CakeQOS Cake-autorate

[rlj2]

Its been awhile since I messed with this again, written by @Lynx. Its really has came along ways and working nicely with starlink.
Asus files: https://github.com/LiveWire1968/Asus-cake-autorate
Original author which all credit goes to: https://github.com/lynxthecat/cake-autorate

 

[Lynx]

Yes cake-autorate has been stable for quite a while now. And it really works on Asus Merlin - see these stats based on a log file generated by @rlj2 on Asus Merlin using a Starlink connection:

ReflectorID: 1.0.0.1; N: 120
ReflectorID: 156.154.70.3; N: 118
ReflectorID: 185.228.168.10; N: 119
ReflectorID: 94.140.14.140; N: 120
ReflectorID: 94.140.14.141; N: 123
ReflectorID: 94.140.14.15; N: 123
DL: maximum 95.000%-ile delta delay over all 6 reflectors: 16.710 ms.
DL: maximum 99.000%-ile delta delay over all 6 reflectors: 39.775 ms.
DL: maximum 99.500%-ile delta delay over all 6 reflectors: 49.995 ms.
DL: maximum 99.900%-ile delta delay over all 6 reflectors: 49.995 ms.
DL: maximum 99.950%-ile delta delay over all 6 reflectors: 49.995 ms.
DL: maximum 99.990%-ile delta delay over all 6 reflectors: 49.995 ms.
DL: maximum 99.999%-ile delta delay over all 6 reflectors: 49.995 ms.
UL: maximum 95.000%-ile delta delay over all 6 reflectors: 16.710 ms.
UL: maximum 99.000%-ile delta delay over all 6 reflectors: 39.775 ms.
UL: maximum 99.500%-ile delta delay over all 6 reflectors: 49.995 ms.
UL: maximum 99.900%-ile delta delay over all 6 reflectors: 49.995 ms.
UL: maximum 99.950%-ile delta delay over all 6 reflectors: 49.995 ms.
UL: maximum 99.990%-ile delta delay over all 6 reflectors: 49.995 ms.
UL: maximum 99.999%-ile delta delay over all 6 reflectors: 49.995 ms.

See attachment to this post and more plots here:

The script needs updating · Issue #1 · LiveWire1968/Asus-cake-autorate

Hi, the script needs updating since its not working now

github.com

cake-autorate for sure works well for 4G and 5G variable rate connections, but the Starlink case is not certain at the moment - we do not have much data from Starlink connections and I have a feeling that Starlink are actively working on the latency issue. So more testing is needed for Starlink specifically.

A goal now is to extend the installer script of cake-autorate to include an option for installing on Asus Merlin routers. Looks like this should be fairly straightforward.

 

[sfx2000]

cake-autorate for sure works well for 4G and 5G variable rate connections, but the Starlink case is not certain at the moment - we do not have much data from Starlink connections and I have a feeling that Starlink are actively working on the latency issue. So more testing is needed for Starlink specifically.

Compared to 5G-FWA where both the cells and access terminals are static - starlink cells have variable latency as the birds fly overhead and handoff from one to another - so it adds another dimension...

Starlink does a good job of hiding that variable, but they can only do so much to mask that from the clients on the other side of the dish...

 

[Lynx]

Yes true - we identified switching times at 15 second intervals as per: XX:12, XX:27, XX:42 and XX:57 - see discussion around here:

CAKE w/ Adaptive Bandwidth [October 2021 to September 2022]

No distraction at all - it seems this is all rather a challenge! Looking at the data sets here, are we really seeing spikes at the right times? Hard to say - maybe? That's going with these times: And just working with timestamp in the ping responses. So maybe we set CAKE rate to...

forum.openwrt.org

I put in some experimental code in cake-autorate to try to address that:

cake-autorate/cake-autorate.sh at 0db0b2ad17d76e2588468ab857e24fcc47b56b60 · lynxthecat/cake-autorate

Eliminate the excess latency and jitter terrorizing your 4G, 5G, LTE, Starlink or other variable rate connection! - lynxthecat/cake-autorate

github.com

And initial results seemed positive:

CAKE w/ Adaptive Bandwidth [October 2021 to September 2022]

Are we covering the switches? Here is RTT and seconds past the minute: Here is the familiar plot: Now with seconds past the minute scaled up so we can see on secondary axis: Here are the switches I think: So at least from this it looks like there are no major RTT spikes...

forum.openwrt.org

But a lot more testing is needed. I think an issue is that things work well enough with or without the experimental switching compensation.
If any Asus Merlin users with Starlink connections would like to test, we would really appreciate the data and feedback.

