Whirlpool

Hi Guys i dont mean to bore everyone here but i was hoping for some hints. Im with optus and play online games on a Sydney Server, i always had a single figure ping because i was also in Sydney, but about a month ago my ping went to over 50 ( +game lagg) and when i done a tracert i recieved the result shown below..
Question is WHY do i go from Sydney OPtus to Melbourne Telstra and back to Sydney to an indepentant server ????

Tracing route to 203.98.81.87 over a maximum of 30 hops

1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.0.1
2 14 ms 5 ms 6 ms 10.63.0.1
3 6 ms 5 ms 6 ms riv4-ge0-2.gw.optusnet.com.au [198.142.160.245]

4 7 ms 9 ms 8 ms mas3-ge11-0-0-821.gw.optusnet.com.au [211.29.156
.11]
5 21 ms 23 ms 23 ms sun1-ge12-0-0-811.gw.optusnet.com.au [211.29.155
.13]
6 19 ms 19 ms 21 ms sun4-unk8-1.gw.optusnet.com.au [198.142.160.226]

7 22 ms 25 ms 21 ms 61.88.144.161
8 21 ms 24 ms 20 ms ge-wan4-1.mn3.optus.net.au [61.88.243.7]
9 21 ms 21 ms 21 ms GigabitEthernet4-5.lon42.Melbourne.telstra.net [
139.130.96.89]
10 23 ms 26 ms 24 ms TenGigabitEthernet0-12-0-2.exi-core1.Melbourne.t
elstra.net [203.50.80.1]
11 23 ms 23 ms 22 ms Bundle-POS1.chw-core2.Sydney.telstra.net [203.50
.6.13]
12 24 ms 25 ms 30 ms Port-channel1.pad-gw1.Sydney.telstra.net [203.50
.6.25]
13 26 ms 23 ms 21 ms unknown.net.reach.com [134.159.126.33]
14 24 ms 25 ms 22 ms i-4-0-0.syd02.net.reach.com [202.84.221.70]
15 46 ms 49 ms 49 ms static.net.reach.com [134.159.160.94]
16 25 ms 45 ms 27 ms juniper2.eqx.sisgroup.com.au [122.252.0.253]
17 24 ms 28 ms 27 ms 203.98.81.87

Trace complete.

This is mine, leaves optus and is routed to Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney...I live in Adelaide so it might not be much help.

From optus DSL2:

Tracing route to 203.98.81.87 over a maximum of 30 hops

1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 10.1.1.1
2 17 ms 17 ms 16 ms adl12.ba.optusnet.com.au [198.142.132.12]
3 18 ms 17 ms 18 ms adl4-ge0-0-447.gw.optusnet.com.au [198.142.47.15
5]
4 17 ms 18 ms 18 ms 202.139.124.17
5 18 ms 18 ms 18 ms 61.88.243.247
6 17 ms 18 ms 18 ms GigabitEthernet3-5.way21.Adelaide.telstra.net [1
39.130.33.213]
7 18 ms 17 ms 17 ms TenGigE0-8-0-0.way-core4.Adelaide.telstra.net [2
03.50.120.4]
8 32 ms 31 ms 32 ms Pos0-4-1-0.exi-core1.Melbourne.telstra.net [203.
50.6.189]
9 46 ms 46 ms 46 ms Bundle-POS1.chw-core2.Sydney.telstra.net [203.50
.6.13]
10 46 ms 46 ms 46 ms Port-channel1.pad-gw1.Sydney.telstra.net [203.50
.6.25]
11 47 ms 46 ms 47 ms unknown.net.reach.com [134.159.126.33]
12 46 ms 45 ms 47 ms i-4-0-0.syd02.net.reach.com [202.84.221.70]
13 69 ms 69 ms 69 ms static.net.reach.com [134.159.160.94]
14 52 ms 51 ms 51 ms juniper2.eqx.sisgroup.com.au [122.252.0.253]
15 50 ms 48 ms 53 ms 203.98.81.87

From Adam DSL2:

