VPN, Bandwidth, Virtual Machines

[rodionzissou]

I have recently signed up with a VPN and I have a few questions about dialing everything in. First off, I was expecting to take a hit in my DL/UL speeds. Surprisingly though, when using speed test, I got double the DL speed when connected to my VPN's server. I did a few tests on three configurations and was able to get pretty consistent results for each one. The results are below.

No VPN

VPN

VPN running in a virtual machine

So, my questions are

1. Is my speed really increasing by using the VPN? Is this a poor way to gather real world speeds?
2. Why would my speed be slower within the virtual machine?

 

[Someone Somewhere]

It's likely that the VPN uses compression. I'm not sure if speedtest uses random data or just zeroes, so that might explain it.

The VM may not have the processing power to effectively run compression.

 

[ronintexas]

The virtual machine doesn't get 100% of the hardware - it is "shared", so it will always be lower than 100% (usually it should be equal to the number of processors dedicated to the VM - if you have 4 "cores", and you give 1 to a VM, you should get 25% of the bandwidth). Depending upon the VM software used - it could be anywhere from 1% to 99% depending on how it handles hardware interaction.

The speedtest.net tests will show a higher download speed than is normal - you really need to look at actual upload/download speeds to a known good server (i.e. your FTP server). That will give you a better idea.

 

[rodionzissou]

It's likely that the VPN uses compression. I'm not sure if speedtest uses random data or just zeroes, so that might explain it.

The VM may not have the processing power to effectively run compression.

That makes sense. Do you have time to chat with me about region locking? I was surprised to see that when I enabled port forwarding and ran off a Canadian server, I was being region locked. I thought one of the major advantages of VPNs disabling region locking. That's not why I use a VPN but I was surprised to see that. I do have ipv6 and dns leak protection enabled.

 

[ronintexas]

VPN software creates a virtual private network between you and another device (server, computer and/or network). Depending upon where the other computer is located, if your internet connection is flowing through the VPN, your connection could appear to be a Canadian VPN.

In one of my office setups, there is a remote location in Dallas, TX that connects to a server in Chicago, IL. 100% of the connection goes through the VPN, as it was designed to be a secure network. A proxy server in Chicago delivers the internet to the secure network, so when surfing the net, the IP address will appear as Chicago, not Dallas.

 

[rodionzissou]

The virtual machine doesn't get 100% of the hardware - it is "shared", so it will always be lower than 100% (usually it should be equal to the number of processors dedicated to the VM - if you have 4 "cores", and you give 1 to a VM, you should get 25% of the bandwidth). Depending upon the VM software used - it could be anywhere from 1% to 99% depending on how it handles hardware interaction.

The speedtest.net tests will show a higher download speed than is normal - you really need to look at actual upload/download speeds to a known good server (i.e. your FTP server). That will give you a better idea.

Oh, I didn't know internet bandwidth was tied to the CPU. I do only deligate one core to the VM. Thanks for the info. Could the increase in speed while connected through VPN indicate my ISPs methods of throttling customers to their paid for tier? I mean I pay for 150mbs, and that's what I normally get. But could the VPN be hiding my IP from my ISP therefore preventing them from throttling me?

 

[rodionzissou]

VPN software creates a virtual private network between you and another device (server, computer and/or network). Depending upon where the other computer is located, if your internet connection is flowing through the VPN, your connection could appear to be a Canadian VPN.

In one of my office setups, there is a remote location in Dallas, TX that connects to a server in Chicago, IL. 100% of the connection goes through the VPN, as it was designed to be a secure network. A proxy server in Chicago delivers the internet to the secure network, so when surfing the net, the IP address will appear as Chicago, not Dallas.

Does running a proxy as you've mentioned impact your bandwidth? I thought of doing that it just seemed redundant atop the VPN.

 

[ronintexas]

There are quite a few variables that you are going through - I use LogMeIn Hamachi VPN, which allows for local internet through my router, but direct connection PC to PC. Depending upon the VPN software you are using, it could be a 100% envelope from your location to the end point, and the internet connection is actually on the VPN "other side".

Also, depending upon the VM software you are using, some are tied to CPU and/or RAM % and some are just "shared on demand" (meaning if the VM is requesting bandwidth and there are no other requests, it could receive 100% of the bandwidth).

I used Cisco VPN (router to router) that was a 100% tunnel, and that created problems with my internet - as I have 300Mbps at home, and 10Mbps at the office, so when the VPN was enabled, my internet speed went down to 10Mbps. With Hamachi, I get 300Mbps local internet download speed, and 10Mpbs at the office.

 

[rodionzissou]

There are quite a few variables that you are going through - I use LogMeIn Hamachi VPN, which allows for local internet through my router, but direct connection PC to PC. Depending upon the VPN software you are using, it could be a 100% envelope from your location to the end point, and the internet connection is actually on the VPN "other side".

Also, depending upon the VM software you are using, some are tied to CPU and/or RAM % and some are just "shared on demand" (meaning if the VM is requesting bandwidth and there are no other requests, it could receive 100% of the bandwidth).

I used Cisco VPN (router to router) that was a 100% tunnel, and that created problems with my internet - as I have 300Mbps at home, and 10Mbps at the office, so when the VPN was enabled, my internet speed went down to 10Mbps. With Hamachi, I get 300Mbps local internet download speed, and 10Mpbs at the office.

Ok, looks like I need to do some more research. Thanks for all your help! I meant to select your answer as the best answer, but I guess Someone Somewhere's works also, albeit much more concise.

 

[Someone Somewhere]

I've removed the BA - feel free to pick whichever you want.

 

[ronintexas]

I enjoy helping others.....I have asked questions before and received many answers....and also learned a lot by reading posts....this is a great community....