T1 connection...but slow!

[justin_otis]

I have a T1 connection here at school but it seems that no matter what time of night or day I cannot get my downloads past 55k/s. Hotmail, for example, takes two minutes to log on. Whereas this page is lightning fast. What could be a possible solution?

[edwelly]

Do you have a proxy server?
- -edwelly

[justin_otis]

Proxy server? I don't know exactly what that would consist of, or how to find out.

[knucklebusted]

HotMail always seems slow to me. What you need to do to test your average speed it pick a site with some serious bandwidth, like either MS or Netscape. Download the latest browser and see what kind of throughput you get out of that.

[edwelly]

What is a Proxy Server?
In an enterprise that uses the Internet, a proxy server is a server that acts as an intermediary between a workstation user and the Internet so that the enterprise can ensure security, administrative control, and caching service. A proxy server is associated with or part of a gateway server that separates the enterprise network from the outside network and a firewall server that protects the enterprise network from outside intrusion.
A proxy server receives a request for an Internet service (such as a Web page request) from a user. If it passes filtering requirements, the proxy server, assuming it is also a cache server, looks in its local cache of previously downloaded Web pages. If it finds the page, it returns it to the user without needing to forward the request to the Internet. If the page is not in the cache, the proxy server, acting as a client on behalf of the user, uses one of its own IP addresses to request the page from the server out on the Internet. When the page is returned, the proxy server relates it to the original request and forwards it on to the user.

To the user, the proxy server is invisible; all Internet requests and returned responses appear to be directly with the addressed Internet server. (The proxy is not quite invisible; its IP address has to be specified as a configuration option to the browser or other protocol program.)

An advantage of a proxy server is that its cache can serve all users. If one or more Internet sites are frequently requested, these are likely to be in the proxy's cache, which will improve user response time. In fact, there are special servers called cache servers. A proxy can also do logging.

The functions of proxy, firewall, and caching can be in separate server programs or combined in a single package. Different server programs can be in different computers. For example, a proxy server may in the same machine with a firewall server or it may be on a separate server and forward requests through the firewall.
*** courtsey of www.whatis.com

To check to see if you have a proxy server:
On IE, click on Tools, Internet Options, Connections, LAN Settings and you will see a proxy server address in that open window.

I hope this helps some!
- -edwelly

[rxblak]

It also depends on how much other traffic is on that same pipe and how many routers/switches/loose pieces of string might be between your connection and the rest of the world.

Run a tracert(traceroute) to see if there are any local consistent bottlenecks

-RMB

[Praetorian]

Explain to me what "fractional" T1 is. Right now I'm on a T1 line with about 2000 machines and on a proxy server. I did a bandwidth test and I'm getting like 33.8kbps. Thats really slow for T1. My cable connection at home with 6 comps connected still gets way faster.

[GroundZero3]

remember even know your are on a T1 you will have slow downs. depending on the servers of the schools. i work for the school board down here in va and we have hubs in alot of schools. we finally jsut started putting switches in with servers that are running 5 1 ghz computers at the same time. Plus caculate all the computers that are on the network at the same time trying to surf the webs

JaYsin

[DVNT1]

A fractional T1 is when only some of the 24 channels are used. You could use part of the T1 for voice channels and another part for data (Internet), or just pay for a fraction of it and not use the rest.

Each channel is about 64.3mbps (24 x 64.3mbps=1.544mbps total). A fractional T1 is some multiple of 64.3mbps, like 64mbps, 128mbps, 192mbps, etc...

Edited --> I wanted to add that even if the school has a T1 they could be limiting download speeds based on QOS tags or even internal IP addresses. Students get very slow speeds but Distance Learning apps get all that is available.

It is more likely that the routing is not optimal or just too much utilization on your segement(s).

Another more remote possibility, your ISP (to whom your T1 connects) is having routing trouble or is overloaded too.

[This message has been edited by DVNT1 (edited 09-06-2001).]

[justin_otis]

I just tested my bandwidth and at one place it was 85.4kbps and at cnet it says my bandwidth is 1236.4 kbps. Who's right?

[DVNT1]

You won't always have the same speeds from one Internet host to another (or one time to another). Because you often use different paths (different routers) to get to the different destinations. Some paths may go through congested routers while others do not.

Try to test throughput to a host that is the fewest hops away. That should be a more reliable way to check your maximum speed.

[This message has been edited by DVNT1 (edited 09-06-2001).]

[Hokie22DrG]

I just finished a technical university where we had an OC3 155mb/s line to the net and even that seemed slow sometimes because we had 26,000 users on the network. It all depends on how much traffic you have on the network, and what time of day you connect.
Also, your school might claim that they have a T1 but they might actually only have fractional T1 which might explain why you can't get above 55k/s.