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How much bandwidth utilization % affects throughput

Hi All,

We have a 3750x switch stack & Im getting a number of questions around the possibility that our switch ports 1Gb switch ports are causing a bottleneck...

When I look into the statistics we average around 250Mbps (so around 25%) Occasionally we peak around 80-90% during nightly backup windows...

So even the question is...

Can higher utilisation cause latency/bottleneck even though its not at 100% ?

Im not sure how much to allow for TCP overheads etc but Im pretty sure that unless its not hitting 100% in both duplex directions then there shouldn't be a problem ??

Thanks
T4K

giltjr

How long are you running at 80-90%?

Is your measurement period the normal 5 minute interval?

Remember these are based over bits over time and you are really either at 100% or 0%. The utilization is based on how long you are at 100 vs. 0.

When running at 80-90% that means that for 80-90% of the measurement period you were at 100% utilization and 10-20% of the measurement period you were at 0%.

Thirst4Knowledge

ASKER

Ok now im really confused.

Correct me if Im wrong, so what your saying is that if any utilisation is showing then it means you are running at 100% ?

For example when it shows 1% utilisation then its actualy 100% utilisation ??

or are you saying this is only the case for anything about 80% utilisatioin?

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

giltjr

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