ROHITHRAJ M
24BCE5124
Network Latency Analysis using Wireshark under Different Traffic Conditions
Introduction
In modern computer networks, performance plays a critical role in ensuring efficient communication between devices. One of the most important parameters used to measure network performance is latency, which refers to the time taken for a packet to travel from the source to the destination and back.
High latency can lead to delays in applications such as video streaming, online gaming, and real-time communication systems. Therefore, analyzing latency under different traffic conditions helps in understanding network behavior and performance limitations.
In this experiment, Wireshark, a powerful network protocol analyzer, is used to capture and analyze packets. The study focuses on observing how latency varies under normal, low, medium, and high traffic conditions.
Objectives
To analyze network latency using Wireshark
To study the variation of latency under different traffic conditions
To generate and interpret graphs representing network performance
To understand the impact of traffic load on packet delay
Reference
ICMP Protocol Basics
Source Description
The experiment is based on generating network traffic using the ping command, which sends ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) packets to a target server.
Google’s public server (google.com) was used as the destination because of its high availability and reliability. Different traffic conditions were created by varying the number of ping requests sent in a single execution.
Wireshark was used to capture these packets and extract timestamp-based data for latency analysis.
Architecture of the Work
Description:
The system consists of a user generating traffic using command-line tools. The packets travel through the network to a remote server and return back. Wireshark captures these packets in real-time and stores them for further analysis and visualization.
Procedure
Step 1: Setting up Wireshark
Open Wireshark
Select active network interface (WiFi/Ethernet)
Start packet capture
Step 2: Generating Traffic
Normal Traffic
Browsed websites normally for 2–3 minutes
Low Traffic
ping google.com -n 20
Medium Traffic
ping google.com -n 100
High Traffic
ping google.com -n 500
Step 3: Capturing Data
Captured packets during each scenario
Saved files as:
normal.pcap
low.pcap
medium.pcap
high.pcap
Step 4: Filtering Packets
Apply filter in Wireshark:
icmp
Step 5: Graph Generation
Go to Statistics → I/O Graphs
Plot latency vs time
Generate multiple graphs for each traffic condition
Inferences on Network Parameter
Key Observations:
Under low traffic, latency remains stable with minimal fluctuations
Under medium traffic, slight variations in delay are observed
Under high traffic, latency increases significantly and becomes inconsistent
Normal browsing shows moderate latency depending on background activity
Latency variation increases with the number of packets transmitted, indicating congestion and processing delays in the network.
New Findings and Recommendations
Increased traffic leads to higher latency and instability
Network congestion directly affects packet delay
Efficient bandwidth management can reduce latency
Using optimized routing protocols can improve performance
Reducing unnecessary traffic improves network efficiency
Use of AI in this DA
Artificial Intelligence tools were used in this experiment to:
Suggest efficient methods for traffic generation
Help in interpreting results and forming conclusions
Conclusion
This experiment successfully analyzed network latency under different traffic conditions using Wireshark. The results clearly show that as traffic increases, latency also increases, affecting overall network performance.
The study highlights the importance of traffic control and optimization in maintaining efficient communication in networks. Wireshark proved to be an effective tool for packet-level analysis and visualization.
YouTube Video Link
Github-link
https://github.com/rohithsteo/Network-analysis-of-latency-parameter-using-wireshark
References
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my parents, faculty members, and VIT SCOPE for providing the opportunity to work on this assignment. I also extend my gratitude to my friends and online resources that helped me complete this project successfully.
Tech Comments
Well explained analysis
Good use of Wireshark graphs
Clear demonstration of traffic impact
Great blog! Clear explanation of how latency changes with traffic using Wireshark
ReplyDeleteGreat analysis of network latency under varying traffic conditions. The way you used Wireshark to clearly differentiate normal, moderate, and high traffic scenarios made the concept very easy to understand...
ReplyDelete