{"id":325,"date":"2022-01-11T06:04:05","date_gmt":"2022-01-11T06:04:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/excentiscom.webhosting.be\/?post_type=cases&p=325"},"modified":"2023-05-02T09:31:43","modified_gmt":"2023-05-02T08:31:43","slug":"lowering-latency-pyur-docsis-network","status":"publish","type":"cases","link":"https:\/\/www.excentis.com\/cases\/lowering-latency-pyur-docsis-network\/","title":{"rendered":"Lowering latency in the P\u0178UR DOCSIS network"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
P\u0178UR<\/strong> is the brand of Tele Columbus, one of Germany\u2019s leading fiber network operators which offers high-speed internet including telephony and digital TV services. With more than 3 million homes, P\u0178UR corresponds to a national market share of around 1.7%. We\u2019re happy to say P\u0178UR has been a long-time client of Excentis.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t P\u0178UR wanted to further optimize their quality of service by lowering latency in scenarios with and without load.<\/p> To achieve this, they reached out to Excentis as DOCSIS experts, knowing all the ins and outs of the DOCSIS specifications, and having intimate insights and experience on how to optimize and finetune all the configuration settings on the devices implementing the specifications. Together, we agreed on the high-level approach that Excentis would take:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t We started by developing Python ByteBlower<\/a> scripts to simulate the HTTP response time measurements for both up- and download, in scenarios with load and without. These scripts were used on an Excentis lab test setup that replicated the P\u0178UR access network, serving as a base for researching the latency behavior. The latency research showed that when the latency values show to be high, it\u2019s most often due to these packets ending up at the end of the upstream buffer, which was already filled with upstream load traffic.<\/p> For the upstream transmissions<\/strong>, the \u201cDefault Upstream Target Buffer Configuration\u201d and \u201cMaximum Traffic Burst\u201d parameters in the modem configuration file play a key role.<\/p> For the downstream transmissions<\/strong>, we focused on the \u201cActive Queue Management\u201d mechanism. DOCSIS defines this Active Queue Management (AQM) mechanism to optimize end-user experience, but the exact configuration consists of numerous parameters. Based on extensive analysis and testing a significantly optimized configuration was proposed to, in the end, increase the user experience.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t Every year, the German “connect” magazine organizes a standardized fixed line test across the service providers to objectively advise on who delivers the strongest complete package of voice quality, internet access and web TV.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t Analyzing, tweaking, verifying and deploying these new configuration parameters not only resulted in a boost in overall performance, P\u0178UR even scored a whopping 100% in Download and Upload Data Tests! This wasn\u2019t only for our DOCSIS side, but P\u0178UR applied these principles to PON technologies with lower latency as well! This, of course, resulted directly into a better network for the end user, with less latency.<\/em><\/strong><\/p> A great result for all stakeholders, Thomas Anders, Director Engineering at P\u0178UR, is happy to report.<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\tOptimizing QOS by lowering latency <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Approach: Analysis, lab testing and config optimization<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
ByteBlower<\/a> is Excentis\u2019 own network traffic generator\/analyzer that helps you quickly assess the performance and stability of IP networks and network equipment.<\/p>
As P\u0178UR has their own ByteBlower in use, these scripts also became a core tool for future optimized testing in their own lab.<\/p>\u201cBy carefully optimizing these DOCSIS-specific parameters we were able to achieve up to 5-fold reduction in latency, while at the same time making sure no other systems or processes would be affected in a negative way. This required proper understanding of the specific characteristics of the network, equipment, subscriptions and applications in play, where our deep understanding of DOCSIS over the last 20 years came into play, says Wim De Ketelaere, CTO at Excentis.<\/em><\/blockquote>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
(Big) Results <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
Next Steps<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t