Tracing route to 203.98.81.87 over a maximum of 30 hops

1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.1.1
2 20 ms 18 ms 17 ms lo5000.bras5.adl1.adnap.net.au [122.49.191.18]
3 18 ms 18 ms 19 ms g3-13.cor1.adl1.adnap.net.au [219.90.143.185]
4 18 ms 18 ms 18 ms te4-1.cor2.adl1.adnap.net.au [219.90.143.246]
5 32 ms 202 ms 215 ms 59.154.0.49
6 17 ms 18 ms 17 ms 61.88.243.247
7 18 ms 17 ms 31 ms GigabitEthernet3-5.way21.Adelaide.telstra.net [1
39.130.33.213]
8 18 ms 23 ms 19 ms TenGigE0-8-0-0.way-core4.Adelaide.telstra.net [2
03.50.120.4]
9 43 ms 32 ms 41 ms Pos0-4-1-0.exi-core1.Melbourne.telstra.net [203.
50.6.189]
10 47 ms 47 ms 48 ms Bundle-POS1.chw-core2.Sydney.telstra.net [203.50
.6.13]
11 48 ms 47 ms 46 ms Port-channel1.pad-gw1.Sydney.telstra.net [203.50
.6.25]
12 63 ms 57 ms 47 ms unknown.net.reach.com [134.159.126.33]
13 46 ms 61 ms 47 ms i-4-0-0.syd02.net.reach.com [202.84.221.70]
14 75 ms 109 ms 119 ms static.net.reach.com [134.159.160.94]
15 51 ms 167 ms 51 ms juniper2.eqx.sisgroup.com.au [122.252.0.253]
16 92 ms 45 ms 45 ms 203.98.81.87

Are you in South Australia???? if so at least it is heading toward Sydney,, where as mine is going away from Sydney then coming back. Ive sent an email to Optus and they say the pings are normal, but they failed to explain why they are now going to Melbourne. Also sometimes when i run a tracert they still go to Melbourne but without the bottle neck that can be seen in the tracert result, i can tell when playing when the bottleneck happens as its impossible to kill pll, a minute later its improved.

macnaz writes...

Question is WHY do i go from Sydney OPtus to Melbourne Telstra and back to Sydney to an indepentant server ????

Routing works based on advertisements into your own network. The owner of 203.98.81.87 uses sisgroup for transit, so sisgroup advertise the best path into their own network.

In this case they prefer traffic via Reach Networks from the looks, then reach advertise the route to Telstra. Telstra then advertise the best path into their network for the destination to be via their Melbourne peering with Optus instead of their Sydney peering.

macnaz writes...

WHY do i go from Sydney OPtus to Melbourne Telstra and back to Sydney to an indepentant server ????

It's up to each network to advertise its inbound routes. Somewhere along the way, Optus is being asked to deliver traffic to that network via Telstra in Melbourne. They would hand it off via an interconnect in Sydney if that was how it was advertised.

EDIT: beaten

EDIT2:

macnaz writes...

Ive sent an email to Optus and they say the pings are normal

It is notable that almost all of the round trip times after it reaches Melbourne are roughly the same, this suggests to me that the return path is returning via peering in Sydney (presumably because Optus would advertise it this way), so at least you're not making double round trips via Melbourne each way. You need to be talking to the people who run the server about their arrangements, if they'll talk to you about it.

It could just as easily be something Telstra has setup to route the data to what it thinks is the nearest server.

The 'GigabitEthernet' step is correct for mine showing an Adelaide server whereas yours shows this step as Melbourne.

Edit: Great minds...

Lazyjones writes...

It could just as easily be something Telstra has setup to route the data to what it thinks is the nearest server.

It's called BGP, and it's meant to be pretty much 'hands off' when it's set up. Although in this case it'd be prudent to let the owner of the destination know so they can escalate it up through the providers that they 'trust' with their network advertisements.

Then again, it may be by design

I sorta understand what you guys are saying, but i dont get what the benifit of going thru 3rd parties is about ??? are they getting some sort of kick back??..

