Internet Nuts and Bolts Michael Oakes moakes@rm.com Introduction What is the internet? Comparing browsers Wireless, the basics Getting the most out of your connection Diagnosing problems Learning Platform hints and tips What is the internet? Back in 1969 A network of networks A connection to... Proxy Servers DNS Servers The web Page 1
Comparing Browsers Comparing Browsers Page 2
Comparing Browsers For more technical detail... BrowserScope.org Internet Explorer 8 Accelerators Compatibility Mode Firefox 3.5 Add-ons Add-ons Firebug Cool Previews Opera 10 Opera Turbo Chrome 1 Themes The bottom line Page 3
Wireless, the basics IEEE Standards Channels and interference Wireless Access Points Now and the future 802.11a Frequency 5GHz Max throughput 54Mbps Average throughput ~25Mbps Available Channels 19 Max Indoor Range 15 metres Max Outdoor Range 30 metres 802.11b Frequency 2.4Ghz Max throughput 11Mbps Average throughput ~5Mbps Available Channels 3 Available Channels 3 Max Indoor Range 45 metres Max Outdoor Range 90 metres Page 4
802.11g Frequency 2.4Ghz Max throughput 54Mbps Average throughput ~22Mbps Available Channels 3 Max Indoor Range 45 metres Max Outdoor Range 90 metres Channels and Interference Group Discussion Style Conversations The Bells Wireless Access Points Signal emits in doughnuts Careful positioning Trial and error Page 5
Wireless N - Capacity Wireless N Communication Protocol Wireless N Signal Routing Page 6
802.11n Frequency 2.4GHz or 5GHz Max throughput 600Mbps Average throughput ~144Mbps Available Channels 3 Max Indoor Range 91 metres Max Outdoor Range 182 metres Three Key Layers RF Sends analogue signals Responsible for signal fidelity PHY Takes analogue, converts to digital Responsibility for utilisation of channel MAC Splits signal between users Responsible for signal efficiency Improvements Page 7
Wireless Future 802.11z Extensions to Direct Link Setup 802.11aa Video Transport Streams 802.11ac Very High Throughput below 6Ghz 802.11ad Very High Throughput at 60Ghz Getting the most out of your connection Contributing factors Optimising internet speed Caching Contributing Factors Computer Hardware Wireless access point interference Infrastructure Overload Browser Configuration Page 8
Internet Super Highway HD Video Streaming uses less than 10Mb of bandwidth FTP transfers can use up to 20Mb of bandwidth Big bandwidth doesn t mean faster internet necessarily Computer Hardware Small glass, big pipe Most common factor in internet speed issues 10/100Mb Ethernet card is enough Wireless access point interference Microwaves Wireless Phones Digital Radios Alarm Systems Page 9
Browser Configuration Turn Do not save encrypted pages to disk ticked Turn Use HTTP 1.1 through proxy connections on Ensure Temporary internet files - Check for newer versions of stored pages is set to Automatically Diagnosing Problems Check the gateway Could be router \ firewall \ other Check hardware NIC \ Cabling \ Infrastructure Check DNS Ensure you being are directed correctly Check the proxy server Checking the ISP is up 1. Ping the Gateway and LAN i. Cmd ipconfig /all ii. Ping Default Gateway iii. Ping another PC Page 10
If ping fails... 2. Check Physical Connection i. Cmd arp a ii. Check for MAC address 3. Check DNS i. Cmd nslookup ii. Check website has IP 4. Check Proxy Connection i. Cmd telnet proxy port Page 11
Learning Platform Hints and Tips Overloading pages Computer specifications Infrastructure Overloading Pages Pictures, slideshows and banners 9 times out of 10 this is the problem Firefox firebug Embedded Web pages Landing Pages Computer Specifications CPU Depends what you are rendering What else is running on the PC 1GB RAM How much is free What else is running on the PC Internet Explorer 7 or above Page 12
Spec Comparisons Pentium 4 \ 512MB RAM \ XP Desktop fully loaded 9.7 seconds Upload 6MB file 43.1 seconds Athlon 2.2 \ 1GB RAM \ XP Desktop fully loaded 6.9 seconds Upload 6MB file 31.2 seconds Caching Infrastructure Internal Proxy Settings Wireless Caching Stores web pages for quicker access Can be set at browser, router and proxy HTTP1.1 uses max-age cachecontrol Page 13
Local Proxy Settings Cache *.klp.rm.com Set HTTP module No longer secure (MIS still secure) Wireless Wireless connections will be slower Ensure the access points are positioned well Sharing wireless will slow LP s down considerably Internet Connection Summary Page 14
Summary In top level the internet is simple Speed issues mainly aren t the connection (unless dial up) Configuring everything correctly will help Wireless standards are improving the internet will be too Get ahead of the game Page 15