Network Performance
Computer Science: OCR A Level, topic 3.3.2
Network Performance
There are many factors which affect the overall performance on a network:
Bandwidth
- Bandwidth is the amount of data that can be transferred in a given time.
- The greater the bandwidth, the better the network's performance potential.
- Bandwidth is shared between all active users, so performance can decrease if there are too many users.
Wired vs wireless
- Wired networks are usually much faster and more reliable.
- Wireless performance depends on how well a computer can pick up the signal but is rarely better than a wired connection would be.
Choice of hardware
- The choice of cabling and other networking hardware can have a big impact on the speed of a network.
Topology
- The topology of the network (how the computers are laid out and connected together) can have a large impact on the network performance.
Test yourself on Network Performance
Which of the following are true of networks?