Also ill have to check but im sure guys that play in Sydney also,, are with Bigpond and dont seem the have the same probs , so would that mean that Optus is the ISP with some 3 rd party arrangement.

thanks

macnaz writes...

but i dont get what the benifit of going thru 3rd parties is about ???

Not all network providers have connections to all other network providers. Smaller providers generally have one or two 'upstream peers' (which they buy bandwidth from), in this case "SecureIP Pty Ltd 203.98.81.87" use sisgroup.com.au for connectivity. sisgroup then buy bandwidth from one or more upstream providers, and decide what portion of their address space they advertise to each upstream provider.

It's actually unusual to see Reach networks, they're who Telstra use for International transit.

so would that mean that Optus is the ISP with some 3 rd party arrangement.

No, it means that the report would need to be made to the destination, to have them escalate to the peer that they deem is advertising their network incorrectly.

macnaz writes...

I sorta understand what you guys are saying, but i dont get what the benifit of going thru 3rd parties is about ???

The same benefit as you experience. When you want to connect to the Internet, presumably you want to connect to virtually everywhere. Do you go out and organise a connection to every single network? No, you don't, as that would essentially be impossible, both physically and financially.

As a consumer, you just go and get one connection and rely on your provider to provide onward connections for you. For network service providers, they will get more than one connection, but won't connect everywhere.

Then once they have their multiple connections, they manage inbound traffic to their network as they see fit, by setting up route advertisements into their network according to their preferences.

are they getting some sort of kick back??..

Unlikely. Depending on their financial arrangements, there may be financial benefit to the service provider to favour some links over others and if that's how it is, that's how it is. They may also set preferences based on the bandwidth of their links or many other factors that they may take into account.

are with Bigpond and dont seem the have the same probs

They're already on the Telstra network and in any case, the advertisements given by the destination may well set up a different inbound route for them deliberately.

so would that mean that Optus is the ISP with some 3 rd party arrangement

While I understand you'd prefer to be able to hassle Optus about it because you have an easy way of contacting them, it doesn't change the situation – the inbound paths to that network are set by route advertisments configured by that network. If you don't like it, you need to go to whoever manages the host you're trying to connect to and take it up with them, for them to take up with their provider.

As I mentioned in my previous post, it looks suspiciously like the return path back to Optus doesn't go back via Melbourne and stays in Sydney. That's the only part Optus would have control over.

Yep its making some sense now, i kinda thought that the net just found its way the quickest shortest route..lol i wasnt aware of the technical side of things that u have all explained. Anyway ill let you know what replay i get from optus and ill also try contact the Game server ppl. I actually contribute to paying for the rental of the server so im not impressed it isnt providing me with the fastest most reliable connection. The server is used for Battlefield 1942 for a Gaming Clan called TOG if anyone is interested , yeah yeah lol i know its an old game but its still fun and still reasonably well supported.

by the way thanks so far for the answers everyone, thats what i love about this site is the fact there are always ppl with the knowledge to help out.

Optus sent my complaint to the tech guys 2 weeks ago and im still awaiting a reply. A few days ago my pngs went back to 9 and i thought cool and fixed, but it started again. Now its going through Adelaide wtf this is a joke.

Tracing route to 203.98.81.87 over a maximum of 30 hops

1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.0.1
2 9 ms 6 ms 9 ms 10.63.0.1
3 6 ms 7 ms 7 ms riv4-ge0-2.gw.optusnet.com.au [198.142.160.245]

4 9 ms 8 ms 7 ms mas3-ge11-0-0-821.gw.optusnet.com.au [211.29.156
.11]
5 19 ms 19 ms 21 ms sun1-ge12-0-0-811.gw.optusnet.com.au [211.29.155
.13]
6 23 ms 22 ms 21 ms sun4-unk8-1.gw.optusnet.com.au [198.142.160.226]

