Research

Network MTU research and optimization of WAN Links

I always wanted to do some real experiments and research on packet flow patterns from High-bandwidth to Low-bandwidth networks via networking devices. This is something can be analyzed via capturing Network stack buffer data and other parameters, bench-marking, and so on. But eventually the data-transfer nature and other aspects is often contaminated due to the underlying OS and the way Network stack is implemented. So to understand the nature of packet flow from Higher to Lower bandwidth and vice-versa such as Lower to higher bandwidth, I thought I experiment with various tools and things which physically we can observe this phenomena.

I have a huge repository (or collection) of sample Wireshark packet capture files for reference. I use them extensively for research and development of TOFFEE as well to understand various protocol PDUs and protocol standards. I personally collected various test captures via Wireshark during my test and experimental research setup during the course of TOFFEE development. Say if you are a student and learning Networking and or say VoIP data and VoIP packets, you can analyse my VoIP sample Wireshark captures. Or in other case assume you are doing some quick research (or development) and want to refer few handful of VoIP packets then you can download and analyse my sample packet capture files.

WAN Network data can be optimized at various levels depending upon the network applications, protocols, topology and use-cases. So the amount of data you can optimize will depend on the strategy you choose to optimize. Such as: Network Packet level optimization, Session level optimization, File level optimization, etc.

Here is my video article on Network Latency in WAN Networks (such as long distance Satellite links, etc) and how you can optimize the same to achieve better network performance.

There are various techniques with which one can optimize their WAN Network Data. Any long distance communication can be considered as WAN Network. A decade ago any network connecting two countries, considered as a WAN network, and a network within a city as MAN and soon. But these days in general any long distance communication is considered as WAN Network. Such as your Mobile communication networks, Satellite networks, Space Networks (Deep space networks), Trans-Atlantic cable networks, etc.

Network Packet Queue or Buffer - Packet Flow Control, Fragmentation and MTU

When you are dealing Deep Space Networks (DSN) one among the most challenging parts is the Interplanetary distances and communicating data across such vast distances. This is where we are not dealing with common Internet type traffic such as HTTP/FTP/VoIP/etc but it is completely different when it comes to DSN so far. So optimizing data in DSN becomes mandatory. For example if you think one of the Mars Rovers, they have used LZO lossless compression.

Here is a complete chart comprising popular communication data network standards and their respective transfer rates. I hope this reference chart will help network engineers and network software developers while performing networking tests and experiments, building WAN/network products, building WAN simulated networks of a specific standard and so on. This may also helps us to track technological advancements of communication data networks.