1992 Articles

A Best-Case Network Performance Model

Bellovin, Steven Michael

Network performance measures usually focus on average throughput. We, however, were concerned with best-case behavior: how fast could a packet traverse the network if there were no contention for resources. By subtracting the path time to a node from the path time through the node, we were able to develop a simple best-case delay model. This model was sensitive enough to determine the board-level configuration of a router 750 miles away.