7 20 ms 23 ms 22 ms 119.225.19.1
8 * * * Request timed out.
9 35 ms 35 ms 35 ms GigabitEthernet3-5.way21.Adelaide.telstra.net [1
39.130.33.213]
10 35 ms 37 ms 43 ms TenGigE0-8-0-0.way-core4.Adelaide.telstra.net [2
03.50.120.4]
11 35 ms 36 ms 36 ms Pos0-4-1-0.exi-core1.Melbourne.telstra.net [203.
50.6.189]
12 37 ms 37 ms 37 ms Bundle-POS1.chw-core2.Sydney.telstra.net [203.50
.6.13]
13 36 ms 37 ms 35 ms Port-channel1.pad-gw1.Sydney.telstra.net [203.50
.6.25]
14 36 ms 37 ms 37 ms unknown.net.reach.com [134.159.126.33]
15 37 ms 38 ms 37 ms i-4-0-0.syd02.net.reach.com [202.84.221.70]
16 59 ms 59 ms 79 ms static.net.reach.com [134.159.160.94]
17 38 ms 39 ms 38 ms juniper2.eqx.sisgroup.com.au [122.252.0.253]
18 38 ms 39 ms 39 ms 203.98.81.87

Trace complete.

macnaz writes...

7 20 ms 23 ms 22 ms 119.225.19.1
Is Optus.

8 * * * Request timed out.
Your guess is as good as mine.

9 35 ms 35 ms 35 ms GigabitEthernet3-5.way21.Adelaide.telstra.net [1
39.130.33.213]
Is Telstra.

There is no confirmation that Optus is routing to Adelaide, we only see Adelaide on the Telstra network. Once it leaves its network Optus has no control over where it goes.

macnaz writes...

Optus sent my complaint to the tech guys 2 weeks ago and im still awaiting a reply. A few days ago my pngs went back to 9 and i thought cool and fixed, but it started again. Now its going through Adelaide wtf this is a joke.

The same answers that were given before still apply – there's clearly an issue with route advertisements coming from the host you're trying to get to.

FWIW it looks okay here at the moment.

Tracing route to 203.98.81.87 over a maximum of 30 hops
 
1 1 ms 1 ms <1 ms
2 13 ms 12 ms 13 ms dslgw-211.29.137.25.optusnet.com.au [211.29.137.25]
3 14 ms 12 ms 12 ms mas4-vl600.gw.optusnet.com.au [211.29.137.2]
4 14 ms 12 ms 12 ms 119.225.4.1
5 * * * Request timed out.
6 15 ms 33 ms 14 ms gigabitethernet4-3.ken12.sydney.telstra.net [139.130.2.65]
7 14 ms 15 ms 15 ms TenGigE0-1-0-2.ken-core4.Sydney.telstra.net [203.50.20.1]
8 14 ms 15 ms 13 ms Bundle-Ether4.chw-core2.Sydney.telstra.net [203.50.6.42]
9 15 ms 15 ms 16 ms Port-channel1.pad-gw1.Sydney.telstra.net [203.50.6.25]
10 14 ms 15 ms 15 ms unknown.net.reach.com [134.159.126.33]
11 14 ms 16 ms 15 ms i-4-0-0.syd02.net.reach.com [202.84.221.70]
12 38 ms 39 ms 38 ms static.net.reach.com [134.159.160.94]
13 * 21 ms 18 ms juniper2.eqx.sisgroup.com.au [122.252.0.253]
14 15 ms 16 ms 18 ms 203.98.81.87
 
Trace complete.

I have to say though... complaining about not getting 10ms RTTs on a consumer grade service is like complaining that you have to sit next to other people when you get public transport.

TicTacToe writes...

is like complaining that you have to sit next to other people when you get public transport.

unless they smelly....

HI TTT
How come your route doesnt go all over the world , would'nt that be the case if it was the gaming server and not optus ?

Plus the reason i am complaining is that i know others using optus dont have these issues, and also its affecting game play massively which is probly my main broadband usage. I dont mind what the ping is as such!! i play Melbourne servers with similar pings and do not have any game play issues. Look!!! im happy to sit next to people mate, just want this transport to friggin work the same in my area as other peoples area's.(IM PAYING THE SAME AS THEM)
Anyway ill take your advice and continue to try get some help from the game server.

