Aardvark Daily aardvark (ard'-vark) a controversial animal with a long probing nose used for sniffing out the facts and stimulating thought and discussion.

NZ's leading source of Net-Industry news and commentary since 1995
Australasia's "New Economy" News And Commentary Site
Headlines | XML feed | Contact | New Sites | Archives | Job Centre | MARKETPLACE | For Sale
Note: This column represents the opinions of the writer and as such, is not purported as fact
Is Your Traffic Being Shaped? 14 May 2002 Edition
Previous Edition | Archives

Million $ Ideas
At last, the contents of Aardvark's "million-dollar ideas" notebook are revealed for all to see!
Click To See
"Traffic shaping" is something that has been around for a long time but has only recently had any real impact on your average Net user.

But now, the effects of traffic shaping are now being clearly felt by a growing number of Net users, and some of them are not happy.

So what is traffic shaping and why are so many ISPs doing it?

Bandwidth, especially international bandwidth, costs money. If an ISP is able to squeeze more out of the bandwidth they've got then they can support a greater number of customers for a given investment in the expensive data circuits that connect them to the rest of the Net.

Coming Up This Week
In response to reader demand, I'll be publishing and archiving an updated version of my guide to website promotion and online marketing. If you've got a website that needs more traffic, or if you're trying to sell products or services online then this is the type of information that you can pay big money for elsewhere. Don't miss it.

The situation is a bit like that facing many large cities where the amount of traffic continues to grow but the council wishes to avoid investing in expensive new roading.

The alternative to increasing the number of lanes on main highways is to try and "manage" the traffic flows more efficiently. One of the most obvious examples of this are the bus-only lanes that exist on many motorway systems (that's freeway systems for Aardvark's US readers).

Because a single bus often carries as many people as 30 or 40 cars, the flow of people into or out of a city at peak times can be significantly improved by setting aside a special lane just for them. This is an example of "shaping" the flow of traffic.

Another good example are the passing lanes we see on the main highways -- these allow slow and fast vehicles to use the same road without too much interference.

Readers Say
(updated hourly)
From Yesterday...
  • Alternative TLD's... - David
  • Have Your Say

    The situation many ISPs find themselves facing is very similar.

    As customer numbers grow, the data circuits that connect the ISPs computers to the rest of the Net become increasingly congested, especially at peak times such as early evenings.

    The simplest, and most expensive solution is to simply buy some more bandwidth. Understandably however, many ISPs consider this an option of last resort -- preferring instead to try and "shape" the traffic flows so as to try and ease the congestion.

    The first time many Net users noticed the effects of traffic shaping was when Telecom/Xtra decided to restrict data flows on the ports used for P2P file-trading networks. By doing this they effectively freed up more bandwidth for others who were simply surfing the web.

    Another method (which I've bitched about before) of reducing congestion on an ISP's data circuits is to operate a caching proxy server for web traffic -- however, when configured correctly, this has a far less obvious effect on a user's online experience.

    I know that the tech staff and management of many NZ ISPs read Aardvark so I'd like them to contact me with details of what (if any) shaping they're performing on their traffic or if they're buying "pre-shaped" traffic from their upstream provider.

    Let me point out that, just like bus lanes, traffic shaping isn't necessarily a bad thing -- after all, an ISP that manages their traffic efficiently is likely to be faster (overall) than one who doesn't. However, it would be nice to know who's shaping and who's not.

    Remember -- those who remain silent shall speak a thousand words :-)

    The most disheartening thing about this whole situation is the way that the promises which accompanied the commissioning of the Southern Cross cable have turned to dust.

    This new cable was supposed to provide us with massive international bandwidth so that we could at last enjoy streaming video, faster websurfing, etc, etc. The reality is that, due to the very high costs, few ISPs can afford to actually purchase all the bandwidth they'd like and are increasingly forced to resort to agressive caching and traffic shaping to survive.

    That Xtra appears to be the leader in these tactics just reinforces the widespread belief that, in the face of a somewhat depressed telcommunications marketplace, Telecom are overly focused on cost-cutting, to the detriment of performance.

    Hard To Believe -- But...
    Last week I offered the chance for some lucky company to sponsor this publication.

    And what a deal I was offering...

    For the equivalent of a $15 CPM (cost per thousand impressions), the sponsor would get to reach a very targeted, mainly Kiwi (but with some Australian, US and European readers thrown in for good measure) audience of IT/Net professionals and hard-core users through an exclusive placement on this page.

    Is that too expensive? I don't think so, just compare it to the $90 CPM that IDG charges for front-page banners or the $110 they charge for "sykscraper" placements.

    Unfortunately, despite my very well priced offer, you don't see a sponsor on this page.

    Maybe if I promise not to write any more bad things about Telecom... Nah! :-)

    Have Your Say
    As always, your comments are welcomed. Please remember to select "For Publication" if you want them included on this site.

    Have your say.

    Add Aardvark To Your Own Website!
    Got a moment? Want a little extra fresh content for your own website or page?

