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Why BitTorrent Causes Latency and How To Fix It

Posted by kdawson on from the first-mile-downstream-would-still-hurt dept.

Sivar recommends an article by George Ou examining why BitTorrent affects performance so much more than other types of file transfer and a recommendation on how to fix it. The suggestion is to modify P2P clients so that, at least on upload, they space their traffic evenly in time so that other applications have a chance to fit into the interstices. "[Any] VoIP [user] or online gamer who has a roommate or a family member who uses BitTorrent (or any P2P application) knows what a nightmare it is when BitTorrent is in use. The ping (round trip latency) goes through the roof and it stays there making VoIP packets drop out and game play impossible."

16 of 315 comments (clear)

  1. QoS? by Opportunist · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hey, I have a really spiffy idea. How about creating a router that can determine which packets take precedence? I'll make millions off that idea...

    What? Oh, damn Linux! What? Oh, Windows can do it too now? Why do I always have the good ideas about 10 years too late?

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    1. Re:QoS? by JK_the_Slacker · · Score: 2, Funny

      They got a cable connection just for their internet-enabled toaster? Now THAT'S luxury!

      --
      I'm waiting for a "-1 somepeoplejustshouldn'tgetmodprivileges" meta-moderation.
    2. Re:QoS? by Donjo · · Score: 5, Funny

      Was it some guy from 127.0.0.1? I used Zone Alarm once and that guy was always trying to hack me. To bad I showed him, I made a batch file and pinged him thousands of times a second. Then my computer lagged so I stopped but I think I probably got him pretty good. /sarcasm

    3. Re:QoS? by Korin43 · · Score: 3, Funny

      DD-WRT is firmware for a router. So it's exactly like being behind a normal linksys router, except it doesn't suck.

    4. Re:QoS? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Wow. I just went to their website, and you'll never believe the name they've chosen for their MP3 player... They'll never sell more than a few dozen units, that's for sure.

    5. Re:QoS? by Spatial · · Score: 2, Funny

      Stuff that matters. :)

  2. short answer: by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Don't download porn while playing WoW.

  3. My Roommate owes me 5000g by fragmentate · · Score: 3, Funny

    Do you know how many times I've died in WoW because of his porn downloading?

    He's paying up, I need my epic flying mount...

    --
    My ZooLoo
    1. Re:My Roommate owes me 5000g by Midnight+Thunder · · Score: 5, Funny

      Do you know how many times I've died in WoW because of his porn downloading?

      As long as you haven't signed a contract with your roommate, then you could throttle him ;)

      --
      Jumpstart the tartan drive.
    2. Re:My Roommate owes me 5000g by Vectronic · · Score: 5, Funny

      "...then you could throttle him"

      eewww. he no doubt can handle that himself.

  4. Next on /. by this+great+guy · · Score: 5, Funny

    Why BitTorrent causes network bandwidth to be used. And network packets to be sent & received. Really sometimes I wonder.

    1. Re:Next on /. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      What do you wonder about? Why the admins keep pushing slop through because they want ad clicks and we seem content to just do it? Or do you wonder why the fuck we do it? Cause lately I sure wonder why I bother coming here. Hell I can't even bother to login.
      The captcha is crooks. Man sometimes the jokes right themselves.

  5. How clever by blue+l0g1c · · Score: 4, Funny

    Homebrew traffic shaping. *facepalm*

  6. Not "any P2P application" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    BitTorrent does indeed cause noticeable slowdowns, but I use eMule all the time and I can even play games while downloading and uploading to hundreds of different peers.

  7. Re:QoS, but only on the Telco Side by supernova_hq · · Score: 4, Funny

    20s?!?
    I'm hoping you meant 20ms...

    That's not even lag, that's simply not being connected to the server!

  8. I am sorry for your loss by dreamchaser · · Score: 2, Funny

    Let us take this occasion to have a moment of silence for the above AC's sense of humor. It died in a tragic accident and all attempts at resuscitation failed. It will be missed.