 

[Kiiran_B]

Hey @Lynx

I'm currently trying to install this on my RT-AC86U, but i'm totally clueless and new to this.

Can anyone guide me on how to install these files?

Is it through USB in the router?

Thanks for any help!

 

[L&LD]

Use Putty on your computer. Enable ssh on the router.

 

[Kiiran_B]

Use Putty on your computer. Enable ssh on the router.

Hi there,

So basically i've installed the files to jffs/ scripts, right clicked each of them and enabled the X on permissions section? Is that right?

I'm not sure what "requires entware, bash iputils-ping fping installed" refers to.

How do I know it's installed properly, do I need to run the scripts through the router?

Apologies for any frustration but I am totally clueless with this stuff.

 

[L&LD]

Ignore the steps where it says to install amtm (already installed on current firmware).

amtm Step-by-Step https://www.snbforums.com/threads/amtm-step-by-step-install-guide-l-ld.56237/#post-483421

 

[Kiiran_B]

Ignore the steps where it says to install amtm (already installed on current firmware).

amtm Step-by-Step https://www.snbforums.com/threads/amtm-step-by-step-install-guide-l-ld.56237/#post-483421

Thanks, amtm and entware are all setup, not sure how to start the script on the router now though. Is there a command?

 

[Kiiran_B]

I need to start from the beginning here. Am I following the original install of auto rate then pasting the asus files over them?

 

[rlj2]

Hi there,

So basically i've installed the files to jffs/ scripts, right clicked each of them and enabled the X on permissions section? Is that right?

I'm not sure what "requires entware, bash iputils-ping fping installed" refers to.

How do I know it's installed properly, do I need to run the scripts through the router?

Apologies for any frustration but I am totally clueless with this stuff.

you need to run these commands with ssh (putty)..
opkg install bash
opkg install iputils-ping
opkg install fping
opkg install git
opkg install git-http
git clone https://github.com/LiveWire1968/Asus-cake-autorate.git
cd Asus-cake-autorate, chmod +x *
cp * /jffs/scripts
echo /jffs/scripts/launcher.sh >> /jffs/scripts/post-mount

Then edit /jffs/scripts/config.primary.sh for changes.

 

[dave14305]

echo /jffs/scripts/launcher.sh >> /jffs/scripts/service-event

What is the purpose of relaunching your script on ANY service event? Seems like overkill. What does it really depend on?

 

[rlj2]

What is the purpose of relaunching your script on ANY service event? Seems like overkill. What does it really depend on?

i just looked again, it will not start from services-start for some reason. post-mount maybe?

 

[kuki68ster]

i just looked again, it will not start from services-start for some reason. post-mount maybe?

Is there a command to check if the script is alive and working?

 

[safwan264]

hi, i installed cake-autorate today on my 5G cellular connection on Asus RT-AX58U and it is great.
the below pic is from ax58u:

 

[Lynx]

Thanks for posting. Looks great. You are one of the first adopters of cake-autorate on Asus Merlin.

Might you consider an outdoor modem if you are not already using one? The Zyxel NR7101 is very good.

 

[safwan264]

Thanks for posting. Looks great. You are one of the first adopters of cake-autorate on Asus Merlin.

Might you consider an outdoor modem if you are not already using one? The Zyxel NR7101 is very good.

The router is locked to the network, and the SIM card only works with this router. I have tested this SIM in other devices, but it does not work on any of them. The device provided to me is the 5G Home Router H155-381 CPE 5.
There is a bridge mode available on this CPE, but when I enable it, carrier management (TR-069) gets disabled as well. This causes issues with the network, resulting in poor speeds.
To work around this, I have only disabled the firewall on the CPE and connected it to an Asus router. The CPE detects only one device attached to it, while all network management is handled by the Asus router.
The following speed parameters in cake-autorate config.primary.sh file:

Parameter	Download Speed (kbps)	Upload Speed (kbps)
Min.	min_dl_shaper_rate_kbps	min_ul_shaper_rate_kbps
Base	base_dl_shaper_rate_kbps	base_ul_shaper_rate_kbps
Max.	max_dl_shaper_rate_kbps	max_ul_shaper_rate_kbps

are around 20-30% lower than the speeds reported during peak times.
I have set the max speed based on speed test results during off-peak hours. The minimum speed is based on speed test results when network congestion is at its highest—in my case, this is 500 kbps for both download and upload speeds.