Topic: Fast Active queue management Scalable Transmission control

[icpix]

Are there any plans to include FAST (Fast Active queue management Scalable Transmission control) as an alternative to the existing TCP functionality? Please don't ask me to explain what it is... I  just read up about it;~) Sounds like its implementation ought to be A Very Good Thing, just as long as M$ netbots don't get to learn about it.
http://netlab.caltech.edu/FAST/index.html

----best wishes, Robert

[CharlieBrady]

Are there any plans to include FAST (Fast Active queue management Scalable Transmission control) as an alternative to the existing TCP functionality?

You should ask Linux Torvalds and/or RedHat about that. Our kernel implementation comes from them.

[icpix]

Charlie----

I don't have the connections to be able to talk with Linus and I don't have the wallet to be able to talk to RedHat;~/ My trusty SME Server comes from here and this area is listed as being for *Suggestions*. My suggestion wasn't glib and arose from a feature that I read of today in a UK computer magazine.

The team has an open-source beta version of its software for Linux on its website. Access is currently restricted to non-commercial development partners and educational establishments, but once it's stable the team plans to make it available free for public use. One this happens, we may the advantages very quickly. (manually copy typed from their printed page 193 - *Computer Shopper* - Superfast/Superhighway/Faster Internet Speeds - feature (pages 192-195).)

FAST is a congestion control algorithm that improves TCP performance in high speed networks. It is based on a broader theoretical effort to develop robust and stable ultrascale networking. (from their home page)
http://netlab.caltech.edu/FAST/index.html

How do I install FAST?
Currently, FAST is available as a patch to the linux kernel. You will need to have the correct version of the Linux kernel source installed on your machine (that is, a version compatible with the downloadable patch as specified on the download page). You will need to download two patches from this site and apply the patches to the Linux kernel source. The complete install instructions are included in the file install.txt which is part of the downloadable archive.  (from their FAQ page) http://netlab.caltech.edu/FAST/index.html

It seems like the way to go, my suggestion was not at all flippant. Perhaps SME Server development might consider FAST TCP more favourably in due course.

----best wishes, Robert

[CharlieBrady]

It seems like the way to go, my suggestion was not at all flippant.

My reply wasn't intended to be flippant either. The SME server development team does not have any kernel developers, and is never likely to have any.

If you, or anyone else, wishes to take on that role and build kernel RPMs which contain the "Fast TCP" header, then I'm sure that contribs.org will be happy to host those RPMs.

[icpix]

Fair enough. Perhaps when the FAST TCP team publish their work it will be in a form suitable for use by the driving team behind SME Server. BTW congratulations to our own development team for getting SME Server 7 beta 1 out, good work Charlie;~)