[comp.dcom.lans] Ethernet usage measurements

cnetslb@oac.ucla.edu (06/08/91)

This message is posted for a friend (yes, a close one!).  She gets this
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0002621045@mcimail.com.

Scott
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I am converting a network of approx 300 PCs and MACs from an XNS based NOS to
TCP/IP, on ethernet (the NOS is Net/One PC).  I would like to assess what 
impact the conversion will have on network traffic. I believe that the major
impact on the network will be from differences in broadcast packet patterns.

If you are running a similarly sized network with file sharing and TCP/IP,
please see if you can easily furnish me with the following:
        . brief description of typical applications, number and types of
                nodes on the network
        . % of network utilization
        . what percent of what's utilized is due to broadcast packets
        . what applications are most significantly responsible for the          
               broadcasts (i.e. dynamic routing, RARP, SNMP...)

Here's some more information about why I'm doing this (for those who are
interested):

Currently, this network is completely bridged, but uses bridges that can be
programmed with XNS "network" numbers to isolate broadcasts (I'm not an XNS
expert, so forgive if I have stated this with incorrect terminology). There are
4 of these "subnets". Once the conversion to TCP/IP is done, the bridges will
pass all broadcasts throughout the network. My assessment is being done to aid
in making a decision about going to a subnetted network with routers as part of
the conversion, as opposed to moving to subnetting in approx 1 year.

Thanks for any measurements or empirical descriptions you can offer,

Heather Burris
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Scott Burris
UCLA Campus Network Services
cnetslb@oac.ucla.edu (213) 206-4860 - OR - scott@pita.cns.ucla.edu