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GigaMon
Anon
2014-Jul-27 1:47 am
Poor streaming from Amazon server I've been having a problem with an HD video stream that uses amazon AWS servers , for many months. The picture stalls every few seconds. On rare days it works , but mostly, major issues.
Everyone is passing the buck as to who is to blame. The provider of the video stream claimed it has something to do with the supposed ' throttling' of video at Verizon. My FIOS service is otherwise quite good, and everything tests out fine, 30mbps up and down.
But trace routes to to the specific amazon servers and www.amazon.com show a significant number of timeouts.
Is there some Verizon issue with amazon routing?? Here's a trace to amazon.com done tonight . no problems using the web site, so I don't know WHAT this means.
I get 6 hops and the rest time out. Tracing route to www.amazon.com [205.251.242.54] over a maximum of 30 hops: 1 1 ms 1 ms 1 ms 192.168.1.1 2 1 ms 1 ms 1 ms L100.NYCMNY-VFTTP-173.verizon-gni.net [71.183.95.1] 3 5 ms 7 ms 7 ms G2-2-0-1.NYCMNY-LCR-21.verizon-gni.net [100.41.195.118] 4 * * * Request timed out. 5 6 ms 5 ms 5 ms 0.ae1.BR3.NYC4.ALTER.NET [140.222.229.97] 6 6 ms 6 ms 6 ms 204.255.169.234 7 * * * Request timed out. 8 * * * Request timed out. 9 * * * Request timed out. 10 * * * Request timed out. 11 * * * Request timed out. 12 * * * Request timed out. 13 * * * Request timed out. 14 * * * Request timed out. 15 * * * Request timed out. 16 * * * Request timed out. |
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www.amazon.com is not where the AWS server is located, so that traceroute is not representative. What server are you using?
"Request timed out." simply means the router at that point is not responding to pings.
Route taken from here does not follow that same path, so either the routing has changed overnight (indicating a problem was fixed, but not likely) or your geolocation directs you to a different server. Amazon.com resolves to 4 different addresses: 176.32.98.166 (europe), 205.251.242.54 (your resolved destination), 72.21.194.212, and 72.21.215.232 (my resolved destination).
Once a ping hits netrange 205.251.192.0 - 205.251.255.255 or 72.21.192.0 - 72.21.223.255, that's Amazon, which appears to not respond at all to tcp pings, although some udp pings come back. Final destination does not respond to pings.
My path goes through FiOS to Alter.net to Qwest.net to Amazon. |
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GigaMon
Anon
2014-Jul-30 10:46 pm
Yes, I know the server in question was not www.amazon.com. Here's a trace of a problem connection.
Some tech support guy at Verizon made a big deal about the timeouts, saying that was indicative of a problem. Is that bs? I would not be surprised.
But it doesn't tell me why this particular stream is problematic for me for 4 months running. The source claims it's not them, but a Verizon issue.
Tracing route to ec2-54-196-169-132.compute-1.amazonaws.com [54.196.169.132] over a maximum of 30 hops: 1 1 ms 1 ms 1 ms 192.168.1.1 2 3 ms 2 ms 1 ms L100.NYCMNY-VFTTP-173.verizon-gni.net [71.183.95.1] 3 5 ms 7 ms 7 ms G1-1-4-1.NYCMNY-LCR-21.verizon-gni.net [130.81.212.42] 4 4 ms 4 ms 5 ms ae3-0.NY325-BB-RTR2.verizon-gni.net [130.81.199.154] 5 * * * Request timed out. 6 4 ms 4 ms 5 ms 0.ae2.BR3.NYC4.ALTER.NET [140.222.229.99] 7 5 ms 5 ms 4 ms xe-0-2-0-6.r06.nycmny01.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.9.77] 8 * * * Request timed out. 9 13 ms 14 ms 12 ms 54.240.229.80 10 14 ms 13 ms 12 ms 54.240.228.198 11 12 ms 13 ms 12 ms 54.240.229.221 12 * * * Request timed out. 13 18 ms 18 ms 12 ms 72.21.220.100 14 43 ms 44 ms 45 ms 72.21.220.133 15 33 ms 33 ms 34 ms 72.21.222.129 16 * * * Request timed out. 17 * * * Request timed out. 18 * * * Request timed out. 19 43 ms 37 ms 39 ms 216.182.224.75 20 * * * Request timed out. 21 * * * Request timed out. 22 * * * Request timed out. 23 * * * Request timed out. 24 * * * Request timed out. 25 * * * Request timed out. 26 * * * Request timed out. |
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PJL join:2008-07-24 Long Beach, CA |
to GigaMon
What is the URL of the streaming site that uses the Amazon servers? |
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to GigaMon
Never had issue with amazon always HD |
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EdrickI aspire to tell the story of a lifetime Premium Member join:2004-09-11 San Diego, CA |
to GigaMon
Can't get the damn thing to stream stargate sg1 tonight to save its life |
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GigaMon to PJL
Anon
2014-Jul-31 11:10 am
to PJL
the url of the actual server is in the trace.
