Bandwidth Limits?

[airbourne]

Ok, I have a question that might be very easy, but I am having a hard time locating the information I need on the internet.

How many computers can you connect to an internection connection of each of the following: I know as many as you want is the real answer, but I am looking for a reliable speed or bandwidth performance type test.

I have several satellite locations in my company, they have connections to the internet ranging from 56k, 128k, 256k and up all the way to T1. Everything they do on this link is access webpages, with forms and webbased applications.

The company wants to save money by down grading speeds on the internet connections. I need to provide some evidence of potential productivity loss if they continue to downgrade the internet connections. They have already downgraded a 768k line to 56k and the speed hit was tremendous. They only have 5 ppl at that location, but it takes them 6x longer to perform any web based activity.

Please help if you can.

 

[lgarner]

A tool like MRTG (I use Cacti-

http://www.raxnet.net)

can show your bandwidth usage. Determining the perceieved slowdown is a bit harder.

I usually look at the graphs and see what level is not consistently exceeded. You probably don't want to reduce bandwidth below that point.

 

[cdogg]

Typically a 768kbps ADSL connection (same up/down speeds) would be fast enough for as many as 5 users sharing web access. Speed varies depending on whether it's just web browsing versus file downloading.

If you're certain that it's just web browsing with occasional application connections, then that should be good enough to go on. However, you should still monitor the bandwidth as lgarner points out just in case one or more of these applications are hogging it. Monitoring current usage will probably be your best argument for any connection.


~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind";
[tab][tab]- Aristotle
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[airbourne]

Right now we have those 5 people on ONE 56k line. I think that is way too little bandwidth. The problem is trying to give data to mgmt to prove it.

At least the cutbacks are in technology and not jobs.