Tool to Test Network Speed

You should periodically run speed tests on your network to make sure you are getting full utilization of your speed.

In order to make sure you have a fast and reliable network you should test your network speed from time to time. Users' productivity depends on having a network that is capable of handling enough bandwidth range to accommodate the users needs.

Function

Performing a network speed test can help an administrator to determine if the network is experiencing bottlenecks or if the entire network is slowing down due to a high bandwidth consumption. Analyzing your network speed on a regular basis can also help make sure your ISP (Internet Service Provider) is giving you the right amount of bandwidth.

Types

To effectively test your network speeds you must make sure to run tests on both the download speed and the upload speed. The download speed is the amount of time it takes to retrieve a web page or document from a server on the Internet. The upload speed is the amount of time it takes to transfer a file from your computer to a server on the Internet. Administrators can find numerous tools on the Internet to test speed instantly.

Misconceptions

Some of the most common misconceptions about network speeds are that users should have a standard speed and run at that speed at all times. In fact this can be very different depending on what type of Internet connection you have and what time of the day it is.

References

• Bandwidth: Internet Speed Test