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Throughput Formula:
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Throughput is the actual rate at which data is successfully transferred over a network connection, taking into account the efficiency of the transmission. It represents the usable capacity of a communication channel.
The calculator uses the throughput formula:
Where:
Explanation: The equation accounts for protocol overhead, network congestion, and other factors that reduce the effective bandwidth.
Details: Calculating throughput helps network administrators and engineers understand the actual performance of network links, plan capacity requirements, and troubleshoot performance issues.
Tips: Enter bandwidth in bits per second (bps) and efficiency as a decimal between 0 and 1 (e.g., 0.85 for 85% efficiency). All values must be valid (bandwidth > 0, 0 ≤ efficiency ≤ 1).
Q1: What's the difference between bandwidth and throughput?
A: Bandwidth is the theoretical maximum capacity, while throughput is the actual achieved data transfer rate after accounting for various inefficiencies.
Q2: What are typical efficiency values?
A: Ethernet typically has 80-95% efficiency. Wireless networks often have lower efficiency (50-70%) due to higher protocol overhead and interference.
Q3: How can I improve throughput?
A: Methods include reducing protocol overhead, optimizing network configuration, upgrading equipment, and minimizing interference (for wireless).
Q4: Does throughput vary with distance?
A: In wired networks, throughput is generally consistent. In wireless networks, throughput typically decreases with distance from the access point.
Q5: How does packet size affect throughput?
A: Larger packets generally improve throughput by reducing protocol overhead, but very large packets may increase latency and error rates.