What is network latency? How can I minimize it?

Network latency is not a new term. In modern Ethernet switches, network latency plays a key role in performance measurement, especially for cluster computing applications and high-performance networks. Most of us have heard of network latency but don’t know what it is exactly. This post explores everything about network latency, such as what is it? What causes network latency? How to minimize it in Ethernet switches?

Understanding Network Latency in Ethernet Switches

The term network latency refers to the delay in data communication over a network. Network latency in an Ethernet switch or Ethernet switch latency refers to the specific time it takes for an Ethernet data packet to traverse a network switch.

A network that experiences longer delays is called a high-latency network, while a network that experiences shorter delays is called a low-latency network.

Ethernet switch latency can be defined in two ways - one-way latency and round-trip latency. Most of the time, it is usually measured in terms of round-trip latency - the total time it takes for an Ethernet packet to travel from source to destination.

Today, round-trip latency is an important metric because devices use the TCP/IP network protocol to send specific data to a destination and wait for an acknowledgment to come back before sending another acknowledgment. Therefore, this method has a critical impact on network performance.

What causes network delays?

The previous sections answered what network latency is. Now, this section focuses on the causes of latency. Many factors can affect network latency. Here are some possible factors.

Transmission media, including wide area network (WAN) fiber optic cables, have certain limitations and affect network latency due to their nature. Sometimes switches or routers require more time to analyze the header information of the data packet. In many cases, they need to add some required information. Therefore, the data packet needs additional time to travel through the Ethernet switch.

Storage latency occurs when packets encounter storage or disk access delays at transitional or intermediate devices such as bridges and switches. Antivirus and security processes can cause network latency because they require time to reassemble and disassemble messages before sending. Latency can also occur due to software errors on the user side.

How to minimize network latency using Ethernet switches?

There are different techniques that can be used to reduce network latency in Ethernet switches. They are as follows:

Expanding network capacity: One of the simplest and most effective techniques to reduce latency and collisions is to use an Ethernet switch to provide the required capacity. Check if the switch can provide you with the ability to expand network capacity. Zero packet loss Ethernet switches help improve network performance. Link Aggregation Control Protocol, or LACP for short, is a standard feature that helps build better network performance through trunk ports.

Leverage VLANs to segment the network: Ethernet switches with Virtual Local Area Network or VLAN (end station collection) capabilities can easily send network traffic to its destination based on port, dynamic VLAN assignment, MAC address, etc. VLANs support both Layer 2 and Layer 3 Ethernet switches, providing the benefits of both routing and bridging.

Use Cut-through Technology: This technology is applied to packet switching systems and is designed to minimize network latency. Cut-through switching uses switches to reduce network latency when an Ethernet switch starts packet forwarding before receiving the entire packet, as soon as the end address is processed. However, this technology only works on ports of the same speed.

Why is network latency so important?

Network latency is the time it takes for data to travel from one point to another on a network. It is a critical factor affecting any network-based system, including websites, applications, and cloud services.

Here are some reasons why network latency is important:

Experience

Latency affects the user experience of network-based systems. For example, when browsing a website, latency can cause delays in page load times, leading to user frustration and possibly even causing users to leave.

productive forces

Network latency can have a significant impact on productivity. For example, slow network speeds can cause delays in accessing files or applications, wasting time and reducing efficiency.

income

For businesses that rely on network systems, latency can impact revenue. Slow page load times can lead to lower conversion rates on e-commerce sites. Additionally, slow networks can impact employees’ ability to access critical systems, leading to downtime and lost productivity.

Customer Satisfaction

Network latency can affect customer satisfaction, leading to lost business and negative reviews. For example, slow page load times or delays in accessing customer service can cause customers to become frustrated and dissatisfied with a business’s service.

Network performance

Latency affects network performance. High latency causes network congestion, which results in packet loss and reduced bandwidth, which in turn affects other network-based systems.

The above tips will help in minimizing network latency with Ethernet switches. To minimize network latency, it is important not only to focus on the switches that make up the network but also to understand the latency and latency variation of the network system. If you are looking for Ethernet switches for better network performance, then make sure to source them from reliable manufacturers and suppliers.