AcceleNet advantages on our DAP

[wm4bama]

I decided to run some tests to try and measure the benefits of AcceleNet, not only in the speed increases in web page loading, but how it may effect our DAP totals...we know the Exede usage page is not working right now, but later on when our usage is measured how much does AcceleNet reduce our measured usage?

The assumption (and this is a big assumption on my part and has not been addressed by any official WB/Exede statements) is that our web page request is sent to the AcceleNet servers and all the contents of that request is gathered by the AcceleNet servers, compressed, then sent through our gateway servers back to our modems, where the content is decompressed by the modem's AcceleNet firmware, then presented to our browser for display.

To be of benefit to our DAP total we must assume that the byte counter is in the gateway server software, not in the AcceleNet server software...in other words we will be charged (counted) for actual bytes transmitted over the satellite, not by the raw bytes gathered by the AcceleNet servers before compression takes place..

If these assumptions are true, we Exede customers will benefit not just with faster speeds but with getting a lower usage counted due to the benefits of AcceleNet compression..

So, just as an exercise, I wanted to measure how much we may expect to see our DAP reduced by the use of AcceleNet technology.

To do that, I used two different test sites, the first on, testmy.net, to measure transmission speed of compressed data, which AcceleNet has no effect on...and the second test site, broadband.gov, which uses uncompressed data for their speed tests.

Links to the two test sites:

http://testmy.net/ (use the download test with the 6 or 12mB file size)

http://www.broadband.gov/qualitytest...sationId=26522 (no choices here, just run the test)

Now, I just use a simple ratio math exercise to determine what percentage of compression we may expect to see on typical uncompressed web pages...and I realize no two web pages are alike, some can be compressed more than others...but remember, this is just an exercise...

Using 12.1 from testmy.net and 17.6 from broadband.gov we can estimate a DAP savings of about 60-70% from using the AcceleNet technology..

Keep in mind that streaming video, file downloads from Windows Update site, any .zip or .exe file, are already compressed and AcceleNet will not reduce the byte count for them..

But, over a 30 day period of saving even 50% of what we would have accumulated in DAP for normal web surfing will add up to a reduced usage count vs what those would get using the older Legacy services...

This leads to the conclusion, that if the byte counter is at the gateway server, not the AcceleNet server, then instead of statements I've seen on this forum like "I will not pay more for less usage" will be untrue...and, in reality, for example, a 7.5gB monthly DAP for the least expensive Exede plan will actually have more allowed usage than a Value Pak plan of about 10gB's of combined download/upload limits..

These are my numbers I worked with, it is important to run your two tests as close together as you can so other variables are minimized..

:::.. Download Test Results ..:::
Download Connection:: 12340 Kbps or 12.1 Mbps

[micwa]

Are you on the 7.5GB plan?

[wm4bama]

Are you on the 7.5GB plan?

Yes, my Exede12-1 is the 7.5gB plan...that's why it was easy to compare my old Legacy Value Pak with the new Exede12-1 plan..

[micwa]

That's the plan I will start off with.

[oldogy]

Nice work. Hope you're right. Thank you, sir.

[pfj14807]

The assumption (and this is a big assumption on my part and has not been addressed by any official WB/Exede statements) is that our web page request is sent to the AcceleNet servers and all the contents of that request is gathered by the AcceleNet servers, compressed, then sent through our gateway servers back to our modems, where the content is decompressed by the modem's AcceleNet firmware, then presented to our browser for display.

To be of benefit to our DAP total we must assume that the byte counter is in the gateway server software, not in the AcceleNet server software...in other words we will be charged (counted) for actual bytes transmitted over the satellite, not by the raw bytes gathered by the AcceleNet servers before compression takes place..

I read of your tests with great interest; I am one of those asking, "Why pay more for less?"

Let me admit that I know nothing of Accelenet and DAP and so my comments below may be naive. (Is DAP what I call FAP?) I am currently a Pro Pack user: 17GB download. I typically run about 75% download and 20% upload. I monitor my usage closely and adjust/delay as necessary to avoid overruns. Upload is never a problem.

Four points:

1. aren't you assuming that our current download usage is not compressed?
2. the new 15 GB maximum (Pro Package) combines upload and download.
3. Exede usage is monthly, not a rolling 30 day total.
4. Exede is adding 7 GB per month to all plans until September, when they expect their usage counters will be working.

Points 2-4 confirmed today, 23 March, by Exede sales. I ordered the 15 GB package assuming I'll have at least equivalent usage come September as my current package offers. Otherwise, on to 25GB (gulp!!!).

I wish I knew the name of the update salesman I talked to today. He was very helpful, and honestly addressed all of my concerns. That is not to say that he promised a glowing future; rather, he helped me understand the dice I am shaking. As does your report of your experiments. Many thanks to both of you.

[wm4bama]

I read of your tests with great interest; I am one of those asking, "Why pay more for less?"

Let me admit that I know nothing of Accelenet and DAP and so my comments below may be naive. (Is DAP what I call FAP?) I am currently a Pro Pack user: 17GB download. I typically run about 75% download and 20% upload. I monitor my usage closely and adjust/delay as necessary to avoid overruns. Upload is never a problem.