PS..Why i started back on about this subject is because another Sydney Game server came online and its also doing the same as the other Sydney server i started talking about originaly.

macnaz writes...

How come your route doesnt go all over the world , would'nt that be the case if it was the gaming server and not optus ?

It just depends on what's being advertised in the route advertisements.

The traceroute to 203.98.81.87 looks like it's completely changed now though. Have you tried doing a trace recently?

TicTacToe writes...

The traceroute to 203.98.81.87 looks like it's completely changed now though. Have you tried doing a trace recently?

Although the endpoint for the route has changed, Optus Cable in Sydney still seems to route domestic traffic outbound via Sunshine (see hop 5).
I get the same results for other domestic sites.

traceroute 203.98.81.87
traceroute to 203.98.81.87 (203.98.81.87), 30 hops max, 40 byte packets
 1  192.168.1.254 (192.168.1.254)  3.745 ms  14.305 ms  14.820 ms
 2  10.59.0.1 (10.59.0.1)  21.566 ms  22.006 ms  22.404 ms
 3  bla2-ge1-1.gw.optusnet.com.au (198.142.160.161)  22.860 ms  23.382 ms  24.945 ms
 4  sbr3-ge14-0-0-821.gw.optusnet.com.au (211.29.156.12)  27.588 ms  26.567 ms  27.100 ms
 5  sun1-ge12-0-0-811.gw.optusnet.com.au (211.29.155.13)  43.309 ms  43.792 ms  47.397 ms
 6  sun4-unk8-1.gw.optusnet.com.au (198.142.160.226)  47.943 ms  24.495 ms  23.968 ms
 7  ge3-3.mn3.optus.net.au (61.88.144.113)  28.183 ms  32.652 ms 119.225.19.1 (119.225.19.1)  32.128 ms
 8  61.88.241.247 (61.88.241.247)  37.096 ms 61.88.243.102 (61.88.243.102)  37.927 ms  38.316 ms
 9  61.88.241.247 (61.88.241.247)  41.872 ms  43.074 ms  42.594 ms
10  61.88.241.247 (61.88.241.247)  41.239 ms 125.168.255.82 (125.168.255.82)  215.390 ms 61.88.241.247 (61.88.241.247)  45.130 ms
11  125.168.255.82 (125.168.255.82)  215.857 ms wholesalecommunicationsgroupptyltd.12rcc76fb.optus.net.au (59.154.15.66)  45.847 ms 125.168.255.82 (125.168.255.82)  216.235 ms
12  * * *
13  * * *
14  * * *

Dr.Faustus writes...

still seems to route domestic traffic outbound via Sunshine

BGP is funny that way, packets will always take the path preferred by the destination

0 61.88.241.247 (61.88.241.247) 41.239 ms 125.168.255.82 (125.168.255.82) 215.390 ms 61.88.241.247 (61.88.241.247) 45.130 ms
11 125.168.255.82 (125.168.255.82) 215.857 ms wholesalecommunicationsgroupptyltd.12rcc76fb.optus.net.au (59.154.15.66) 45.847 ms 125.168.255.82 (125.168.255.82) 216.235 ms

In this case it would be because the destination (wholesalecommunicationsgroupptyltd) advertise their network to Optus in Melbourne, Optus in Melbourne pass this on the Optusnet in Sunshine.

It's possible, but I've tested multiple domestic destinations and everything routes outbound via Sunshine, even Queensland based networks.

I'd suspect the IGP in Optusnet is screwy over the BGP, or maybe it's been manipulated that way due to load issues..

It's not affecting me adversely anyway, so its really a non issue. It would drive me nuts if I was admin of the network though.

Dr.Faustus writes...

It's possible

Um, no... it's fact. Optusnet (AS4804) only peer domestically with Optus (AS7474). Optus receive the BGP advertisement in the state in which the end network peers with them. They pass on the advertisements to 4804 in the state that they receive them, and in other states with a lower priority for redundancy.

I'd suspect the IGP in Optusnet is screwy

Internal routing protocols would have nothing to do with where they receive advertised routes... and Sunshine would definitely not be a gateway of last resort, as all of 4804's network is advertised internationally from Sydney.