the site itself needs a login for paid customers. would not help to post it |
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to GigaMon
the trace you posted goes from alter.net through ntt.net before hitting amazon, while mine goes through qwest.net
using mtr, I am seeing packet loss in qwest's first entry after alter.net
can't tell what your hop 8 is, but it's probably the last ntt.net before traffic enters amazon system at 54.220.x.x
since we can't see the reverse path, i'll only speculate that if it flows through the same connections (and it's not certain), it's possible amazon's outbound traffic could be impacting your inbound traffic.
no packet loss on verizon or alter.net (also verizon). |
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birdfeedr |
to GigaMon
said by GigaMon : The source claims it's not them, but a Verizon issue. Is your contact amazon, or one of their clients? Have your contact run a trace from the server to you and compare it to your trace to the server. |
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navyson join:2011-07-15 Upper Marlboro, MD |
to patt2k
Same. Amazon plays in perfect HD everytime I play it on my Roku. |
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GigaMon
Anon
2014-Jul-31 9:51 pm
This is a very frustrating problem as no one is taking responsibility, and I'm limited in what I can force them to do.
The symptom is constant STALLING of flash based HD Video. Plays for a few seconds, then stops for 1 or 2 seconds, plays again, repeat endlessly.
Using the Windows 7 Resource monitor , you cant see any drop in data flow for the stream , but I believe that tool AVERAGES over 30 or 60 seconds. Stays at about 150k/sec, even as the video stutters.
What should I use to get a realtime read on the flow of incoming data? |
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norm join:2012-10-18 Pittsburgh, PA |
norm
Member
2014-Aug-1 9:43 am
» netneutralitytest.com/That site has an AWS East, West, and Oregon speed test you can use. I routinely see less than 3mbit in the evenings with AWS East. |
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PJL join:2008-07-24 Long Beach, CA 1 edit |
to GigaMon
said by GigaMon : This is a very frustrating problem as no one is taking responsibility, and I'm limited in what I can force them to do.
The symptom is constant STALLING of flash based HD Video. Plays for a few seconds, then stops for 1 or 2 seconds, plays again, repeat endlessly.
Using the Windows 7 Resource monitor , you cant see any drop in data flow for the stream , but I believe that tool AVERAGES over 30 or 60 seconds. Stays at about 150k/sec, even as the video stutters.
What should I use to get a realtime read on the flow of incoming data? The "stalling" that you describe for Flash-based HD video is exactly what I saw some time ago. It happened fairly regularly on some HD streams that I accessed most. The solution was to clear the browser cache and the actual Flash data cache (in control panel). This solved the problem for a while, and eventually an update for Flash solved it fully. In short, my "stalling" wasn't network related -- it was Flash. FYI I believe WRM averages over one second, not 30 to 60. The display updates every second with different values. |
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YDC join:2007-11-13 Hewlett, NY |
to GigaMon
One thing you have to remember here is that your traceroute is basically meaningless unless you cannot reach your host, which you can as you are getting a stream. The path you take to them is not the same as the path they will take to you. You would have to get Amazon to test a path to you from their servers to see the real transit that is taking place as streaming is mostly from them to you. It would have to be done from the same IP block they stream from as well. One thing that I can tell you about FIOS is that it does NOT like to be buffered. If you have a slow link in your network it will basically kill your bandwidth to anything that has a long response time. Test your bandwidth at your first inside network point, then at the location you are getting the stream at. If it is slower you found your culprit. Best, Al |
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to patt2k
said by patt2k:Never had issue with amazon always HD +1 Only have had Amazon video for a few weeks, but so far its streamed in HD almost immediately whenever I've used it. Coming from Netflix, its been heaven. |
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GigaMon to YDC
Anon
2014-Aug-1 4:16 pm
to YDC
My bandwidth rocks, and I have no problem with anything else.
