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What is Network Performance?

Module by: Mookho Tsilo. E-mail the author

Network performance refers to the level of quality of service of a telecommunications product [1] as seen by the customer. It should not be seen merely as an attempt to get "more through" the network. It can be improved by:

  • Ensuring that the network components are working efficiently and in harmony to deliver the prescribed grade of service.
  • Ensuring that the network resources are operating in an error-free manner.
  • Maintaining the quality of service in a cost-effective manner.

Monitoring the performance of a network can help to track the growth of demand and identify impending resources shortages for effective management purposes. The following list gives examples of Network Performance measures for a circuit-switched network and one type of packet-switched network, viz. ATM:

  • Circuit-switched networks: In circuit switched networks, network performance is synonymous with the grade of service. The number of rejected calls is a measure of how well the network is performing under heavy traffic loads [1]. Other types of performance measures can include noise, echo and so on.
  • ATM: In an Asynchronous Transfer Mode ATM network, performance can be measured by line rate, QoS, data throughput, connect time, stability, technology, modulation technique and modem enhancements [2].

There are many different ways to measure the performance of a network, as each network is different in nature and design. Performance can also be modelled instead of measured; one example of this is using state transition diagrams to model queuing performance in a circuit-switched network. These diagrams allow the network planner to analyze how the network will perform in each state, ensuring that the network will be optimally designed [3].

Exercise 1

What parameters can be used to measure the performance of a network?

References:

  1. ITU-T Study Group 2, Teletraffic Engineering Handbook http://www.com.dtu.dk/teletraffic/handbook/telenook.pdf, Last accessed 13 February 2005.
  2. Telecommunications Magazine Online, Americas January 2003, Issue Highlights, Online Exclusive: Broadband Access Maximum Performance, http://www.telecommagazine.com, Last accessed 13 February 2005.
  3. State Transition Diagrams, http://cne.gmu.edu/modules/os_perf/std.t.html, Last accessed 13 July 2003.
  4. Aidarous A. and Plevyak Telecommunications Network Management into the 21st Century, IEEE Press.

Retrieved and edited from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Network_performance" ______________________________________________________________

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