Strange bug with QOS

[buch3r]

I'm encountering a strange bug with QOS. I've noticed this with both merlin and stock asus. I'm running a RTN66R. After restoring factory settings, the first time I enable smart qos and input the values for download and upload (I was using 9 and 1), when going to speedtest, my download speed is capped at 9mbit. However, if I make any other changes to other QoS settings, for example adding Diablo 3, it seems like the download value for smart QoS is ignored and reverts back to max speed when I go to speedtest.

 

[TonyH]

HI,
I don't think speed test (by Ookla) is under the control of QOS.

 

[buch3r]

That's strange that it worked the first time, speedtest came back 9mbit by 1mbit. Any attempts after, the download is no longer capped to the QoS setting, but the upload is still capped at 1mbit. My speedtest without QoS is 10.8/1.6

 

[TonyH]

That's strange that it worked the first time, speedtest came back 9mbit by 1mbit. Any attempts after, the download is no longer capped to the QoS setting, but the upload is still capped at 1mbit. My speedtest without QoS is 10.8/1.6

Hi,
The purpose of speed test is usually to test your down/up speed given by your ISP
according to your subscription plan. I use speed test to make sure I have a good
quality connection to ISP. My package gives 50/3 speed. Almost always I get that
number when I run speed test.

 

[4Leaf]

I'm encountering a strange bug with QOS. I've noticed this with both merlin and stock asus. I'm running a RTN66R. After restoring factory settings, the first time I enable smart qos and input the values for download and upload (I was using 9 and 1), when going to speedtest, my download speed is capped at 9mbit. However, if I make any other changes to other QoS settings, for example adding Diablo 3, it seems like the download value for smart QoS is ignored and reverts back to max speed when I go to speedtest.

I own a RT-N66R and for me the qos system that Asus implies has never properly capped my download speeds. However, capping your download speeds is not all that important.

The most important factor besides prioritizing packets in qos is to cap the upload speed. The download speed of your internet is determined based on your upload speed. The upload packets are the packets being sent from your router back through your modem and then to your ISP. Your ISP will then return with the download packets. If your upload speed is being drained faster then it can rebuild itself to full speed, then your download speed will also be greatly effected and will also be dramatically slower then full speed as well.

This is why it is important to cap your upload speed correctly. Anywhere between 60-80% of your total upload speed is what I have found works best. It really doesn't matter rather or not you even cap your download speed. I personally leave my download bandwidth at 0% in my qos, which means unlimited.

And yes speedtest.com does correctly read the limits that you have set for your download and upload speed when using qos. The reason it doesn't show your download speed being limited when using Asus qos is simply because the Asus qos system has never properly limited download speed as far as I know. I have used Tomato by Shibby qos system before and speedtest.net properly showed the download and upload speed limits I would set using qos.

Here is an article that explains in great detail how qos works and how to correctly use it.

http://tomatousb.org/tut:using-tomato-s-qos-system

 

[buch3r]

Is it possible to fix this?

 

[4Leaf]

Is it possible to fix this?

What exactly? The download speed not being limited correctly?

 

[buch3r]

Yes, If I set the download to 1mbit, it works, but as I increase the max, the actual max is somewhat greater. To get 9mbit I have to pick somewhere around 4.8mbit. Kinda strange don't you think?

 

[RMerlin]

QoS works by priorizing traffic, not by capping it. If nothing else with a higher priority requires bandwidth, then it's normal for other low priority processes to get access to the full bandwidth.

To test QoS, you need to actually run TWO streams at once: one with a low priority, and one with a high priority.

Real-life test I did when SmartQOS first landed in my hands was to test a torrent and a speedtest.

- Started the torrent: it ran at full speed
- Start a speed test: torrent dropped to nearly 0, but speedtest gave me full speed
- Once the speed test ended, the torrent went back to its max speed

The down/up values you enter are mostly so the router can properly balance the traffic, using these values as a frame of reference.

In summary: QoS is not the same thing as bandwidth throttling/capping.

 

[4Leaf]

Yes, If I set the download to 1mbit, it works, but as I increase the max, the actual max is somewhat greater. To get 9mbit I have to pick somewhere around 4.8mbit. Kinda strange don't you think?

There is no reason to limit your download speed at all. The speed of your internet is determined by your upload speed. Even the download speed is determined by the upload speed. Therefore, it is unnecessary to try and limit your download speeds. It is much more important to limit your upload speed properly to keep your internet from slowing down. For example, I get around 2-2.5 mbps upload speed on average but I have my upload speed limit set to 1. This way I never have my internet slow down from too many people trying to play games and watch netflix online all at the same time.

Prioritizing your internet traffic properly is also very important. For example, You could set all of your gaming consoles at the highest priority and set all of your torrenting traffic at the lowest priority to prevent lag while you are playing an online game on your xbox.

