For each connection, you can adjust the following settings:

• Medium/Protocol
• Uses
• Traffic Shaping Mode (Multi-User version)

Medium/Protocol

In the dialog window under options/connections you can open the medium dialog by clicking and choose a medium for each connection. You may choose from the following list:

• Adaptive: cFos/cFosSpeed will adapt to your connection automatically. Use this setting only if you are not sure what your connection type is. Otherwise, select the setting that applies to your connection. The better the chosen setting fits your connection type, the lower ping times should be.
• DSL (PPPoE): Most widespread DSL protocol (commonly used in the USA, Germany, Eastern Europe, and other major markets).
  PPPoE explanation @ wikipedia.org
• DSL (PPPoA/Vcmux): Common standard in Great Britain.
  PPPoA explanation @ wikipedia.org
• DSL (PPPoA/LLC): Occasionally used in Great Britain
  PPPoA explanation @ wikipedia.org
• DSL (PPTP) Older DSL standard still in use in some parts of France.
  PPTP explanation @ wikipedia.org
• Cable: Internet via TV cable with bandwidth varying slightly according to usage and time of day.
  Cable technique @ wikipedia.org
• ISDN: 8 or 16 kbytes, bidirectional, PPP in HDLC frames
  ISDN explanation @ wikipedia.org
• IP over AAL5: IP data transfer via ATM
  ATM Adaptation Layer @ wikipedia.org
• RFC 1483/2684: DSL over ATM bridging
• Frame Count: Transfer speed varies with the number of data packets transmitted per time interval. Sometimes used in Greece.
• Mixed Raw IP/Frame Count: Downstream traffic is handled as in "Frame Count", upstream traffic as in "Cable". Used by some cable providers like ish.

Set up the right medium / protocol if you know exactly which transfer medium/protocol is used. If in doubt, use Adaptive.

How do I optimally calibrate cFos / cFosSpeed?

• Clear the traffic shaping data by clicking on "clear calibration data"
• Make a short full-speed download. (5-10 seconds)
• Make a longer full-speed upload (30 sec - 1 min).
  It is important that this upload is as fast as possible, i.e., that the server you're sending to is near and powerful (like your mail server or some fast FTP server). moreover, it is important that you have no downloads running while you do this upload. with an upstream of 256 kbit/s you need to send some 2 mbyte to the other side.
• That's it. The connection is well calibrated if you have a full-blast upload and still have low ping times (both can be watched in the status window).

Uses

Traffic Shaping for variable bandwidth is designed to optimize ping times even during simultaneous uploads and downloads from multiple PCs. The goal is to keep the Internet responsive for interactive applications. PCs with permanent filesharing traffic (P2P) should only have minimal impact on overall responsiveness. Best ping times are achieved with the "fixed" setting; second best is "variable, cooperative." Please also refer to our recommendations for calibrating cFos Traffic Shaping.

Traffic Shaping Mode (Multi-User version)

The cFosSpeed multi-user feature enables cFosSpeed Traffic Shaping in networks containing multiple clients. When e.g. a router is used to provide internet access for several computers, cFosSpeed can be installed on one or - even better - all of them. By selecting the appropriate Traffic Shaping mode, the optimal use of the entire available bandwidth can be achieved.

Fixed:
Bandwidth is fixed (with only minor variations). You use the connection exclusively, and/or other PCs are connected to this computer via Internet Connection Sharing. VoIP calls are always made on the computer itself and not through a separate phone connected to the router. cFos Traffic Shaping will therefore assume the bandwidth determined during calibration is always available (and never shared with others). While this does yield the best ping times and does ensure optimal use of (almost) the entire available bandwidth, this mode is also susceptible to fluctuations in bandwidth.

Variable, cooperative:
You have multiple computers connected to a single router with cFosSpeed installed on all PCs. In this case, cFosSpeed keeps transmitting pings periodically to detect any delays as soon as possible. Should ping times rise above an acceptable level, cFos Traffic Shaping will assume the entire bandwidth is no longer fully available and reduce data transfer rates accordingly. Since all connected PCs do this, ping times will almost always stay low. Direct communication among cFosSpeed installations running on different computers is planned for future versions to further optimize data transfer and allow prioritization of individual PCs.

Variable, not cooperative:
You have several PCs hooked up to a single router with at least one that does not have cFos Traffic Shaping installed on it. What this means is that at least one PC may make excessive use of the available bandwidth. In this case, cFos Traffic Shaping will still try to minimize ping times despite considerable changes in bandwidth. How this is accomplished depends in large part on the PC(s) without Traffic Shaping.