The Importance of Testing the Speed of Your Local Area Network

A Local Area Network or LAN is composed of two or more computers and other computing devices linked together by a NIC or Network Interface Card through a cables or using wireless technology. The most basic setup of a LAN is composed of only two computers linked by either an Ethernet cable or a through radio waves.

If there would be more than two computers will be linked together, there will be a need for a network or Ethernet hub. There are many advantages of networking computers and compatible devices. One of the main advantages is providing more accessibility to information and other resources. This refers to files and other devices connected to the network. A LAN can also be configured to provide Internet access to all the devices connected to it on a single Internet connection.

A typical LAN is capable of a maximum bandwidth of 100 megabits per second. It is important to keep speeds close to that limit as much as possible. Testing a network's speed is the best way to know if how the maximum speed that a certain network can achieve especially if it will be used to connect to the Internet.

Testing the speed of a LAN will also help you know if there are any problems with the way the network is setup. There are several factors that cause a network to be slow, or far from the maximum speed it can achieve. For those networks using Ethernet cables, the quality of the cable could be one of the problems, especially if it is not shielded from outside noise or interference. For wireless networks, a common cause for network slowdowns is when the wireless signal is not strong enough in certain parts of the area. Other causes include improperly configured computers, outdated device drivers, viruses and slow computers too.

There are several ways to test your Internet. The most basic one is by copying a file from a different computer on the network and taking note of its transfer rate. Another way, which is usually the most accurate is by using a computer program that is designed to measure network speed.