I dont think you get a 1 sec snapshot on that windows scanner. When a link is terminated, closed, ended, it still reports data flow for quite a while, like 30 seconds. Thats why I think its a long average.
Im sure Ive cleared cache, etc, numerous times. |
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PJL join:2008-07-24 Long Beach, CA |
PJL
Member
2014-Aug-1 5:32 pm
The Flash cache too? What is your Flash version? |
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-1 recommendation |
GigaMon
Anon
2014-Aug-2 12:18 am
Of course I cleared the Flash cache.
Shocking as it may be, there are actually problems that are not cured by rebooting, clearing the cache, and chicken entrails. |
actions · 2014-Aug-2 12:18 am · (locked) |
PJL join:2008-07-24 Long Beach, CA
1 recommendation |
PJL
Member
2014-Aug-2 8:32 am
said by GigaMon : Of course I cleared the Flash cache.
Shocking as it may be, there are actually problems that are not cured by rebooting, clearing the cache, and chicken entrails. Not a very nice response...I was just trying to help with a solution that worked for me. Hope you solve your problem. |
actions · 2014-Aug-2 8:32 am · (locked) |
1 recommendation |
said by PJL:Not a very nice response...I was just trying to help with a solution that worked for me. Hope you solve your problem. For a flash problem, as stupid as it sounds now, I probably wouldn't have remembered there was a cache for that... So good advice from you. |
actions · 2014-Aug-2 9:59 am · (locked) |
1 recommendation |
to PJL
said by PJL:Not a very nice response I thought the chicken entrails bit was funny. Will have to try that next time. |
actions · 2014-Aug-2 10:43 am · (locked) |
PJL join:2008-07-24 Long Beach, CA |
PJL
Member
2014-Aug-2 11:40 am
said by More Fiber:said by PJL:Not a very nice response I thought the chicken entrails bit was funny. Will have to try that next time. That was funny, but the "Shocking as it may be..." wasn't. Elvis has left this thread. |
actions · 2014-Aug-2 11:40 am · (locked) |
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to More Fiber
said by More Fiber:said by PJL:Not a very nice response I thought the chicken entrails bit was funny. Will have to try that next time. No, the chicken entrails is not used for fixing a bad connection. It's for predicting when the stream will be high quality. BTW, it works for both Netflix and Amazon. |
actions · 2014-Aug-2 11:40 am · (locked) |
sashwa Mod join:2001-01-29 Alcatraz |
to GigaMon
Enough is enough guys. Back to topic, please. |
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to GigaMon
said by GigaMon :Using the Windows 7 Resource monitor , you cant see any drop in data flow for the stream , but I believe that tool AVERAGES over 30 or 60 seconds. W7RM tracks fairly closely to the flow when testing on the verizon speedtest. I think it's a fairly reliable real-time measurement. Any chance you could use another PC on your connection to test that particular source? Otherwise, it seems the only real option to get around any of Verizon's network dodginess is VPN or go to another provider. Personally, I think ever since Ivan was replaced at the top, the focus on priorities shifted. |
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GigaMon
Anon
2014-Aug-2 10:31 pm
Today they changed the streaming server to something non Amazon , and it worked fine, no stalling , at twice the byte rate.
The trace was also better, at only 8 hops.
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to GigaMon
I only get HD streaming from amazon during times when most people would be sleeping, like 2-6am. In the evening, it's hopeless, I'm lucky to see even SD without stalling and rebuffering. This is from Florida, I guess it varies with region. |
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