The influence of protocol choice on network performance
Brendon J Whateley · Open University of Cape Town (University of Cape Town) · 1995
Chapter 1 IntroductionComputer communication networks are a vital link in providing many of the services that we use daily, and our reliance on these networks is on the increase.The growing use of networks is driving network design towards greater performance.The greater need for network connectivity and increased performance makes the study of network performance constraints important [ 19].Networks consist of both hardware and software components.Currently great advances are being made in network hardware, resulting in advances in the available raw network performance.In this thesis, I will show through measurement that it is difficult to harness all the raw performance and to make it available to carry network services.I will also identify some of the factors limiting the full utilization of a high speed network. BackgroundProtocols serve to hide the physical characteristics of a network from applications and provide an abstraction that makes the network more useful to these applications.Network protocols provide the required level of service to the applications that use the network.The protocols perform a number of tasks, such as: taking care of the reliable, correct delivery of data, and optimizing the use of system resources.Protocols are required to ensure that communication between machines and remote locations is successful, despite the uncontrollable environment through which communication takes place [25].Networks consist of a large infrastructure and many components that areThe Influence of Protocol Choice on Network Performance rized access to the network and the services that are available on the network.If these threats are present, it is the responsibility of the protocol to make such attempts as difficult as possible.Networks suffer from other physical constraints.Available network components and technology may not be ideal to support the application's communication requirements.Protocols have to make the best use of the available physical resources.These resources include memory system bandwidth, CPU performance, network component performance and interface performance.Performance problems generallyThe Influence of Protocol Choice on Network Performance currently exist and given the physical systems that are used to build networks, it is unlikely that the situation will improve in the near future.The Influence of Protocol Choice on Network Performance ll