TCP Congestion Control Comparison on a Long-Fat Network
Overview
What this challenge is about.
Compare CUBIC vs BBR across 4 loss rates with iperf3 on a 280ms RTT link, then deliver an 8-page report and a verifiable certificate.
The scenario
The platform team's default-controller choice affects roughly USD 3.2M/quarter in customer-egress bandwidth costs — even single-digit percentage improvements compound across the fleet.
The Brief
What you'll do, and what you'll demonstrate.
Compare CUBIC and BBR TCP congestion controllers on a long-fat-network path across 4 loss rates and recommend a default for the storage fleet.
Earning criteria — what you'll demonstrate
- Compare TCP congestion controllers on long-fat networks rigorously
- Use tc-netem to emulate network conditions reproducibly
- Measure goodput, retransmission rate, and RTT inflation per controller
- Communicate infrastructure-default recommendations to a platform team
Program Fit
Where this fits in your program.
Sharpens the same skills your degree expects you to demonstrate.
Aligned coursework coming soon.
Skills
Skills you'll demonstrate.
Each one shows up on your verified credential.
- Tcp Ip
Apply tcp ip to solve real industry problems and demonstrate production-level capability.
- Congestion Control
Apply congestion control to solve real industry problems and demonstrate production-level capability.
- Performance Testing
Apply performance testing to solve real industry problems and demonstrate production-level capability.
- Benchmarking
Apply benchmarking to solve real industry problems and demonstrate production-level capability.
- Linux
Apply linux to solve real industry problems and demonstrate production-level capability.
- Stakeholder Communication
Apply stakeholder communication to solve real industry problems and demonstrate production-level capability.
Careers
Career paths this challenge builds toward
Completing this challenge demonstrates skills that transfer directly to these roles: