Traffic splitting involves a method of sharing PPPoE traffic between international and local accounts (generally on the ADSL network), based on the destination IP of each packet. The reason why traffic splitting is so popular in South Africa, is because local access is substantially less expensive than full international access. This means users are able to save a tremendous amount, on a cost basis, when browsing local content.
While it could be said that traffic differentiation, or splitting, is the responsibility of local ISPs, they have stated that it is a technologically complex task with regards to billing. Alternative explainations are that local usage, when done via international, helps to subsidise the high cost of the international portion, meaning the ISPs generate more income. This is primarily the case with mobile operators. No other substantial excuses have been stated though, so currently the only method of splitting traffic is through client-side alternatives.
A number of free cross-platform, including software & hardware, solutions currently exist (and are community driven) for both Linux and Windows. The Linux variations can be run on CPEs such as the Linksys WRT54* broadband WiFi router.
The most convenient software solution that currently exists is Route Sentry, though only on a per PC basis.
- The project page, where the software can be downloaded, exists at: Antibody Software.
- The original forum topic for the project exists at: MyBroadband.
- A setup guide also exists at: WebAfrica Knowledgebase.
An alternative open-source (on request) application called Traffic Splitter was recently announced and is currently undergoing testing. Traffic Splitter looks to build upon Route Sentry, particularly in the areas in which Route Sentry is showing age. Some great features appear to include; the obligatory splitting of traffic between local & international accounts, including auxilary accounts and account specifc routing.
- The original forum topic for the project exists at: MyBroadband.
One misgiving when using Route Sentry is that no updater was written into the original software, this means the local routes database is only updated on every point release. Information on updating Route Sentry, with an included script, and new local routes databases for gamers playing titles such as Call of Duty, can be found at the Route Sentry page.
DD-WRT and OpenWRT are firmware updates available for a growing selection of broadband routers.
Both lists of supported devices are available at: DD-WRT Supported Devices & OpenWRT Table of Hardware.
The most commonly used router, running DD-WRT / OpenWRT, is the Linksys WRT54G/GL. These solutions can be considered as being hardware based, as once the script is running, all connections both wired and wireless (into the device) will be split, making them the most ideal for LAN environments.
- The latest DD-WRT script available exists at: MyBroadband.
- The original forum topic for the DD-WRT script exists at: MyBroadband.
- The OpenWRT script exists at: Tumbleweed.
It's also possible to dial the PPPoE connections, and perform the splitting, directly from your workstation/server. This is essentially to Linux what Route Sentry is to Windows.
- A script, with guide, exists at: Tumbleweed.
- Wiki article exists at: TLUG
A telnet based script called Local Router is available with the aim of supporting traffic splitting on almost any router.
- The project site exists at: Local Router.
- A comprehensive guide exists at: MikroTik.
- Another guide exists at: CTWUG.
- A script, with guide, exists at: MyBroadband.
- The project page, where the software can be downloaded, exists at: RT.SET.
- The original forum topic for the project exists at: MyBroadband.
Local routes databases are essential to the operation of all traffic splitting solutions, this is the reference by which to distinguish what is local.
Locality Developers maintains local routes databases in CIDR and subnet masked formats:
- CIDR format (most commonly used with DD-WRT)
- Subnetted format (most commonly used with Route Sentry)
There are 12,311,202 addresses across 559 blocks, in this database, as of Wednesday, 10th March 2010
Please note: updates to the database occur daily.
Alternatively, local routes databases, via Maxmind, are also maintained in CIDR and subnet masked formats:
- Maxmind CIDR format (most commonly used with DD-WRT)
- Maxmind Subnetted format (most commonly used with Route Sentry)
There are 16,649,155 addresses across 714 blocks, in this database, as of Wednesday, 10th March 2010
Please note: updates to the database occur each Wednesday.
By observation, some neighbouring SADC countries (Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Swaziland, in addition to South Africa) appear to be regarded as being in the local realm according to Internet Solutions (at least). As such, SADC local routes databases are maintained for your convenience, in CIDR and subnet masked formats:
- SADC CIDR format (most commonly used with DD-WRT)
- SADC Subnetted format (most commonly used with Route Sentry)
There are 15,979,169 addresses across 1004 blocks, in this database, as of Friday, 1st January 2010
Please note: updates to the database occur each Wednesday.
