Peeking behind the NAT: An empirical study of home networks

Sarthak Grover, Mi Seon Park, Srikanth Sundaresan, Sam Burnett, Hyojoon Kim, Nick Feamster

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present the first empirical study of home network availability, infrastructure, and usage, using data collected from home networks around the world. In each home, we deploy a router with custom firmware to collect information about the availability of home broadband network connectivity, the home network infrastructure (including the wireless connectivity in each home network and the number of devices connected to the network), and how people in each home network use the network. Downtime is more frequent and longer in developing countries - sometimes due to the network, and in other cases because users simply turn off their home router. We also find that some portions of the wireless spectrum are extremely crowded, that diurnal patterns are more pronounced during the week, and that most traffic in home networks is exchanged over a few connections to a small number of domains. Our study is both a preliminary view into many home networks and an illustration of how measurements from a home router can yield significant information about home networks.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationIMC 2013 - Proceedings of the 13th ACM Internet Measurement Conference
Pages377-389
Number of pages13
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013
Event13th ACM Internet Measurement Conference, IMC 2013 - Barcelona, Spain
Duration: Oct 23 2013Oct 25 2013

Publication series

NameProceedings of the ACM SIGCOMM Internet Measurement Conference, IMC

Other

Other13th ACM Internet Measurement Conference, IMC 2013
Country/TerritorySpain
CityBarcelona
Period10/23/1310/25/13

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Software
  • Computer Networks and Communications

Keywords

  • BIsmark
  • Home networks

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