Abstract: A network analysis method is applied to traffic data collected in respect of a network of the type comprising a plurality of logical segments each with a plurality of nodes. The method involves processing the traffic data by preferentially removing traffic associated with nodes identified as acting as global servers, and using the remaining traffic to identify nodes acting as local servers. Upon the local servers being identified, the network analysis method carries out further processing to make suggestions as to whether any of these local servers should be moved to another logical segment and as to whether it would be worthwhile splitting a segment between two associated local servers.

Abstract: In packet-based networks (10), it is often desired to test communications between two specific stations (11, 12). This can generally be effected from a first one of the stations (11) by requesting the other station (12) to `loop-back` a test packet sent from the first station. The first station (11), on receiving back the test packet, can thereby ascertain that not only is communication with the other station (12) possible, but it can also measure the round trip time. However, more complex characteristics of the transmission path between the stations (11, 12) are not ascertainable in this manner. The transmission of a predetermined sequence of packets permits such characteristics to be determined by observing the effect of the network (10) on the sequence considered as a whole. Thus by varying packet size in a sequence, characteristics such as bandwidth, propagation delay, queuing delay and the network's internal packet size can be derived.