Afrihost New Network Feedback - Part 2

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Well that is a downer is there any estimate about how long it will take to work again. I'm guessing since it is weekend it will probably only be fixed from tomorrow onwards
 
And here we go again,

Can't access www.mweb.co.za or myaccount.mweb.co.za on Afrihost :(

Tracing route to www.mweb.co.za [196.2.63.110]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 * * * Request timed out.
2 23 ms 21 ms 21 ms dbn-up2.ip.adsl.co.za [169.1.5.173]
3 18 ms 17 ms 16 ms dbn-up2.ip.adsl.co.za [169.1.5.174]
4 16 ms 15 ms 16 ms 169-1-5-208.ip.afrihost.co.za [169.1.5.208]
5 21 ms 21 ms 20 ms optinet.db1.napafrica.net [196.10.141.75]
6 * * * Request timed out.
7 * * * Request timed out.
8 * * * Request timed out.
9 * * * Request timed out.
10 * * * Request timed out.
11 * * * Request timed out.
 
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Hummercellc said:
And here we go again,

Can't access www.mweb.co.za or myaccount.mweb.co.za on Afrihost :(

Tracing route to www.mweb.co.za [196.2.63.110]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 * * * Request timed out.
2 23 ms 21 ms 21 ms dbn-up2.ip.adsl.co.za [169.1.5.173]
3 18 ms 17 ms 16 ms dbn-up2.ip.adsl.co.za [169.1.5.174]
4 16 ms 15 ms 16 ms 169-1-5-208.ip.afrihost.co.za [169.1.5.208]
5 21 ms 21 ms 20 ms optinet.db1.napafrica.net [196.10.141.75]
6 * * * Request timed out.
7 * * * Request timed out.
8 * * * Request timed out.
9 * * * Request timed out.
10 * * * Request timed out.
11 * * * Request timed out.
Click to expand...

I can, clear your DNS cache in cmd.
 
Rickster said:
I can, clear your DNS cache in cmd.
Click to expand...

Done that, the site opens on Mweb, IS and VOX accounts.

This happens across all 12 of my DSL lines.

Something is broken in Durban, Afrihost is handing traffic to Optinet at Teraco in Durban, but traffic stops after that.
This happened last week as well. :wtf:

JHB & CPT seem to not have this problem. :whistle:

Tracing route to www.mweb.co.za [196.2.63.110]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 * * * Request timed out.
2 23 ms 21 ms 21 ms dbn-up2.ip.adsl.co.za [169.1.5.173]
3 18 ms 17 ms 16 ms dbn-up2.ip.adsl.co.za [169.1.5.174]
4 16 ms 15 ms 16 ms 169-1-5-208.ip.afrihost.co.za [169.1.5.208]
5 21 ms 21 ms 20 ms optinet.db1.napafrica.net [196.10.141.75]
6 * * * Request timed out.
7 * * * Request timed out.
8 * * * Request timed out.
9 * * * Request timed out.
10 * * * Request timed out.
11 * * * Request timed out.
 
Hummercellc said:
Done that, the site opens on Mweb, IS and VOX accounts.

This happens across all 12 of my DSL lines.

Something is broken in Durban, Afrihost is handing traffic to Optinet at Teraco in Durban, but traffic stops after that.
This happened last week as well. :wtf:

JHB & CPT seem to not have this problem. :whistle:

Tracing route to www.mweb.co.za [196.2.63.110]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 * * * Request timed out.
2 23 ms 21 ms 21 ms dbn-up2.ip.adsl.co.za [169.1.5.173]
3 18 ms 17 ms 16 ms dbn-up2.ip.adsl.co.za [169.1.5.174]
4 16 ms 15 ms 16 ms 169-1-5-208.ip.afrihost.co.za [169.1.5.208]
5 21 ms 21 ms 20 ms optinet.db1.napafrica.net [196.10.141.75]
6 * * * Request timed out.
7 * * * Request timed out.
8 * * * Request timed out.
9 * * * Request timed out.
10 * * * Request timed out.
11 * * * Request timed out.
Click to expand...
Move to Cape Town ;)
 
Dianysis said:
According to the AH website:

"Our intention is not to shape*Business Uncapped*packages, however shaping can be applied during times of network congestion. When applied, only non-realtime, non-interactive services will be affected by shaping, to offer the best possible experience to users when network resources are strained."


