Measure the Internet, save the data, make it easy to analyze and understand

(all open source, open data, open everything)

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https://measuremenetlab.net

https://measuremenetlab.net

What is Measurement Lab?

M-Lab is an open, distributed server platform for researchers to deploy active Internet measurement tools, advanced networking research, and empower the public with useful information about their broadband connections.

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M-Lab's data is open to anyone.

https://measuremenetlab.net

Why it exists?

The goal of M-Lab is to advance network research and empower the public with useful information about their broadband connections.

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Driving challenges:

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1. a lack of well-provisioned and well-connected measurement servers in geographically distributed areas.

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• the difficulties in sharing large Internet measurement datasets between different research projects

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• legislators lack of broadband measurement data in their efforts to craft public policy and support research and advocacy

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https://measuremenetlab.net

How is M-Lab Used?

Other than running a speed test….

• Civil Society orgs use our data for research and advocacy
• Some national regulators, cities and regional governments use M-Lab to assess broadband
• Increasingly, OTI is engaging with public institutions to build broadband assessment, research, and analysis tools to better understand broadband in schools and libraries

https://measuremenetlab.net

Pilot research in public schools

• Use small computers to automate M-Lab test(s)
• Conduct a small scale pilot to test connection speeds & latency
• See what we could find, uncover problems with scaling, develop and iterate a methodology

https://measuremenetlab.net

Each device ran NDT test throughout the day, using a randomly generated testing schedule.

Analysis included diurnal measured speeds and latency, by school type, and classroom.

https://measuremenetlab.net

https://measuremenetlab.net

https://measuremenetlab.net

https://measuremenetlab.net

We had some challenges

• Device provisioning & management
• Manual setup, updates
• IT support
• Remote access, static IPs, ethernet ports not active
• WiFi connectivity, potentially a HW driver issue
• Test requirements
• Ports that NDT requires are not standard in managed school networks

https://measuremenetlab.net

To address some challenges we can now:

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• Manage devices and code using Resin.io
• Build and use Measurement Kit
• Push completed test data to Prometheus
• Visualize data in Grafana

https://measuremenetlab.net

https://measuremenetlab.net

https://measuremenetlab.net

https://imls.gov/grants/awarded/lg-71-18-0110-18

Questions & Ideas Welcome!

Help us build something awesome!

Chris Ritzo critzo@measurementlab.net

photo by Colin Rhinesmith