Information networks are all around us. They have become an integral component of our society, so much so that we now have specific businesses. That depend wholly on data networks to function. For example, online computer networking assignment help services. E-commerce establishments. Delivery platforms, as-as-service providers, etc.- everything and everybody depend on networks & Internet.
Networks lie at the core of all IT infrastructure and online applications. They are akin to giant data highways; the more capacity they have, the higher the throughput.
To determine how much bandwidth will help a network operate at maximum efficiency. You first need to understand the terminology in-depth and other critical technicalities.
Let’s begin.
What Is The Bandwidth Of A Network?
Simply put, bandwidth denotes the entire spectrum of frequencies contained in a multi-component composite signal. Composite signals are generally a combination of a multitude of simple sine wave functions, each having varying frequencies, amplitudes, and phases. Information across networks is generally transferred using composite signals. Thus,
‘the bandwidth of an information network is the difference between the maximum. And the minimum frequencies in that multi-layered signal traversing that network. ‘
The bandwidth of a network determines the sum amount of data transmitted over a network connection in a specific time period. The unit for denoting bandwidth is megabits per second. (Mbps)
Bandwidth is a measure for determining the complete data rate in a network. The amount of bandwidth can effectively denote the maximal volume of data that can flow through a connection without hampering performance. This makes it a critical factor that controls how fast the Internet is.
Choosing the suitable bandwidth for your network is incredibly crucial for efficient functioning.
How Do You Calculate The Amount of Bandwidth You Need For Your Network?
A typical network generally comprises multiple devices, and when many devices use the network, bandwidth consumption increases, and speed & performance falters. In addition, heavy data streaming and other high-capacity activities require serious bandwidth speeds for smooth & seamless performance.
When the ISP offers more bandwidth, devices can enjoy exceptional speed and performance. However, speed and bandwidth are two distinct measures.
Bandwidth vs. Speed/Throughput
Many people mistake network bandwidth for speed. While bandwidth measures the entire amount or volume of data traversing a network connection, network speed is the total throughput. It determines how fast data reaches from one node to another in a network.
- Commonly, high-bandwidth networks exhibit lightning-fast speeds. Speed, technically called throughput, is how fast data can travel from one node to another. Higher bandwidth networks are generally faster simply because there’s a lot of space or a larger frequency band for data to travel. As a result, applications that require sending a large amount of data at one go generally require a larger bandwidth.
- In reality, even large bandwidth networks fail when numerous applications with high bandwidth requirements access them. Under-provisioning network bandwidth requirements will slow things down drastically, impede performance, and even disrupt daily operations. And figuring out the exact amount of bandwidth will ensure that your network works smoothly, support heavy loads, and be scalable & resilient.
So, what’s the process of determining the total bandwidth requirements of a network?
Following are the steps.
- The entire process begins by determining the number of devices connected to the network, the bandwidth requirements of different devices, and the key applications to be used.
Two hundred forty users using low-bandwidth requirements can put less stress. On the network than 5 streaming heavy data every hour of the day.
- First, we need to calculate the total amount of bandwidth available on the network.
We do so by determining the total amount of bytes per second available to all devices across the network. For example, a gigabit network generally offers around 1 billion bits per second, reaching approximately 125 million bytes per second.
- Next up, we find out the bandwidth requirements of all the devices and applications accessing the network. Digital network analyzers can help ascertain the number of bytes per second any application sends across the network.
To calculate it, simply:
- Activate the cumulative bytes column of the network analyzer. (All analyzers have one.)
- Monitor the quantity of traffic to and fro from a workstation, device, application, etc.
- Choose a specific application and then mark the packets at the start of the network file transfer.
- Locate the timestamp after one second and note the value of the cumulative bytes field.
Feeling a bit confused? Then you may as well require some networking help or maths assignment help from professionals.
Interpreting The Bandwidth Calculation Results
Once you have determined the total bandwidth applications send across the network, the following calculation is relatively straightforward.
For example, suppose a certain application is transferring data to and fro at 100000 Bps. And the total network bandwidth capacity is 125,000,000 Bps, then in one go. In that case, 1250 users can use that same application and access the network.
It’s simple division! (125,000,000 Bps/100000 Bps = 1250 users)
However, this is the most straightforward network bandwidth calculation that one can encounter.
- Multiple devices can connect to a single network access point. Therefore, it is crucial to determine the number of devices connected and THEN look at the kind of application they are using, alongside their bandwidth usage.
- Network analyzer scan determine the required bandwidth per device/user. The total bandwidth required for a device or user generally indicates the total bandwidth consumed by all the applications that access the network, such as the online video streaming apps, emails, social media, video calling & VoIP apps, file sharing & cloud storage applications, etc.
Analyzers can gather and display an average estimate of the total bandwidth consumed by an end-point.
- Total aggregate throughput is calculated by multiplying the total application throughput with the number of users, that is, the number of distinct devices.
In most cases, there will be several different applications with different throughputs. As a result, throughputs may vary, applications may or may not access the network. Access rates may change over time, and the number of applications accessing the network across devices can vary.
Most network monitoring tools compensate for variations and display a substantially accurate measure of the bandwidth requirements of a device or application. Network administrators estimate or determine the variation in the number of devices/users accessing the network.
We round up with some recommendations regarding ascertaining the proper bandwidth and making the right choices while selecting necessary hardware.
Tips For Effective Bandwidth Management & Improving Network Speed
- Curtail heavy downloads and keep a close track of network bandwidth consumption. Several applications, devices, and users are critical factors that affect performance.
- If network latency is problematic, improving bandwidth will do no good.
- Switches, routers, and adapters must handle large amounts of data and more significant bandwidth requirements. For example, you will face a bottleneck if your network has a total bandwidth of 100 Mbps, but your devices/hardware can process only 10mbps data transfer speeds.
Though your network can support high bandwidth activities, your hardware will not be able to avail of the high bandwidth capacity.
- 5 Mbps is the minimum amount of speed required to stream from online video services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, etc. 25 Mbps is necessary for 4k HD video streaming, and a minimum of 1 Mbps is essential for smooth web browsing. Video calls generally require around 4 Mbps, while online gaming requires around 3 Mbps for download and 1 Mbps for upload.
And that finally wraps up this write-up. Hope it helps readers determine the bandwidth they need to provision for a particular network.
Author-Bio: Arthur Tonks is a certified network engineer and analyst at a leading ISP in Maine, the USA. A tech geek and aspiring data analyst, he offers online C++ assignment help and Java programming help at MyAssignmenthelp.com, a leading global academic service provider.
