[Bloat] General Bufferbloat Testing Document.

[Rich Brown]

Hi Jim,

I'm glad you've got this letter going. I have started to write (mentally) this note several times, but two things always checked my momentum:

- Last summer, I sent notes asking the big speed test sites simply to add a latency test. (speedtest.net, testmy.net, speedof.me). All three responded that (basically) they would ask their developers about it, and you can see the (non) results. 

- I'm afraid that it's not in their self-interest to add a latency test. Especially Ookla - I see their test package bundled as part of the offering for lots of ISPs. Ookla are hardly going to "enhance" their speed test in such a way that customer's customers can plainly see, "Congratulations on starting your service with us. You can see your speeds are pretty good, but you get an F- for bufferbloat."

The latter point is the reason that I'm so glad that Justin has added the latency test. DSLReports.com doesn't have any sacred cows to protect, so they're free to call it as it is. And I also love that they do it with a letter grade: "Hey, dude. Your connection is bloated, and you get a D".

There is still a long row to hoe, but as more and more people get de-bloated, the test will help spread around the knowledge that "it doesn't have to be that way". 

Rich


On May 15, 2015, at 12:16 PM, Jim Gettys <jg at freedesktop.org> wrote:

> Even before I knew about the wonderful DSLreports bufferbloat test, I had started working on a document to help people like that (e.g. Ookla) understand how to do bufferbloat testing.  The document also grew a bit beyond that topic, by the time it was done....
> 
> The document is at:
> 
> https://docs.google.com/document/d/1z5NN4WRKQKK-RtxtKR__XIwkybvsKEmunek2Ezdw_90/edit?usp=sharing
> 
> Comments welcome. 
> 
> It's intended long term home is the bufferbloat.net wiki, but I've found Google doc's commenting feature really useful.
>                            - Jim
> 
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