Please add Westwood+ or another delay sensitive TCP
- Dominant language
- C++
- Stars
- 33.7k
- Forks
- 1.8k
- Avg merge
- 3d 17h
- Merged PRs (30d)
- 116
Description
I use WSL with a corporate VPN, and at times need to upload data to a server inside that VPN. The use of CUBIC congestion control fills the buffers on the VPN link and adds significant latency (2+ seconds) for any other use of it (such as ssh sessions or browsing internal websites) to have unacceptably high latency).
**Describe the solution you'd like**
A delay-sensitive TCP congestion control option (e.g. Vegas or Westwood+), currently the only options supported by the WSL kernel are RENO or CUBIC. Ordinary Ubuntu ships with them, but WSL does not for some reason.
**Describe alternatives you've considered**
Tried adjusting the VPN settings, but there is not much available. As a TCP-based VPN, it tends to delay rather than lose packets under high load. Constraining bandwidth on my router, this works fine for the outer connection and non-VPN internet use, but does not work for internal services. Using RENO rather than CUBIC, the improvement was marginal. UDP-based VPN, this is not an option, the VPN software is controlled by the IS team.
**Additional context**
Delay sensitive algorithms are generally better when there is buffer bloat or mixing with delay sensitive applications (ssh shell, video conferencing, VOIP, MS Teams ...) across limited WAN.
Contributor guide
Research direction
Start by checking the WSL kernel configuration for supported TCP congestion-control options and compare it with the options available in ordinary Ubuntu. Confirm whether Westwood+, Vegas, or another delay-sensitive algorithm can be enabled, then verify that it is available for selection in WSL without disrupting the existing RENO and CUBIC options.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- linux
- Domain
- networking, operating-systems
- Issue type
- Feature
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 35/100