Network Optimization

Regardless of how well a network is functioning, you should never stop trying to optimize its performance. This is especially true when latency-sensitive applications such as VoIP, streaming video, and web conferencing are implemented. In the next several sections, I’ll discuss some techniques you can use to ensure that these applications and services deliver on their promise of increased functionality.

Reasons to Optimize Your Network’s Performance

So why do we have networks, anyway? I don’t mean this in a historical sense; I mean pragmatically. The reason they’ve become such precious resources is that as our world has become smaller and more connected, we need a way to keep in touch like never before. Networks make accessing resources easy for people who can’t be in the same location as the resources they need—including other people.

In essence, networks of all types are really complex tools we use to facilitate communication...