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Tweaking your Network

When it comes to networking, connection speed is important. However, even on a DSL or cable modem, people still experience lag. What they don't know is that much of it has to do with latency.  If lag is what you experience, then network latency is usually the reason.  Latency occurs for many reason, but until I used a network measuring tool (link), I never knew how much of my latency was due to a poorly maintained network on MY computer.  Being trapped in a Windows world did little to help matters as Windows is pehaps the worst automatic network configurator of any OS. Sure speed is important, but when it comes to networking, a clean, efficient network is the light at the end of the tunnel.

What do you need?

1. A good NIC card
2. Updated drivers
3. An ISP - you should be on high speed by now
4. A firewalled router
5. Preferably a hardwire connection - vs wireless
6. A tweaked OS

I'm not going to explain the first 5 except insofar as they affect numero 6.

Understanding how a network works - if you know, skip below

• Assume you know what a network is
• OSI model - when a user performs a task, a request is put into the application...
• Packets - what is it?  what is it made of?
• Don't block your ICMP

Setup - what you should know

• Finding your MTU & MSS - using ping
• Using traceroute to find your typical ping - how does it work?  limitations?
• Find the speed of your connection - dslreports in kbps AND kBps
• Estimate your latency

Tips -

• Golden Rule - Keep unwanted ports closed!  Can only hack an open port WITH a vulnerability - netstat -a

This page was last updated on June 20, 2007