X Windows Network Traac Analysis X Windows Network Traac Analysis

This paper quantiies the performance of X applications on an Ethernet network. We replicated experiments performed by Basil and Williamson 2] in a single network segment to determine if the results would be similar in a diierent computing environment. Then we extended the work by running similar tests across more than one network segment. In general, results were similar, although network load and data through-put was consistently higher by a small factor. One particular application, twm, displayed very anomalous results, possibly attributable to a version diierence in the software. Tests across multiple LAN segments showed no signiicant diierences from single-segment tests. Since X applications are in common use in many UNIX LAN environments , the demands they make on the network are worthy of empirical study. Applications vary in the type and size of their demands on the network. Based on our results, the number of workstations running X applications on a network segment needs to be limited. We observed that traac between network segments is not signiicantly more costly than that within a segment, which suggests that workstations should be partitioned into relatively small segments according to logical patterns of use; any traac outside the segment will not be signiicantly slowed down.