Network congestion

Network congestion
4.1.5 This page will discuss some factors that create a need for more bandwidth on a network.
Advances in technology produce faster and more intelligent desktop computers and workstations. The combination of more powerful workstations and network intensive applications has created a need for greater network capacity, or bandwidth. All these factors place a strain on networks with 10 Mbps of available bandwidth and that is why many networks now provide 100 Mbps bandwidth on their LANs.
The following are types of media that have increased in transmission over networks:

• Large graphics files
• Full-motion video
• Multimedia applications

There is also an increase in the number of users on a network. As more people utilize networks to share larger files, access file servers, and connect to the Internet, network congestion occurs. This results in slower response times, longer file transfers, and less productive network users. To relieve network congestion, either more bandwidth is needed or the available bandwidth must be used more efficiently.
The next page will discuss network latency.