Annatomy of a DDoS attack. When ports fill up
Identifying a DDoS attack requires an understanding of normal network behavior. In the left portion of the graph,
More from Packets DownRange
Networking guides, field notes, and updates from Justin Wilson.
Network related Valentine
Roses are red. Packets are neat. I’d reroute the whole internet Just to land at your IP. You’re my default gateway When my heart drops a route. No packet loss here Just love, end-to-end, absolute. If life were BGP And paths split in two, I’d set local-pref high So I always choose you. Our chemistry’s … Read more
AI Traffic and FD-IX. An exchange perspective
AI traffic does not behave like normal internet traffic. Traditional transit models were built for north–south traffic. That means users pulling content from somewhere else. A house streams Netflix. A business checks Microsoft 365. Traffic leaves the local network, hits a transit provider, and finds its way to a remote. That model works because most flows are bursty and asymmetric. Download heavy. Upload light. Predictable
How Internet Service Providers can use AI – the 10,000 foot level
How Internet Service Providers can use AI – the 10,000 foot level
Stuck SFP modules in switches
If you have been around the Data Center world working on switches, you will have run into this at one point. A stuck SFP. If you have ran into this, the following article by Edge Optical Solutions will be of use. https://edgeoptic.com/kb_article/how-to-remove-a-stuck-sfp-module There is also a Reddit thread on this. Isn’t there always a Reddit … Read more
Whats in the box: Alta Labs Route10
The Alta Labs Route 10 is a clean, compact Route 10 built for people who care about throughput, simplicity, and not turning their rack into a space heater. Ten gig on tap, a tidy industrial design, and packaging that says “someone here sweats the details.”
Remote workers Noise vs Camaraderie
Lately, I have been struggling with cohesion with remote colleagues. There is a fine line between focused teams getting off track and also engaging in normal human conversation. This is not necessarily water-cooler talk, but basic interaction. Remote work is taking away the physical office, but it doesn’t change human nature. People still want to … Read more
LibreQOS Buffer Bloat test
https://bufferbloat.libreqos.com What Each Phase Tests Baseline Your connection’s inherent latency when idle (measures base network quality) Download How much latency increases when downloading large files (simulates streaming, software updates) Upload How much latency increases when uploading data (simulates video calls, cloud backups) Bidirectional How much latency increases during simultaneous heavy download and upload (simulates real-world … Read more
What is an AS-SET?
An AS-SET is a collection of Autonomous System Numbers grouped under a single name. Rather than listing each ASN individually in your routing policy, you just refer to the set, and the routing registry handles the details. You can think of it like a mailing list for networks.
Wireless signal fade and routing protocols
Wireless signal fade happens when the radio signal drops in strength or quality. Distance, weather, interference, and physical obstructions all play a role. Even small changes matter. Water absorbs RF energy. Heat bends signals. Trees grow. The result is lower signal-to-noise ratio, higher error rates, and retries that pile up fast
When emails are important but get lost in the noise
Companies love email. It is cheap, fast, and easy to send at scale. That ease creates a quiet risk. When everything is “important,” nothing is. This is like the modern version of crying wolf.
Packets Down Range #39: FD-IX, North Carolina, BGP
Welcome to the first Packets Down Range of 2026. Lots of things happening in the world on The Capital I Internet. So grab your multi-tool, fire up your terminal, and let’s head down range.