Capacity management and IT performance in organizations

Capacity Management/IT Performance

Within organizations, regardless of their size and sophistication, not all networks are identical. Because of this as the data needed is broken into its component parts (known as packets or segments), there are a number of factors that affect their delivery and robust nature. Because of this degradation, which is simply a result of natural functions of data management, organizations continually need to monitor and improve the performance of their networks. Some of these factors that affect networks on a rather universal basis are:

Latency -- At times, it can take longer for packets to be delivered across intervening networks; in sophisticated networks, or with measurement software, packets can be measured as round trip time.

Packet Loss -- Depending on the network, intermediate devices in a network will lose packets. This may happen due to errors, to overloading of the intermediate network, or to the intentional disregard of some traffic in order to ensure a certain service level or priority for other jobs.

Retransmission -- When packets are lost, they are counted and retransmitted. This actually causes two delays: 1) The first from resending, 2) and the second the wait until the data is received in the correct order before forwarding it to the proper stack.

Throughput -- One way to measure the amount of traffic a network can handle is measured through kilobits per second. We can think of throughput as the number of lanes on a highway and latency the speed limit for all traffic (Nassar, 2000).

These issues are all germane when affecting the performance of a network. In some networks, issues may preclude the network working at all; in others, it may just become quite slow. In addition, because other applications run over the networks, additional performance suffers. Various intelligent solutions are now available, though, to monitor and ensure that traffic over the networks is optimized and managed according to need. Because of this universal need for all types of networks, capacity management and performance software is now a multi-billion dollar business. Various packages are available for varying types of networks:

Cost

Features

Pro

Con

Analysis

Team Quest

Variable, based on business needs.

Extremely customizable; measures, 9 optimizes and tunes functions.

Reduction of bottlenecks; requires different modules to be purchased instead of platform that allows for various internal solutions.

Might require significant investment in order to even perform basic hierarchical functions.

Probably more for medium to higher level of sophistication and server volume.

Up Time Software

Given by company after free trial.

Multiple software applications; server or cloud monitoring, data base monitoring, etc. depending on need.

Easy to install, update and download reportable data

Relatively new company (2001), out of the box solutions may be inadequate for some networks.

Optimized download speeds; quick analysis of system due to excellent graphics in monitoring reports.