AND

"5.*Uncapped Monthly Thresholds, Throttling, Shaping and Bandwidth Priority

5.1Home Uncapped packages have a threshold (based on a 30 day rolling window) after which speeds could be subject to shaping and throttling based on network demand. Premium and Business Uncapped packages may also be subject to shaping when demand on the network is high. Our aim is to apply as little (or no) shaping or throttling to our Uncapped accounts, where network resources allow. In the case of increases in demand, throttling and shaping will be applied to Home Uncapped accounts first, then shaping to Premium Uncapped accounts. Shaping will only be applied to Business Uncapped accounts in cases of extreme network congestion.

5.2Home Uncapped packages are subject to throttling should a user have reached their monthly threshold and our network is under strain. Premium Uncapped packages are not subject to throttling or monthly thresholds, and will enjoy full speed real-time services under all normal circumstances, but may be subject to shaping of downloads should the network be under strain. Business Uncapped packages are not generally shaped, but can be subject to shaping, should the network experience high levels of demand. Business Uncapped accounts also have a user controllable feature via ClientZone to prioritise non-P2P traffic on their account to ensure business-critical services always get the highest priority."

When did this happen ie Business Accounts being shaped? This is not what it said when I signed up.

The part Rickster quoted in the link below is what it said when I signed up:

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?p=17973541
Click to expand...

This is a general move we're making to make our terms more clear and inclusive of emergencies. Previously we never shaped business accounts, however many clients had a poor experience due to contention on the network. We've decided that going forward it would be best to actively manage the network in extreme cases like this so that we can still provide a good experience to all clients.

Communications are being drafted regarding this change, and we absolutely stick to the letter in terms of making sure that our clients are aware of major changes being made to policy. It looks like the updates were a little faster than the comms in going live.

Please remember that as the new terms state, we don't ever want to shape Business, and in general we won't. However, in a case where (like last week) major events like OS updates start creating heavy contention on the network, we have to decide whether to simply let the network contend and risk all clients having a bad experience, or actively manage the network and provide the best experience we can under the circumstances. I'd love to hear your feedback on this.

With regard to getting more IPC, in general we've got plenty of IPC to never have to shape Business and still provide great bandwidth on Premium and Home Uncapped. To purchase IPC, at a cost of several million rand, just for a one or two day emergency is unfeasible. There are going to be periods when the network sees higher demand than normal. Until Telkom allows a system where an ISP can light up extra IPC for a day or two, this is not going to be practical or financially viable (at at the end of the day it results in higher prices to the consumer to keep unnecessary capacity).

I hope that makes sense. And there are definitely comms on their way to clients regarding the changes being made.
 
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Rickster said:
I think what he means is no throttling was applied but the network was very busy at that time therefore it was slowed down.

Think of it as water flowing through a pipe and a filter, suddenly the dirt builds up and slows the flow yet the water input hasnt been reduced. Once the dirt has been removed its back to normal.

What a poor analogy...oh well.

But my torrents are back to 100% so Im happy.
Click to expand...

Definitely not throttling, but we'll see services contend with each other unless we manage them by priority. From previous experience, managing by contention really makes everything horrible. Shaping by protocol so that priority services take precedence over things lie BitTorrent provides a much better overall internet experience to the majority of users.
 
Hummercellc said:
Well now, that is sneaky, when I signed up it read Business Uncapped would always be unshaped. Now Afrihost have changed their tune.
It would have been nice if Afrihost notified us of this change. If they start shaping Business Uncapped we might as well go somewhere else seeing as their product would technically be the same as every other ISP.
Click to expand...

We always wanted to keep Business Unshaped and all things going as planned it will be generally. This is simply to plan for those extreme times when we may need to shape in order to provide a good experience when the network is seeing high contention - like we did last week when Microsoft was doing some major OS updates.
 
TEXTILE GUY said:
I hope this is just BS and doesnt become a reality on my account.

Part of the reason I moved to AH was their uncapped unshaped offering.

