How to optimize and tune your Linux server’s network latency and throughput

How to optimize and adjust the network latency and throughput of Linux servers

In today's Internet era, network performance is crucial to most businesses and individuals. Especially for businesses running on Linux servers, optimization of network latency and throughput is very critical. This article will introduce some methods to optimize and tune network latency and throughput of Linux servers.

1. Optimization of network hardware and drivers
   First, make sure that your server hardware and network devices are high-performance. Choose network interface cards (NICs) and switches that suit your purposes, and make sure their drivers are up to date. Updating and optimizing network drivers can improve your server's network performance.
2. TCP/IP parameter adjustment
   In Linux, network communication is mainly carried out through the TCP/IP protocol. Adjusting TCP/IP parameters can significantly improve network latency and throughput. For example, you can increase the TCP window size to improve throughput, adjust the MTU value to reduce fragmentation, and use congestion control algorithms to alleviate network congestion.

You can use the system command "sysctl" to adjust these parameters, or make permanent settings in the "/etc/sysctl.conf" configuration file. Note that before adjusting these parameters, understand their meaning and expected impact, and experiment in a test environment.

3. Kernel parameter adjustment
   The Linux kernel has many network-related parameters that can be adjusted to optimize network performance. For example, you can increase the server's ability to handle simultaneous network connections by increasing the maximum number of file handles and the maximum number of processes. These parameters can be adjusted by modifying the "/etc/security/limits.conf" and "/etc/sysctl.conf" configuration files.

In addition, you can also adjust the kernel's network buffer size to improve the efficiency of network transmission. It can be set by modifying the parameters in the "/etc/sysctl.conf" configuration file, such as "net.core.rmem_max" and "net.core.wmem_max".

4. Use appropriate network protocols and services
   Selecting appropriate network protocols and services is also key to optimizing network performance. For example, for applications that need to transmit large amounts of data, the UDP protocol can be used instead of TCP to reduce transmission latency. For example, for video streaming or real-time audio transmission, UDP may be more suitable.

In addition, network latency and throughput can be improved by using technologies such as reverse proxy servers, load balancers, and content delivery networks (CDNs). These technologies can distribute requests to multiple servers, thereby improving response speed and load balancing.

5. Network security settings
   Network security settings will also have an impact on network performance. For example, enabling firewalls and network access control lists (ACLs) can protect servers from malicious attacks and illegal access. However, incorrect settings can cause network delays and congestion. Therefore, ensure network security settings are configured correctly and tested to ensure network performance is not affected.
6. Monitoring and Optimization
   Finally, it is very important to regularly monitor the network performance of the server. Use monitoring tools to track network latency, throughput, bandwidth utilization and other indicators, and optimize accordingly. For example, use network performance analysis tools such as iptraf, iftop, nload, etc. to monitor real-time network traffic.

By optimizing and adjusting the network delay and throughput of the Linux server, the network performance and response speed of the server can be improved to better meet the needs of users. However, please adjust parameters and settings carefully to avoid unnecessary risks and impacts. Before making any changes, back up critical data and experiment in a test environment.

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