Network Slowdown Often times the individual pieces of equipment on a network are capable of much higher speeds, so why do they get bogged down? The network itself could be causing the bottle neck. |
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| When your network is slow you’ll want to make sure you have a detailed understanding of what’s on your network, and how those things interconnect. The best way to do this is to create a network diagram that includes all networked technology running on your wired and wireless networks, and all important network addresses. Once you know what’s on your network look for the following: 1. Are bandwidth limits being exceeded on the client, server or network? 2. Are packets of information on your network colliding and getting discarded. In many cases a 50% collision rate may cause a large decrease in network speed. Most networks top out at a 70% collision rate 3. Are you having issues with Runt Frames as these are not accepted and will be dropped by the receiver. These can be a result of collisions and can lead to data being sent multiple times over your network. 4. Check the stability of any Wireless Network links you are using 5. Are you prioritizing any packets, or trying to guarantee Quality of Service for a VoIP telephone system on your network? If you do not have adequate bandwidth prioritizing certain kinds of data can make it much harder for other data types to move in your network. 6. Are firewall settings and security criteria causing your network to be slow. There are many reasons why a network may run slowly, but this will give you a good start to understanding what might be bogging your data down. Here are some good terms to know: Client: equipment, computer system or process that requests service from another, and accepts in return the response of that computer system or process. Server: Equipment and/or software that provides service to other computing equipment, programs or systems. Bandwidth: in the case of your network this refers to the maximum speed and capacity of data traffic your system is capable of as a whole. With digital devices bandwidth is measured in bits per second commonly abbreviated as bps or more formally as bit/s. Network Diagram: a chart that shows all devices connected to your wired and wireless networks that should also include important network addresses. Network Sniffer Trace: data generated through a software application and sent through your network that allows you to see how raw data travels through your network. Bandwidth Utilization Chart: a dynamic chart generated through software applications that allow you to see how bandwidth resources are being used across your network. Packet/Frame: a structured unit of data consisting of control data that carries the information needed for your network to deliver user data, and the user data itself. Networks that use packets, packet switched networks, are more efficient, because the network can balance the load of information across the network on a millisecond-by-millisecond level. Runt: a packet or frame that is below the minimum size for a given protocol. For example, an Ethernet Runt Frame is a frame that is less than the IEEE 802.3 standard minimum length of 64 bytes. Runts typically will be viewed as illegal by your network, and will cause the equipment receiving that information to request it be resent potentially clogging the network. Collision: packets of data on a busy network can collide causing them to lose part of their control or user data leading to runt frames. QoS: Quality of Service (QoS) is the name given to the ability to reserve network resources, and assign priority to data on the network based on application, user or type of data flow. Firewall: a part of a computer network that permits access of authorized users and devices and denies access of unauthorized users and devices to your network. A firewall can be created through the use of software, specific hardware or both that are designed to reject any data passing through that does not meet specific criteria. | |