    Just add a couple of lines of JavaScript to your pages and you can get a free summary of Aardvark's daily commentary -- automatically updated each and every week-day.

    Aardvark also makes a summary of this daily column available via XML using the RSS format. More details can be found here.

    Contact me if you decide to use either of these feeds and have any problems.

    Linking Policy
    Want to link to this site? Check out Aardvark's Linking Policy.

    Did you tell someone else about Aardvark today? If not then do it now!

    Latest
    Security Alerts
    Security flaw in Microsoft Office for Mac (CNet - 18/04/2002)

    A trio of MS-Office security vulns (TheReg - 10/04/2002)

    Two new "critical" bugs patched in IE (ZDNet - 01/04/2002)

    Second Java hole poses Windows risk (CNet - 20/03/2002)

    Microsoft offers patch for Java software (CNet - 06/03/2002)

    Latest
    Virus Alerts
    New Klez worm squirms across Internet (CNet - 18/04/2002)

    Aphex E-mail Worm Has A Way With IRC, Instant Messenger (NewsBytes - 11/04/2002)

    'Bill Clinton' Worm Gets Around (NewsBytes - 22/03/2002)

    Bookmark This Page Now!

     

    MORE NEWS
    NZL Sites
    IDG.Net.nz
    NZ Netguide
    NZ Herald Tech
    PC World NZ
    Scoop
    NZOOM Technology WordWorx

    AUS Sites
    ZDNet
    Fairfax IT
    Australian IT
    AUS Netguide
    NineMSN Tech
    APC Magazine

    USA Sites
    Wired.com
    CNet
    CNNfn Tech
    TechWeb
    Yahoo Tech
    ZDNet Tech
    USA Today Tech
    7am.com SciTech

    UK Sites
    The Register
    BBC SciTech

     

    The Day's Top News
    Open in New Window = open in new window
    New Zealand

    Open in New Window Government seeks discount deal with Microsoft
    Government departments are about to negotiate with Microsoft for a discount deal on software...
    NZ Herald

    Open in New Window Modem threat more vital than privacy: Telecom
    Some subscribers to Telecom's JetStream ADSL service are unhappy that Telecom gave their contact details to Nokia so that the equipment maker could inform them that they may be in danger of electrocution...
    IDG

    Other

    Open in New Window Vulnerability Is Discovered in Security for Smart Cards
    Two computer security researchers have discovered an ingenious system that can extract information contained in widely used smart cards...
    NYTimes/Yahoo

    Open in New Window States missed a break in Microsoft trial
    Another procedural error on the part of the plaintiff states in the Microsoft antitrust trial has prevented evidence from getting into court. And that evidence, involving a specialized operating system called Windows XP Embedded, could have made the states' case...
    CNet

    Open in New Window Credit Card Theft Thrives Online as Global Market
    Tens of thousands of stolen credit-card numbers are being offered for sale each week on the Internet in a handful of thriving, membership-only cyberbazaars...
    NYTimes/Yahoo

    Open in New Window Nasa hunts net for shuttle parts
    US space officials are searching the internet for the outmoded computer components needed to keep the space shuttles running....
    BBC

    Open in New Window Online Ad Biz Looking Up - Nielsen
    The number of unique advertisements on the Web has jumped 33 percent since the beginning of the year, hitting an all-time high of nearly 70,000 in April, according to data released today...
    NwesBytes

    Australia

    Open in New Window OzEmail confident despite WorldCom bankruptcy fears
    Speculation is rife that WorldCom, the Telecommunications giant that owns OzEmail, could soon declare bankruptcy...
    ZDNet

    Open in New Window There's no place like home
    Australian software houses are finding the United States a land of opportunity too tempting to ignore, writes...
    SMH

    Other

    Open in New Window Copy protected disks may cause Mac booting problem
    Certain music CDs fitted with digital barriers to stop copying can also cause some Apple computers to crash and refuse to spit out the incompatible disc...
    New Scientist

    Open in New Window Top UK companies waste millions on duff web sites
    The UK's top companies are wasting millions of pounds on dismal Web sites, according to a report not out today...
    The Register

    Open in New Window New distribution platform is solution for copyright theft
    The debate about what to do about intellectual-property rights in the digital age usually revolves around two starkly different views about how the world should work...
    SFGate

    Open in New Window AMD lets loose with new flash memory
    Advanced Micro Devices is sampling a new flash memory chip that promises to double storage capacity and give Intel a run for its money in the market for cellular phones and other consumer electronics devices...
    CNet

    Open in New Window U.S. Supreme Court Partially Upholds Online Porn Law
    The U.S. Supreme Court today partially upheld a controversial law that makes it illegal for Web site operators to expose children to pornography and other material deemed "harmful to minors." ...
    NewsBytes


    Looking For More News or Information?

    Google
    Search WWW Search Aardvark

    Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2002, Bruce Simpson, republication rights available on request

    jet engine page