Faster Internet with MPTCP (Multipath TCP)

Summary

This video discusses how to improve internet connection speed and reliability by using Multipath TCP (MPTCP). The presenter explains that while a single connection can't be made faster, multiple connections can be combined to boost bandwidth and stability. MPTCP allows multiple network interfaces to work together, preventing interruptions and optimizing performance. The video also covers testing MPTCP in a virtual environment using Proxmox and offers a step-by-step guide for enabling MPTCP on Linux. Viewers are encouraged to try the setup and stay tuned for further episodes on OpenMPTCPRouter.

Takeaways

• 🚀 Faster Internet can be achieved by aggregating multiple connections using Multipath TCP (MPTCP).
• 🔗 MPTCP allows splitting a single data stream into multiple substreams over different network interfaces.
• 🌐 MPTCP provides benefits like increased bandwidth, better availability, and optimized latency.
• 💻 MPTCP can be enabled on Linux, but most distributions don't have it enabled by default as of 2021.
• ⚙️ To enable MPTCP, users can install a custom kernel or use solutions like OpenMPTCPRouter.
• 🛠️ OpenMPTCPRouter offers an easier way to set up MPTCP without manually configuring the kernel.
• 🌍 MPTCP supports seamless failover, meaning connections won't break if one line goes down.
• 🧑‍💻 Users can check if they're using MPTCP by visiting sites like amiusingmptcp.de.
• 🔧 The test setup simulates multiple connections and uses traffic shapers to demonstrate MPTCP's benefits.
• 📝 Future versions of MPTCP may include it by default, following new standards like RFC 8684 from 2020.

Q & A

What is the primary goal of the video?

The primary goal of the video is to explain how to improve internet speed and availability by using Multipath TCP (MPTCP) to aggregate multiple internet connections.

What is Multipath TCP (MPTCP)?

Multipath TCP (MPTCP) is a protocol that allows the use of multiple network connections for a single TCP session. This improves bandwidth, availability, and even latency by distributing the data stream across several connections.

How does MPTCP differ from traditional TCP?

Traditional TCP is designed for point-to-point connections, where an interruption in the connection breaks the socket. MPTCP, on the other hand, splits the data stream into substreams across multiple interfaces, allowing it to recover from connection interruptions without breaking the session.

What are the main advantages of using MPTCP?

MPTCP offers several advantages: increased bandwidth through aggregation of connections, improved availability by covering for failed lines, and latency optimization by using the line with the best ping time.

How can users check if their system supports MPTCP?

Users can check if their system supports MPTCP by opening a terminal and running 'sysctl -a | grep mptcp' as root. Additionally, websites like amiusingmptcp.de can confirm whether their connection is using MPTCP.

What operating systems currently support MPTCP out of the box?

At the time the video was made (2021), most Linux distributions did not have MPTCP enabled by default, but it was available on some versions like Red Hat Enterprise Linux. However, the speaker suggests that in the future, it may become enabled by default.

What is inverse multiplexing in the context of MPTCP?

Inverse multiplexing refers to breaking a data stream into several substreams that travel over different connections at slower speeds and then recombine them at the endpoints to create a faster connection.

How can MPTCP be installed or enabled on Linux?

MPTCP can be enabled on Linux by either compiling a custom kernel with MPTCP support or by using a more straightforward method, such as installing a pre-built MPTCP-enabled kernel, as provided by projects like OpenMPTCPRouter.

What is OpenMPTCPRouter, and how is it related to MPTCP?

OpenMPTCPRouter is a project created by Yannick Chabanois (Ysurac) that uses MPTCP to aggregate multiple internet connections. It allows users to set up a virtual server that handles MPTCP traffic routing, improving internet speed and reliability.

Why didn’t MPTCP work on the speaker's Ubuntu machine with amiusingmptcp.de?

MPTCP didn’t work on the speaker’s Ubuntu machine because there are different versions of MPTCP (described in RFC 6824 and RFC 8684). The upstream version of MPTCP differs from version 0, which caused compatibility issues.