How Do I Check My Network Latency between Two Windows Servers [UPDATED]

Checking Network Latency between Two Windows Servers: A Comprehensive Guide

Network latency is the particular period a data takes before it moves from one point to another connected point. The time for data to travel between two points, latency is also known as execution time which has it significant impact on various applications and services that a particular is connected to.

It is the delay between sending and receiving data over a network and while you are working with Windows servers, you might decide to understand your execution time thereby measuring it.

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The measurement can be used for optimizing performance, and troubleshooting issues to ensure good convenient network operations and that’s why Windows users might be prompted to know how do I check my network latency between two Windows servers.

In this article, I will discuss the different methods and available tools that you can use to check the network latency between two Windows servers, make comparisons, and even decide to use advanced approaches.

How Do I Check My Network Latency between Two Windows Servers?

While you make the decision to check your network execution time (latency) between Windows servers, there are certain basic tools that are required for the process. These include;

  1. Ping

Currently, the Ping command seems to be the most basic and widely used tool that is used in measuring network latency. It sends small packets (ICMP echo requests) to the particular server you are willing to measure which is the target server and then displays the time it takes for them to return. This round-trip time (RTT) provides a rough estimate of latency.

To use Ping, follow the process below;

Start your Windows PC and give it a few minutes to boot

Open Command Prompt and type: Ping <target server IP address or hostname>

For example:

Ping 192.168.1.10

Here the target server IP address or hostname is for the particular network server you are connected to and using at the moment of the test measurement. The output will show statistics like minimum, maximum, and average RTT, along with packet loss.

Also Read

The Ping command is a quick way to get an initial assessment of network latency, but it may not provide detailed insights into the nature of latency or potential issues.

  1. Tracert

From the overlook on Tracert, it’s more dutiful than Ping. Ping measures overall latency as I discussed above, but Tracert (traceroute) helps visualize the path packets take and identify potential blockage errors over the network.

It sends packets to each hop point along the route and shows the time taken at each step. Based on Tracert visualization, it can pinpoint specific network segments causing delays.

To use Tracert, follow the process below;

Open Command Prompt and type Tracert <target server IP address or hostname>

For example:

Tracert 8.8.8.8

The output will list each hop, its IP address, and the time taken to reach it. The tool will show the sequence of routers and the time taken for each hop and this will enable you to identify the error and delay point easily.

  1. PowerShell cmdlets

PowerShell is more advanced than all of the tools as it’s more flexible and automatic. It offers several cmdlets that include Measure-Ping and Test-Connection. These cmdlets provide detailed statistics like standard deviation and percentiles which enable PowerShell to provide a more comprehensive latency analysis.

PowerShell, being a robust scripting language, allows for the creation of custom scripts to monitor network latency. Using PowerShell scripts, you can automate the collection of latency data at specified intervals, facilitating continuous monitoring.

For example, a simple PowerShell script to measure Ping latency:

$destination = “destination_server_ip”

$result = Test-Connection -ComputerName $destination -Count 4

$result | Select-Object Address, ResponseTime

By running such scripts periodically, you can create a log of latency data and analyze trends over time.

  1. PathPing

PathPing is a more advanced tool that combines the features of both Ping and Tracert. This tool doesn’t only measure round-trip times, rather it also provides statistics about packet loss at each hop. This can be especially useful in diagnosing network issues.

To use PathPing, type:

pathPing <destination_server_ip>

The output will display detailed information about each hop which includes packet loss and round-trip times.

  1. Performance Monitor

Windows Performance Monitor (PerfMon) is a powerful built-in tool that allows for in-depth monitoring of various system parameters, including network latency. PerfMon provides real-time and historical data, making it valuable for identifying trends and patterns.

To access PerfMon, open the Run dialog (Win + R) and type perfmon. In the Performance Monitor window, you can add counters related to network performance, such as “Network Interface” and “TCPv4 Performance.”

By analyzing these counters over time, you can gain insights into network latency and potential issues affecting server communication.

  1. Third-party tools:

There are system-manufacturer networking measurement tools, there are numerous third-party tools that can provide advanced features beyond basic Ping, Trace, and even PowerShell. These third-party options include:

iPerf: This tool can be used to measure TCP and UDP bandwidth and latency and provide a detailed report at the end.

NetLatency: This tool helps to analyze latency between multiple servers at the same time without having to wait to do it separately.

PingPlotter: PingPlotter provides a visual representation of latency over time and also gives a highlight detail on fluctuations and jitter.

PRTG Network Monitor: This networking measurement tool provides a comprehensive network monitor with latency alerts and historical data. It offers sensors specifically designed to measure network latency. It provides detailed reports, customizable dashboards, and alerting capabilities.

SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM): SolarWinds NPM is a comprehensive solution for monitoring network performance. It offers features like real-time analysis, historical data storage, and alerting to ensure proactive management of network latency.

Wireshark (with TShark): While Wireshark was mentioned earlier for packet analysis, it also offers TShark, a command-line version. This allows for automated packet capture and analysis, making it suitable for scripting and integration into monitoring workflows.

  1. Wireshark

For a more granular analysis of network traffic and latency, Wireshark is a widely used packet sniffing tool. It allows you to capture and analyze packets traversing the network, helping to identify the root causes of latency.

After installing Wireshark, start capturing packets on the network interface connected to the server communication. Analyze the captured data to identify latency-inducing factors, such as retransmissions or inefficient protocols.

  1. Netsh Commands

The Netsh command in Windows provides additional functionalities for monitoring and managing network settings. For instance, the netsh interface TCP shows global command displays TCP-related settings, including parameters that impact network latency.

To view TCP global parameters, type:

netsh interface tcp show global

Adjusting these parameters based on specific requirements can potentially improve network performance.

Most of these above tools come with user-friendly interfaces, customizable settings, and advanced reporting capabilities and that’s what makes them suitable for network environments, especially complex ones.

How to Choose the Right Tool to Check My Network Latency between Two Windows Servers

Among all the network latency measurement tools, you might be contemplating which of the tools you should go for. This solely depends on your specific network measurement needs and expertise; you can choose to work with either basic or advanced tools.

If you want to check your network latency occasionally and even proceed with troubleshooting, you should work with Ping and Tracert which are the basic tools. However, if you need:

Detailed Statistics and Analysis on the latency of a network connection: Use PowerShell cmdlets or tools among third-party tools like iPerf.

Visual Representation of Latency: Consider tools like PingPlotter.

Multiple Server Monitoring and Historical Data: Opt for a comprehensive network monitoring tool among which is PRTG. This doesn’t each of them can’t provide you with a good result on latency measurement of a network, but your specifications might vary and that’s why I break down each of them.

Consideration on How Do I Check My Network Latency between Two Windows Server

While you want to check network latency between two Windows servers which enables you to figure out a network delay error and troubleshoot it, there are things you consider along the process of the measurement. These include;

Minimize Network Load

Make a latency test during off-peak hours to avoid inaccurate results due to heavy traffic. This means while you are on and working within a network setup, you should not do a test rather after you are closed.

Warm up the Connection

You should consider sending several initial packets before you record measurements. This will enable you to erase cold start effects.

Multiple Pings

To account for fluctuations and network jitter, you should perform several Pings.

Different Packet Sizes

Latency might vary based on data volume, so you should test with various packet sizes. This will let you whether to work high data traffic volume solution before working on maybe any other latency factor.

Multiple Locations

Consider testing from different network points to identify bottlenecks within your own infrastructure.

Regular Monitoring

For an organization, you can establish a baseline for network latency which will help you to understand the normal behavior of your network. You should always monitor your latency regularly using tools like Ping, Traceroute, and others.

Identify and Address Bottlenecks

Use tools like PerfMon, Wireshark, or third-party monitoring solutions to identify delay errors in the network. This could include overloaded routers, switches, or server resources. Addressing these bottlenecks can alleviate latency issues.

Optimize Network Configuration

Adjusting network configurations based on the specific requirements of the server communication which can contribute to latency reduction. This includes tweaking TCP parameters, optimizing routing, and ensuring efficient use of available bandwidth.

Utilize Quality of Service (QoS)

Implement Quality of Service (QoS) policies to obtain and use steady network traffic.

Regularly Update and Patch Systems

Make sure that both source and destination servers are running the latest operating system updates and patches. Sometimes, outdated network drivers, protocols, or security vulnerabilities can cause network latency issues.

Capacity Planning

You should plan for network future growth and demands thereby performing capacity planning. This process involves assessing current network usage patterns and making plans accordingly to avoid congestion and latency issues as the workload increases over time.

Collaborative Monitoring and Troubleshooting

Collaboration among IT teams, including network administrators, system administrators, and application developers can help an organization achieve effective latency management.

Conclusion

If you understand the different methods and tools I discussed above, you can effectively measure and analyze network latency between your Windows servers. Choosing and working with the right tool approach will help you gain valuable insights into your network performance and identify possible delay error areas that you need to improve.

Monitoring network latency between Windows servers is a multifaceted process that involves a combination of built-in tools, command-line utilities, scripting, and third-party solutions.

Remember, monitoring latency is an ongoing process, you don’t need to stop while you always work with your network setup. So always check it and that will help you maintain optimal network health.

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