I wonder of Derek Hershaw has been talking to Gian?
Click to expand...

Capped will always be unshaped. However, for Business, we have to either simply let everyone contend (and possibly have a horrible experience) or have the ability to shape when needed (in extreme scenarios).

Please remember that Business shaping is a LAST RESORT. We'll always shape and throttle Home Uncapped first and shape Premium Uncapped second, as per our AUP.
 
Rickster said:
Sigh...

Everything was running perfectly why all of a sudden are they doing this?

IPC is cheaper so therefore they shouldnt run into this problem...
Click to expand...

Everything is running fine because we have tons of capacity on the network. However, last week Microsoft updates started using about 10% of our overall network capacity (that's a conservative guesstimate - could be higher) in a single day. It's impossible to get additional capacity in that time frame, and it;s also not viable to get more IPC for events like this, it would cost several million rand a month, which is only going to make prices go higher - not down.

We don't plan to shape business and generally speaking we've been seeing very little shaping even on Home accounts. This is purely for emergencies like we saw last week, and only to be able to have direct control to offer a better experience, rather than watch the network contend :(
 
bigboy529 said:
Why don't you guys just go capped? Surely for the same money which you guys are paying for business uncapped you would be able to get upwards of 500 GB per month capped, make that 1 TB with Afrihost + and then there's the 0 rated nighttime data?
Click to expand...

We don't expect clients to go Capped unless it suits them (concurrent connections, cost, etc). We still believe that Business Uncapped is a great product and a viable option for people looking for that "unshaped" experience. Remember that shaping is only going to be applied in extreme circumstances, so generally speaking it will perform as it always has.
 
craigcul said:
Hi there are there any afrihost reps here Internet been down the whole weekend now from friday morning line perfict no authentication referance number AH21060715-288648.phoned yesterday was told the it would be escilated no escilation reference number yet. the service from afrihost is slipping.View attachment 375947
Click to expand...

Hi there, so sorry to hear this. I see you've done some troubleshooting with the forumites (thanks, guys :) )

If you're still battling, please PM me and I'll get you some urgent assistance :(
 
daniellgr said:
My neighbour, who is on Afrihost, and who has been having hassles for a very long time came running over today to say that at last Afrihost have sorted out some or other issue between PTA and JHB and his connectivity is now back ....

But the sad part is for months the issue has been blamed on his line, exchange congestion and all sort of other things ......

I guess he will never know what the real problem was ....
Click to expand...

I think if there was a network link down between PTA and JHB we would have known about it a long time ago and that would be resolved within a few hours. It sounds like this was a Telkom issue :(
 
Kilerhotdog said:
Hello all.

I signed up with afrihost this week for and 8mb uncapped package an upgrade from 4mb i had previously. When i enter in my new uncapped details in router the internet does not work. I tested Webafrica free Gig account and that works. I am pretty sure i entered in my details correctly, I also rebooted the router endless of times as well as unplug. Any advice ?
Click to expand...

It sounds like there could be an authentication problem - please PM me. I am sure this will be quick to troubleshoot (and hopefully fix)
 
Bl1zz4rd said:
What kind of package do you have?



It seems to be the case with Afrihost that we shift between periods of everything going great, and periods of erratic performance.

I'm fine with the occasional unintentional mass network problem, but these extended patches where no one knows what's going on are really frustrating.

I wonder if the tech team is looking at the accounts of people who've complained about the same problems here simultaneously, in an attempt to discover patterns, rather than just troubleshooting each account that logs a fault in isolation.
Click to expand...

We're definitely not profiling people - but I do think that we can get better at proactive messaging when certain events (like the Microsoft update) have an impact on our users. We're definitely working on that.

I think in general we've seen some massive improvements on our performance since last year, and I expect it will continue to improve :)
 
Devo1 said:
I am on a capped package and my p2p also went to 10-40kB/s about 90 minutes ago. Was downloading fine before then
Click to expand...

Capped is definitely not shaped. I use a capped account at home and P2P was definitely going well when I tested at different points over the weekend.

If you're still seeing this, paste the link here and I'll test the file for you on my connection (normal 20Mbps ADSL line)
 
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