Jack.Daniels writes...

Optusnet (AS4804) only peer domestically with Optus (AS7474). Optus receive the BGP advertisement in the state in which the end network peers with them. They pass on the advertisements to 4804 in the state that they receive them, and in other states with a lower priority for redundancy.

So for someone connected and peering to AS7474 in Sydney, I would route outbound via Sydney, not Sunshine, but it's not happening.

Internal routing protocols would have nothing to do with where they receive advertised routes..

True on the edge, but IGP metrics to the EBGP peer can be used as a tie breaker in BGP path selection for internal AS routers, if all previous BGP attributes are the same.

Dr.Faustus writes...

but it's not happening.

That wasn't the case of the sample you posted. Do you have an example?

I would route outbound via Sydney, not Sunshine

So you're saying you see an outbound path that leaves Optusnet in Sunshine and returns to Sydney via someone else's network? Again, possible of the other network provider advertised with a preference to use their peering in Victoria

but IGP metrics to the EBGP peer can be used as a tie breaker in BGP path selection for internal AS routers

one would ask the question "Why would you bother?" The effort involved in managing that sort of intricacy across an ISP network core for simply steering traffic to another peering point would be a waste of time. Especially when it'd be a priority to have traffic leave your network at the closest point, not the farthest.

Jack.Daniels writes...

Do you have an example?

This is to www.commsec.com.au but if you have a different destination in Sydney you'd like me to try, let me know;

traceroute to www.commsec.com.au (203.202.158.128), 30 hops max, 40 byte packets
1 192.168.1.254 (192.168.1.254) 3.447 ms 13.476 ms 14.017 ms
2 10.59.0.1 (10.59.0.1) 20.626 ms 21.066 ms 21.999 ms
3 bla1-ge1-1.gw.optusnet.com.au (198.142.160.157) 22.461 ms 24.718 ms 25.213 ms
4 mas3-ge2-0-0-811.gw.optusnet.com.au (211.29.155.11) 26.186 ms 27.174 ms 26.655 ms
5 sun1-ge12-0-0-811.gw.optusnet.com.au (211.29.155.13) 42.210 ms 42.675 ms 46.629 ms
6 sun4-unk8-1.gw.optusnet.com.au (198.142.160.226) 47.350 ms 25.797 ms 25.643 ms
7 ge3-3.mn3.optus.net.au (61.88.144.113) 28.252 ms 119.225.19.1 (119.225.19.1) 32.503 ms 61.88.144.161 (61.88.144.161) 33.009 ms
8 ge-wan8-2.se1.optus.net.au (61.88.242.91) 33.900 ms 34.313 ms 37.627 ms
9 ge-wan8-1.se1.optus.net.au (61.88.242.89) 36.864 ms 36.350 ms 61.88.168.70 (61.88.168.70) 42.150 ms
10 61.88.168.70 (61.88.168.70) 40.912 ms 41.719 ms *
11 * * *

So you're saying you see an outbound path that leaves Optusnet in Sunshine and returns to Sydney via someone else's network?

No, I was interpreting your statement-
"Optus receive the BGP advertisement in the state in which the end network peers with them. They pass on the advertisements to 4804 in the state that they receive them, and in other states with a lower priority for redundancy." as meaning a network connected to AS7474 in Sydney would be advertised to AS4804 with a higher preference on their Sydney peering links than other states, and therefore my outbound packet from Blacktown would not transit Victoria to get to the AS7474 border.

Neither of those route via Melbourne for me.

Tracing route to 203.98.81.87 over a maximum of 30 hops

1 2 ms 2 ms 2 ms 192.168.20.200
2 30 ms 31 ms 29 ms sbr11.ba.optusnet.com.au [198.142.128.53]
3 28 ms 29 ms 29 ms sbr5-unk1-447.gw.optusnet.com.au [198.142.87.161]
4 30 ms 30 ms 30 ms mas2-ge13-0-8-901.gw.optusnet.com.au [198.142.144.30]
5 31 ms 30 ms 30 ms mas5-unk8-1.gw.optusnet.com.au [211.29.129.142]
6 31 ms 30 ms 31 ms 202.139.124.97
7 31 ms 31 ms 32 ms 61.88.241.247
8 31 ms 30 ms 31 ms wholesalecommunicationsgroupptyltd.12rcc76fb.optus.net.au [59.154.15.66]
9 38 ms 35 ms 37 ms 125.168.255.82
10 34 ms 36 ms 35 ms 203.98.81.87

Trace complete.

