Network throughput: Difference between revisions

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The '''system throughput''' or '''aggregate throughput''' is the sum of the data rates that are delivered over all channels in a network.<ref>[[Guowang Miao]], Jens Zander, K-W Sung, and Ben Slimane, Fundamentals of Mobile Data Networks, Cambridge University Press, {{ISBN|1107143217}}, 2016.</ref> Throughput represents digital [[Bandwidth (computing)bandwidth]] consumption.

The throughput of a communication system may be affected by various factors, including the limitations of the underlying physical medium, available processing power of the system components, [[end-user]] behavior, etc. When taking various [[protocol overhead]]s into account, the useful rate of the data transfer can be significantly lower than the maximum achievable throughput; the useful part is usually referred to as [[goodput]].<!--[[User:Kvng/RTH]]-->

==Maximum throughput==

{{See also|Peak information rate}}

Users of telecommunications devices, systems designers, and researchers into communication theory are often interested in knowing the expected performance of a system. From a user perspective, this is often phrased as either "which device will get my data there most effectively for my needs?", or "which device will deliver the most data per unit cost?". Systems designers often select the most effective architecture or design constraints for a system, which drive its final performance. In most cases, the benchmark of what a system is capable of, or its "''maximum performance"'' is what the user or designer is interested in. The term ''maximum throughput'' is frequently used when discussing end-user maximum throughput tests.  Maximum throughput is essentially synonymous with [[digital bandwidth capacity]].

Four different values are relevant in the context of maximum throughput are used in comparing the ''upper limit'' conceptual performance of multiple systems. They are ''maximum theoretical throughput'', ''maximum achievable throughput'', ''peak measured throughput'', and ''maximum sustained throughput''. These values represent different qualities, and care must be taken that the same definitions are used when comparing different ''maximum throughput'' values.

Maximum throughput is essentially synonymous to [[digital bandwidth capacity]].

Four different values are relevant in the context of "maximum throughput", used in comparing the 'upper limit' conceptual performance of multiple systems. They are 'maximum theoretical throughput', 'maximum achievable throughput', 'peak measured throughput', and 'maximum sustained throughput'. These values represent different quantities, and care must be taken that the same definitions are used when comparing different 'maximum throughput' values. Each bit must carry the same amount of information if throughput values are to be compared. [[Data compression]] can significantly alter throughput calculations, including generating values exceeding 100% in some cases. If the communication is mediated by several links in series with different bit rates, the maximum throughput of the overall link is lower than or equal to the lowest bit rate. The lowest value link in the series is referred to as the <!--[[bottleneck (traffic)|bottleneckUser:Kvng/RTH]].-->

If the communication is mediated by several links in series with different bit rates, the maximum throughput of the overall link is lower than or equal to the lowest bit rate. The lowest value link in the series is referred to as the [[bottleneck (traffic)|bottleneck]].

===Maximum theoretical throughput===