Yes, the new terminology is called DAP (Data Allowance Policy) vs old terminology of FAP (Fair Access Policy)...the new DAP policy has one single number for limits, it adds both download bytes and upload bytes to sum one number, which is your total usage to be compared with your plan's DAP.

Four points:

1. aren't you assuming that our current download usage is not compressed?

Yes, no compression is used on the Legacy system plans...Legacy being the original Wildblue plans of Value Pak, Select Pak and Pro Pak...so you get no advantage of speed or usage reduction from what the new AcceleNet technology provides.

2. the new 15 GB maximum (Pro Package) combines upload and download.

No, the Pro Pak has individual download and upload limits..I've not seen any Pro Pak plan that has combined limits..look here:
http://www.viasatresidential.com/wil...mparison-chart

3. Exede usage is monthly, not a rolling 30 day total.

True...your usage resets to zero each month on your billing date.

4. Exede is adding 7 GB per month to all plans until September, when they expect their usage counters will be working.

The "official" word posted here by WB Steve did not say any specific amount of usage is being added until the usage counters are working, just that the usage limits would not be enforced until the counters are working, unless someone really grossly abuses the system...no specifics on what that abuse may be in terms of usage...

Points 2-4 confirmed today, 23 March, by Exede sales. I ordered the 15 GB package assuming I'll have at least equivalent usage come September as my current package offers. Otherwise, on to 25GB (gulp!!!).

I wish I knew the name of the update salesman I talked to today. He was very helpful, and honestly addressed all of my concerns. That is not to say that he promised a glowing future; rather, he helped me understand the dice I am shaking. As does your report of your experiments. Many thanks to both of you.

My replies are in bold above...

[jamizer]

His #4 statement is interesting...I wonder if it has any merit?

[btinmo]

Sorry to break your heart, but it dont matter if you use an alien server. There is no secret data compression. Here is an earlier post to check out.

So what does the proxy accomplish? Here's what I learned.

1. The number one purpose is to do all the DNS lookups at the gateway. Essentially, when you request a web page, there is a bunch of setup transactions that take place before the web page can be displayed. This is especially true for web pages that have a lot of objects for which DNS needs to be resolved. At minimum, any commercial website (CNN, MSN, etc.) that displays ads falls into this category, but you'd be surprised to see how many objects are hosted on different domains and/or servers. If the proxy is setup in your browser, either via the optimizer or because you set it up manually, you can get the DNS for all of these objects much more quickly -- you're hitting one server right at the gateway, instead of reaching out to every server for the information. This is the #1 reason for using the proxy, and it should make your web surfing much more responsive.

2. The number two purpose is caching content. If the content is at the gateway, you can receive it more quickly than if you need to reach out to the originating server(s). It should be noted that my engineering expert said that this is far more secondary than the first reason to use the proxy.

There is no benefit to bandwidth usage, neither for customer nor company. The purpose is to make your web surfing experience as fast as possible.

Link to post http://wildblueworld.com/forum/showthread.php?t=415

[wm4bama]

Sorry to break your heart, but it dont matter if you use an alien server. There is no secret data compression. Here is an earlier post to check out.

So what does the proxy accomplish? Here's what I learned.

1. The number one purpose is to do all the DNS lookups at the gateway. Essentially, when you request a web page, there is a bunch of setup transactions that take place before the web page can be displayed. This is especially true for web pages that have a lot of objects for which DNS needs to be resolved. At minimum, any commercial website (CNN, MSN, etc.) that displays ads falls into this category, but you'd be surprised to see how many objects are hosted on different domains and/or servers. If the proxy is setup in your browser, either via the optimizer or because you set it up manually, you can get the DNS for all of these objects much more quickly -- you're hitting one server right at the gateway, instead of reaching out to every server for the information. This is the #1 reason for using the proxy, and it should make your web surfing much more responsive.

2. The number two purpose is caching content. If the content is at the gateway, you can receive it more quickly than if you need to reach out to the originating server(s). It should be noted that my engineering expert said that this is far more secondary than the first reason to use the proxy.

There is no benefit to bandwidth usage, neither for customer nor company. The purpose is to make your web surfing experience as fast as possible.

Link to post http://wildblueworld.com/forum/showthread.php?t=415

You're reading more about what the old "Optimizer" was supposed to do..

You need to read more:

ACCELENET – CREATING AN INTELLIGENT ACCELERATION LANE

To address these issues, advanced AcceleNet technology uses available network bandwidth by creating an intelligent “acceleration lane” between the remote device and data center application servers. This lane gives users dramatically improved speed on their computing devices.

The client runs completely transparent to end users. Server-side administration tools configure, distribute and monitor the remote application. Powerful system reports include application-specific and system-wide compression ratios as well as other performance statistics to measure the return on your investment.

Remote and mobile user benefits:
Accelerated access to centralized applications, providing LAN-like performance across the extended WAN
Reduced network bandwidth consumption by 50 to 75%
Ease of integration with remote access VPN and software distribution tools

Extend your application acceleration – all the way to your most remote users. Some of the largest enterprises, ISPs, and wireless carriers trust AcceleNet for their application acceleration.

Learn more about the technology behind application acceleration.