What is network latency? How to minimize network latency?

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

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 represents the specific time it takes for an Ethernet packet to traverse a network switch.

Networks that experience longer delays are called high-latency networks, while networks that experience smaller delays are called low-latency networks.

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

Round trip latency is an important metric today 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 approach 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 delays. Many factors affect network latency. Here are some possible factors.

Transmission media, including wide area network (WAN) fiber optic cables, have certain limitations and can affect network latency due to their nature. Sometimes a switch or router needs more time to analyze a packet's header information. In many cases, they need to add some required information. Therefore, packets take extra time to traverse the Ethernet switch.

Storage latency occurs when packets encounter storage or disk access delays at transition or intermediate devices such as bridges and switches. Antivirus and security processes can cause network delays because they take time to reassemble and disassemble messages before sending them. Delays may also occur due to software errors on the user's end.

How to minimize network latency using Ethernet switches?

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

Expand network capacity: One of the simplest and most effective techniques for reducing latency and collisions is to use Ethernet switches to provide the required capacity. Check whether 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, is a standard feature that helps build better network performance through trunk ports.

Segment your network with VLANs: Ethernet switches with virtual LAN or VLAN (terminal site aggregation) capabilities can easily route network traffic to its destination based on ports, dynamic VLAN assignments, MAC addresses, and more. VLAN supports Layer 2 and Layer 3 Ethernet switches, providing routing and bridging advantages.

Use cut-through technology: This technology is used in packet-switched systems and is designed to minimize network latency. Cut-through switching uses switches to reduce network latency, when the Ethernet switch starts packet forwarding before the entire packet is received, as long as the ending address is processed. However, this technique 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 the network. It is a critical factor affecting any web-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, lag can cause delays in page load times, which can lead to user frustration and may even cause users to leave.

productive forces

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

income

For businesses that rely on networked systems, delays can impact revenue. Slow page load times can lead to lower conversion rates for e-commerce websites. Additionally, slow network speeds can impact employees' ability to access critical systems, leading to downtime and reduced productivity.

customer satisfaction

Network latency affects customer satisfaction, leading to lost business and negative reviews. For example, slow page load times or delays in accessing customer service can lead to customer frustration and dissatisfaction with a business's service.

Network performance

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

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