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Abstract
This project implements a network Monitoring Tool written in Java. It uses users system's ping utility to send ICMP ECHO_REQUEST to a host or device. With each collection, it sends 3 pings to get the average latency. Results are then plotted in real-time so user can monitor network latency.
Network latency is a measure of how fast a network is running. The term refers to the time elapsed between the sending of a message to a router and the return of that message (even if the process only takes milliseconds, slowdowns can be very apparent over multi-user networks). Latency problems can signal network-wide slowdowns, and must be treated seriously, as latency issues cause not only slow service but data losses as well. At the user level, latency issues may come from software malfunctions; at the network level, such slowdowns may be a result of network overextension or bottlenecking, or DoS or DDoS activity.
Introduction
Vision
The vision of this Network Latency Monitor is to calculate the average latency and results are then plotted in real-time so user can monitor network latency.
Scope
The scope of the Network Latency Monitor is as follows:
Network latency Monitor is a measure of how fast a network is running.
The term refers to the time elapsed between the sending of a message to a router and the return of that message (even if the process only takes milliseconds, slowdowns can be very apparent over multi-user networks).
Definition, Acronyms, Abbreviations
ICMP – Internet Control Message Protocol
DDoS - Distributed Denial-of-Service attack (DDoS attack) is an attempt to make a computer resource unavailable to its intended users. Although the means to, motives for, and targets of a DoS attack may vary, it generally consists of the concerted, malevolent efforts of a person or persons to prevent an Internet site or service from functioning efficiently or at all, temporarily or indefinitely.
Ping – Ping is a computer network tool used to test whether a particular host is reachable across an IP network; it is also used to self test the network interface card of the computer. It works by sending ICMP “echo request” packets to the target host and listening for ICMP “echo response” replies. ping estimates the round-trip time, generally in milliseconds, and records any packet loss, and prints a statistical summary when finished.
Latency - Latency is a time delay between the moment something is initiated, and the moment one of its effects begins or becomes detectable.
Overview
Most administrators have probably received a call from a user complaining that the network was "slow." The good news is that now can monitor network latency, set alarm thresholds, and resolve problems before the users complain. Understanding the network, its performance, and its problems often requires a suite of tools that allows examining various aspects of the network. These tools provide solid data that let to baseline the network, troubleshoot problems, and measure anomalies and improvements.
Latency is a time delay between the moment something is initiated, and the moment one of its effects begins or becomes detectable. The word derives from the fact that during the period of latency the effects of an action are latent, meaning "potential" or "not yet observed". Even within an engineering context, latency has several meanings depending on the engineering area concerned (i.e. communication, operational, simulation, mechanical or biomedical fiber stimulation latencies).
Latency in a packet-switched network is measured either one-way (the time from the source sending a packet to the destination receiving it), or round-trip (the one-way latency from source to destination plus the one-way latency from the destination back to the source). Round-trip latency is more often quoted, because it can be measured from a single point. Note that round trip latency excludes the amount of time that a destination system spends processing the packet. Many software platforms provide a service called ping that can be used to measure round-trip latency. Ping performs no packet processing; it merely sends a response back when it receives a packet (i.e. performs a no-op), thus it is a relatively accurate way of measuring latency.
Where precision is important, one-way latency for a page link can be more strictly defined as the time from the start of packet transmission to the start of packet reception. The time from the start of packet reception to the end of packet reception is measured separately and called "Serialization Delay". This definition of latency is independent of the link's throughput and the size of the packet, and is the absolute minimum delay possible with that link.
However, in a non-trivial network, a typical packet will be forwarded over many links via many gateways, each of which will not begin to forward the packet until it has been completely received. In such a network, the minimal latency is the sum of the minimum latency of each link, plus the transmission delay of each page link except the final one, plus the forwarding latency of each gateway.
It relies on powerful RRD TOOL, which is a Round Robin Database back end that provides easy-to-use, fast, compact, time-based data collection and display capabilities.
System Analysis
Existing System
The existing System measures the latency and packet loss of the network and also has alarm features that can be configured to provide real-time notifications, as well as historical data. User can use it to monitor WAN interfaces or LAN destinations.
Limitations in Existing System
On the network level, the most important latency troubleshooting step is to identify the problem. Trace route is one of the most common tasks one should perform when latency becomes an issue. Running a trace route analyzes the activity of packet transfer along a network, and such a protocol can help administrators to find the source of the slowdown. Traffic can then be re-routed while the problem area is reconfigured.
Proposed System
The proposed system is a network Monitoring Tool uses users system's ping utility to send ICMP ECHO_REQUEST to a host or device. With each collection, it sends 3 pings to get the average latency. Results are then plotted in real-time so user can monitor network latency.
Problem Definition
At the user level, latency issues may be caused by PC software. Some software designed for networking actually slows down user traffic; one should be certain to use only necessary networking tools and applications. Traffic can also be slowed by tray icons and spyware that take up network time without any input from the user (and most certainly without his or her consent).
Advantages over Existing System
It is a marvelous tool that pings and graphs an endpoint and all hops in between. It can be useful in troubleshooting packet loss and latency. What is unique about Ping Plotter is it can identify current problems but can also be watchful of new issues that occur.
User can see the results over any specified time period. Besides the visual graph inside of Ping Plotter, all ping intervals are completely customizable and any hop can be graphed along with the endpoint.
Feasibility Study
Economic Feasibility
Economic feasibility attempts 2 weigh the costs of developing and implementing a new system, against the benefits that would accrue from having the new system in place. This feasibility study gives the top management the economic justification for the new system.
A simple economic analysis which gives the actual comparison of costs and benefits are much more meaningful in this case. In addition, this proves to be a useful point of reference to compare actual costs as the project progresses. There could be various types of intangible benefits on account of automation. These could include increased customer satisfaction, improvement in product quality better decision making timeliness of information, expediting activities, improved accuracy of operations, better documentation and record keeping, faster retrieval of information, better employee morale.
Operational Feasibility
Proposed project is beneficial only if it can be turned into information systems that will meet the organizations operating requirements. Simply stated, this test of feasibility asks if the system will work when it is developed and installed. Are there major barriers to Implementation? Here are questions that will help test the operational feasibility of a project:
Is there sufficient support for the project from management from users? If the current system is well liked and used to the extent that persons will not be able to see reasons for change, there may be resistance.
Are the current business methods acceptable to the user? If they are not, Users may welcome a change that will bring about a more operational and useful systems.
Have the user been involved in the planning and development of the project?
Early involvement reduces the chances of resistance to the system and in general and increases the likelihood of successful project.
Since the proposed system was to help reduce the hardships encountered. In the existing manual system, the new system was considered to be operational feasible.
Technical Feasibility
Evaluating the technical feasibility is the trickiest part of a feasibility study. This is because, .at this point in time, not too many detailed design of the system, making it difficult to access issues like performance, costs on (on account of the kind of technology to be deployed) etc. A number of issues have to be considered while doing a technical analysis.
Understand the different technologies involved in the proposed system before commencing the project we have to be very clear about what are the technologies that are to be required for the development of the new system. Find out whether the organization currently possesses the required technologies. Is the required technology available with the organization?