Checking the connection speed

This applies if your client computer connects to the GN4 server over wired connection, and the client and the server are in the same (not very large) building.

Start by making a benchmark measurement on your Ethernet LAN. That way, if you're testing something other than Ethernet, you have a standard for comparison. While you might get 90+ Mbps from an 100 Mbps Ethernet connection, you might only measure ~600 Mbps on a Gigabit Ethernet LAN.

Don't use an Internet-based test unless you are trying to test your Internet connection speed. There are just too many variables involved for this to be an accurate measurement of your LAN's performance.

Some methods and freewares to measure LAN speed are listed here: http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/lanwan/lanwan-basics/31220-how-fast-is-your-network-five-ways-to-measure-network-speed.

You can use freeware available on Web to test your Internet connection speed. Find one of frequently used tools on http://www.speedtest.net/.

It gives you the round-trip latency (ping) in milliseconds, download and upload speed in megabits per second (Mbps, not to be confused with megabytes per second MBps).

In a local area network LAN you can expect latencies of just few ms, +90Mbps download and upload speed. It depends on the speed of the LAN itself (100Mbit, 1Gbit etc).

In a WAN over a good asymmetric link, expect latencies of about 10ms, +80Mbps of download speed and about 50Mbs of upload speed.

On an average ADSL remote connection for private users, you may expect 25-40ms latency, 4-7Mbps of download speed and 0.4Mbps of upload speed.

On a tethered connection over a 3G or cellphone, expect latencies +120ms, 2-3Mbps download speed and about 0.1-0.2Mbps of upload speed.

All the above connections can be used to work with GN4, of course, with different efficiency level.