5/24/2005 12:20:00 AM

Re: ADSL Australia by chris - 10/23/2005 7:25:00 AM

Re: ADSL Australia by dan - 1/31/2006 7:23:00 AM

Re: ADSL Australia by Tester - 2/6/2006 3:55:00 PM

Re: ADSL Australia by Tester - 2/6/2006 4:02:00 PM

Posted by Tester

2/6/2006 4:02:00 PM.

Re: ADSL Australia

Sorry i made a mistake in that last Post, You DO NOT need static ip's for this to work,Dynamic ip's work just fine!!!

reply

packet acelerators by Bob - 9/10/2006 11:47:00 PM

Posted by Bob

9/10/2006 11:47:00 PM.

packet acelerators

i remember not long ago in las vegas their cable isp service were using modems from Com21...
these modems were particully fast.....

supposedly these cable modems of theirs were using software to speed up download and uplaods via packet accelerators..

anyone know an external packet accelerator one can attach to currant cable modems...
i believe the modem they had at the time was the DoxPort 1010 with the intergrated packet accelerator

also explain this to me please...
Downstream (receiver) Demodulation 64QAM, 256QAM.
Data Rate 30Mbps (64QAM), 43Mbps (256QAM).
Frequency Range 108MHz to 862MHz.
Bandwidth 8MHz.
Input Signal Level -15dBmV to +15dBmV

what is the difference of 64 QAM and 256QAM ?

currantly i am seeing nearly speeds of 28,000 downloads and 2,100 uploads

via cablevision/optonline with boost service added
(to take me from what was 12,500 download to 27,800 download speeds)...

also....can adding these multible nic cards work for my isp..

Thanks in advance

reply

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