Commsec

Tracing route to www.comsec.com.au [203.166.116.128]
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 2 ms 1 ms 1 ms 192.168.20.200
2 29 ms 29 ms 30 ms sbr11.ba.optusnet.com.au [198.142.128.53]
3 29 ms 29 ms 28 ms sbr5-unk1-447.gw.optusnet.com.au [198.142.87.161]
4 30 ms 30 ms 30 ms mas2-ge1-0-5-900.gw.optusnet.com.au [198.142.160.22]
5 29 ms 30 ms 31 ms mas5-unk8-1.gw.optusnet.com.au [211.29.129.142]
6 31 ms 31 ms 31 ms 61.88.225.1
7 32 ms 32 ms 32 ms 61.88.221.194
8 31 ms 30 ms 30 ms 61.88.221.7
9 32 ms 31 ms 34 ms 202.139.39.250
10 33 ms 32 ms 31 ms 0.ge-6-2-0.XT3.SYD2.Alter.Net [210.80.34.49]
11 31 ms 32 ms 32 ms 0.so-3-0-0.GW9.SYD2.ALTER.NET [210.80.33.82]
12 33 ms 32 ms 32 ms cs2b-syd-gw.aspac.customer.alter.net [203.166.43.74]
13 33 ms 31 ms 34 ms cs2c-syd2-gw.aspac.customer.alter.net [210.80.144.50]
14 33 ms 31 ms 32 ms 210.80.191.243
15 33 ms 32 ms 33 ms 203.166.116.128

Trace complete.

COMMSEC is going to Melbourne for me !!
So im still none to wiser as to who is to blame??
Im still waiting from gaming server host as well as Optus by the way but ill keep you all posted.
Tracing route to 203.202.158.128 over a maximum of 30 hops

1 <1 ms <1 ms <1 ms 192.168.0.1
2 6 ms 5 ms 5 ms 10.63.0.1
3 6 ms 5 ms 6 ms riv3-ge0-2.gw.optusnet.com.au [198.142.160.241]

4 7 ms 18 ms 7 ms sbr3-ge5-0-0-811.gw.optusnet.com.au [211.29.155.
12]
5 21 ms 21 ms 20 ms sun1-ge12-0-0-811.gw.optusnet.com.au [211.29.155
.13]
6 21 ms 20 ms 21 ms sun4-unk8-1.gw.optusnet.com.au [198.142.160.226]

7 19 ms 20 ms 21 ms 119.225.19.1
8 21 ms 21 ms 22 ms 61.88.243.102
9 24 ms 23 ms 22 ms 61.88.224.23
10 * * * Request timed out.
11 24 ms 22 ms 22 ms ge-wan8-2.se1.optus.net.au [61.88.242.91]
12 24 ms 30 ms 24 ms 61.88.168.70
13 23 ms 23 ms 23 ms 203.202.58.195
14 35 ms 77 ms 21 ms 203.202.158.128

Trace complete.

Over the past few weeks, I've had nothing but problems mainly with my PS3 and Call of Duty. The lag is unbelievable. I'm often kicked off the PS3 network and I constantly get drop offs during game play. This has started happening ever since I received a new cable modem from Optus. I believe they have performed a Docsis upgraded which screwed up a lot of modems. I called Optus support to complain about the poor performance and all they told me was my router is not compatible with my cable modem.

Hi Kram
Maybe its worth starting a new thread on this issue , as it may attract some more readers and hopefully answers. Make sure u prodvide some info on what sort of modem u are now using as well.

Good luck with it mate. :)

Thanks macnaz, I sure will!