Also try setting your download bandwidth to 0% on each traffic priority on the qos/user-defined priorities page. This should ensure you get the maximum download speed available for each of your network devices. However, like Merlin stated; the download speed could very well vary from one another, based upon what traffic priority the device you are currently testing the download speed to is in.

 

[4Leaf]

QoS works by priorizing traffic, not by capping it. If nothing else with a higher priority requires bandwidth, then it's normal for other low priority processes to get access to the full bandwidth.

To test QoS, you need to actually run TWO streams at once: one with a low priority, and one with a high priority.

Real-life test I did when SmartQOS first landed in my hands was to test a torrent and a speedtest.

- Started the torrent: it ran at full speed
- Start a speed test: torrent dropped to nearly 0, but speedtest gave me full speed
- Once the speed test ended, the torrent went back to its max speed

The down/up values you enter are mostly so the router can properly balance the traffic, using these values as a frame of reference.

In summary: QoS is not the same thing as bandwidth throttling/capping.

I wasn't trying to imply that it was the same thing as bandwidth throttling/capping when I mentioned about capping the bandwidth speed. I was simply referring to the bandwidth limits you have to set on the Asus QOS system. Everything you said is absolutely correct though my friend.

 

[Raiu]

So, just want to make sure I understand this.

What I'm trying to do..
Is make sure my Apple TV and chrome casts all have top priority but I also have network ip cams and a belkin @tv place shifter that I want to be able to stream to me at max rate where ever I am.

I set the aptv and cc up as highest as well as the @tv and ip cams as highest as well.

I want to Mae sure I can stream movies at full bandwidth and not interfere with them if my ADHD kicks in and I pick my iPad up to play something else lol

 

[4Leaf]

So, just want to make sure I understand this.

What I'm trying to do..
Is make sure my Apple TV and chrome casts all have top priority but I also have network ip cams and a belkin @tv place shifter that I want to be able to stream to me at max rate where ever I am.

I set the aptv and cc up as highest as well as the @tv and ip cams as highest as well.

I want to Mae sure I can stream movies at full bandwidth and not interfere with them if my ADHD kicks in and I pick my iPad up to play something else lol

The best way to ensure you are always getting the best speeds is to properly choose the best upload speed limit when you set both your upload and download speed limits when you enable qos. Try setting your upload speed at 60% of your average maximum upload speed.

When setting traffic priorities, the main use you will get out of prioritizing your internet traffic is reducing your latency to as little as possible. Which is very helpful for online gaming and VOIP to ensure you get the best quality connection.

The main point of setting traffic priorities is to make sure there are no other devices slowing down real time traffic. If you have any gaming consoles I would set them above the devices you mentioned above. If you were to set any gaming consoles to the highest priority and the video streaming stuff as the medium priority the gaming consoles would not interrupt your video streaming. However, if you were to set the video streaming devices you mentioned above the gaming consoles that would cause some serious extra latency when trying to play an online pvp game.

The reason the gaming consoles wouldn't slow down the video streaming is because they aren't going to be effected by latency as much. Video streaming mainly relies on good and steady throughput. Using qos and implying it properly would definitely increase your throughput speeds for both upload and download speeds. Always set bit torrenting and anything p2p or devices that in general are mainly downloading things to the lowest priority.

I only get 6 mbps download speed and I limit my upload speed to 1 mbps and I never have any video streaming problems even with people gaming online at the same time I am watching netflix or something like that. I also never have any lag issues while playing real time pvp multiplayer games online.

 

[Raiu]

The best way to ensure you are always getting the best speeds is to properly choose the best upload speed limit when you set both your upload and download speed limits when you enable qos. Try setting your upload speed at 60% of your average maximum upload speed.

When setting traffic priorities, the main use you will get out of prioritizing your internet traffic is reducing your latency to as little as possible. Which is very helpful for online gaming and VOIP to ensure you get the best quality connection.

The main point of setting traffic priorities is to make sure there are no other devices slowing down real time traffic. If you have any gaming consoles I would set them above the devices you mentioned above. If you were to set any gaming consoles to the highest priority and the video streaming stuff as the medium priority the gaming consoles would not interrupt your video streaming. However, if you were to set the video streaming devices you mentioned above the gaming consoles that would cause some serious extra latency when trying to play an online pvp game.

The reason the gaming consoles wouldn't slow down the video streaming is because they aren't going to be effected by latency as much. Video streaming mainly relies on good and steady throughput. Using qos and implying it properly would definitely increase your throughput speeds for both upload and download speeds. Always set bit torrenting and anything p2p or devices that in general are mainly downloading things to the lowest priority.

I only get 6 mbps download speed and I limit my upload speed to 1 mbps and I never have any video streaming problems even with people gaming online at the same time I am watching netflix or something like that. I also never have any lag issues while playing real time pvp multiplayer games online.

True. I don't game that much so that's not an issue in my house (yet, kid is only 2 lol) although I do use my PS3 as a media device to play stuff on the hard drive.

If you have this set up you can also use allcast to stream local media from your phone or your media server to your chromecast.