Dire internet speed, SWGfL area. help!

[PrimaryTech]

Hi all,

 

We are a Primary School with SWGfL as our ISP. We seem to be having issues with downloading data, currently I'm downloading a application and the download box is showing ~20KB/Sec. [Edit: finished, attached is screenshot] It took 2.5 hours yesterday to download a 200MB ISO.

 

I've done tests on the LAN between all the switches we have in place (3, all 100MB) and I'm getting 45MB Write / 75MB read which I'm happy enough with.

 

I'm not really sure what download speeds I should be achieving, if anyone else in the SWGfL area can give me a comparable speed that would be great. Specifically in the mid-Cornwall area.

 

Any suggestions on the next steps to sorting this are also gratefully received, I contacted SWGfL and they say that our connection looks good so I'm a bit stumped

 

Edited November 18, 2011 by PrimaryTech

[Mcshammer_dj]

try downloading from someone like microsoft to see if it is a slow link or a slow site

[Shaun_Dark_Lord]

Hi

 

Firstly - is this on downloads from multiple sites or one specifically? Some downloads from even big companies like Microsoft and Novell can take ages, as their sites are so busy.

 

Have you tried Speedtest.net - The Global Broadband Speed Test ?

 

Is this at certain times of the day? You are probably on a contended (shared) connection, so it could be that there is heavy traffic from other schools in your area slowing you down.

 

If you are certain that all of your internal networking is good, try running speedtest at regular intervals during the day. Log the results and see if there is a pattern.

 

If you are getting poor speedtest results, to prove that it's nothing internal, disconnect your network from the internet, plug in a laptop, and rerun the tests.

[dhicks]

We seem to be having issues with downloading data

 

Possibly related to DNS issues? Slashdot reckons BIND9-based DNS servers have been crashing "all over the Internet":

 

Potential 0-Day Vulnerability For BIND 9 - Slashdot

[sdc]

Do you have access to SWGfL's NetMap service? I am looking through the Cornwall schools on it now, but haven't yet spotted anything obvious.

[sdc]

...although the link to Torbay NEOS is quite highly loaded at present, it would seem: >50%

[pds]

Hi,

 

If you're still having issues, contact the SWGfL Service Desk again on 0845 3077870.

 

If you've run through the suggestions already mentioned, re-raise it with your support team!

[Oaktech]

we're also swgfl and our internet has been dog slow today, we've been trying to get a couple of 3gb isos over the course of the day and they have taken over 4 hours. they are from big companies with fat pipes! If it doesn't improve tomorrow we will be making the call.

[pds]

Is it just affecting downloads or general browsing?

[Oaktech]

it's most noticeable on downloads. browsing is slow, but not as bad!