Re: Quality of Service in GNOME

[Alan Cox <alan lxorguk ukuu org uk>]

On Gwe, 2005-09-16 at 23:06 +0200, Samuel Abels wrote:
> kernel-level scheduler/queue. For example, give the application that has
> currently focus a higher network priority, or make that VoIP application
> work perfectly even if you have a few downloads/bittorrent running, etc.

Except in special cases it won't help much. Marking bulk transfers
appropriately can help a little as can marking interactive traffic but
really only for outgoing traffic. Big routers don't have big enough
queues to do anything. In addition capture effect on the network means
the highest rate incoming stream will tend to hog the system the moment
you meet 100% bandwidth utilisation.

That isn't to say applications shouldn't support options to limit their
data rate - gftp has this and for a modem in particular its a real
godsend. Most good VoIP tools do bandwith limiting controls too.