In this post, we go over several considerations and a list of fixes for packet loss. After that, you’ll be in a better position to spot the issues, prevent network outages, and guard against security concerns.
How to Fix Packet Loss: 8 Step-by-Step Solution
Packet loss in your network cannot be fixed, but there are several useful network checks you can perform to increase performance and decrease the frequency of lost packets.
- Verify the physical network connections — Verify that all cables and ports are installed and linked correctly.
- Restart your hardware – Restarting routers and other pieces of hardware all around your network can assist in preventing a variety of technical issues or glitches.
- Use cable connections – The quality of your connection can be improved by switching from wireless to cable connections.
- Eliminate interference sources – Get rid of anything that might be creating interference. Network interference can be caused by power lines, cameras, wireless speakers, and wireless phones.
- If you’re using WiFi, try switching to a cable connection to assist your network experience less packet loss.
- Update your devices’ software to make sure that there aren’t any OS flaws that could be causing packet loss.
- Replace obsolete or inadequate hardware – You can completely get rid of inadequate hardware by upgrading your network infrastructure.
- Apply QoS settings Organize your network traffic according to the most crucial applications. For instance, give voice or video traffic priority.
What is packet loss?
Any data packets that are dropped or lost in transit while being sent across a computer network are referred to as packet losses. Packet loss may result from the malfunction or inefficiency of a network component, such as a broken router, a loose cable connection, or weak wifi signal.
Loss of packets can also be done on purpose, for example, when it is done to limit throughput during VoIP calls or video streaming to prevent time lags, especially when there is a lot of network congestion.
The user experience is significantly impacted by the lower quality data streams and calls that come from this. You must identify the network components that are causing the issue in order to correct packet loss and maintain high latency.
What causes packet loss?
Over private, wired networks, packet loss is less frequent, but it is very likely on long-distance internet connections.
Each router decides where a packet should be forwarded to next under the IP philosophy of sending data packets across networks.
The transfer rate and path taken by the packet are not under the control of the transmitting machine.
Router packet loss
Due to the reliance on individual routers for routing decisions, each access point along the path is required to have a database of the best routes to take for each final destination.
Most of the time, this disjointed approach is effective. However, a router cannot immediately determine whether a router farther down the line is faulty or overloaded.
All routers broadcast status updates to nearby devices on a regular basis. Recalculations made in nearby routers are affected by a fault at one point.
All routers connected to the internet receive notice of a traffic block in one router, which forces all routers to recalculate paths that would have otherwise flowed through the problematic router. It takes time for the information chain to spread.
Rerouting overload
Occasionally, a router will determine the best route and transmit a packet across a closed path. The routers closer to the issue will already be aware of it and reroute the packet around the problematic neighbour by the time the packet reaches that block.
The rerouting may cause other routers to become overloaded. The packet will still be transmitted to that router even if a router’s flaw prevents it from sending status updates.
In other words, a packet will pass through more routers the farther it must go. More routers increase the risk of failure and increase the possibility of dropped packets.
When is packet loss too high?
The network infrastructure of your business will never achieve zero packet loss. Particularly while establishing connections via the internet, you should anticipate this performance lag.
Maintaining a healthy network and performing packet recovery become simpler tasks once you are aware of the causes of packet loss.
To avoid system overload, security threats, and equipment failure that worsens packet loss to severe levels, install a network monitor.
Because packet loss results in more traffic, it costs your company money. If you don’t address packet loss, you’ll need to make up for it by investing in additional infrastructure and using more internet bandwidth than you would with a well-tuned system.
Best Tools to Reduce Packet Loss
High packet loss cannot be fully fixed by software. Network visibility is essential for preventing or reducing the effects of packet loss.
You can solve a problem if you can see it. The tools below can be used to provide you a more thorough understanding of your network in addition to having capabilities related to packet loss.
1. Network Performance Monitor
One of the best all-encompassing, thorough network monitoring tools available is SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM). Because of its unique approach to network visibility, it is at the top of a lot of my lists.
Numerous network visualisation tools, such as geographical maps, intelligent Orion® Maps, and SolarWinds Network Atlas, provide you with practical, in-depth ways to understand what’s happening in your network.
2. VoIP & Network Quality Manager
The VoIP & Network Quality Manager (VNQM) from SolarWinds is specifically made to concentrate on the network requirements for successful VoIP service.
You can quickly determine what’s causing delay, jitter, and call noise by extracting call statistics from Cisco Unified Communications Manager and Avaya Aura Communication Manager.
3. PRTG Network Monitor
Three sensors are required, in Paessler’s opinion, to address significant packet loss. They are all offered by PRTG Network Monitor, which makes it simple to check for packet loss when pinging.
The Ping Sniffer Sensor checks network availability, computes the percentage rate of packet loss for each device connected to your network, and displays historical data as dials and pie charts.
Ending Notes
For a network to operate at its best, packet loss must be found, addressed, and avoided. I want to emphasise once more that there is no foolproof method to remove packet loss from your system permanently.
In reality, you will undoubtedly experience packet loss because it is a natural occurrence as networks aren’t perfect.