Internet traffic
From ArticleWorld
Internet traffic is a term used to define the flow of all types of data being sent or received on the Internet.
Analysis
In analyzing Internet traffic there are different methods that can be used. In most cases there are three aspects that are analyzed:
- World Wide Web traffic – this refers to traffic reported by web pages. Both HTTP and FTP are included
- E-mail traffic – most Internet users have e-mail addresses; in fact there are more e-mails created than Internet users.
- Peer-to-Peer traffic – some people will use the services of peer-to-peer applications. In most cases this refers to file sharing, making it possible for two computers to connect by using special software.
Means of measurement
Internet traffic is measured by using a test called “ping”. A computer will send a message to another (a ping) and the other will respond. By measuring the time needed for both pings to reach the intended computers one may measure the data flow. The analysis is done by examining the ping response time. It is the speed needed for the ping to go from one location to the other. If pings do not reach the destination packet loss occurs. This means that the connection is not reliable and information can be lost. By combining these aspects Internet traffic can be analyzed and measured.