Distinguishing available bandwidth and achievable throughput is essential for improving network application performance. Achievable throughput is the throughput considering a number of factors such as network protocol, host speed, network path, and TCP buffer space, whereas available bandwidth only considers the network path. Without understanding this difference, trying to improve network application performance is like the "hlmd men feeling the elephant" problem [4]. In this paper, we define and differentiate bondwidth and throughput, and discuss which part of each is uchievoble and which is mailable. Also, we introduce and discuss a new concept, Maximum Burst Size, that is mcial to obtaining good network performance. A new tool, netest, is introduced which is designed to help users to determine the uvuiluble bandwidth. It provides information to achieve better throughput while fairly sharing the available bandwidth, thus reducing misuse of the network.
In REF netest is introduced.
Netest: a tool to measure the maximum burst size, available bandwidth and achievable throughput
International Conference on Information Technology: Research and Education, 2003. Proceedings. ITRE2003.
International Conference on Information Technology: Research and Education, 2003. Proceedings. ITRE2003.
Computer Science