Roughly 80% of outcomes result from 20% of causes, according to the Pareto Principle, commonly referred to as the 80/20 rule. After the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, it was given that name.
The Pareto Principle in Network (LAN) Architecture.
Key Concepts of the Pareto Principle.
1. Inequality of Distribution
2. Focus on the Critical Few
· 80% of the traffic should be local, within the same subnet.
· 20% should be routed to other subnets or outside the LAN.
The essential principle is to acknowledge that most network traffic will be produced by a tiny proportion of users or applications. Services like VoIP calls, big file transfers, and video conferencing may fall under this crucial 20%.
How does the 80/20 rule improve the performance of the network (LAN)?
Performance Optimization
· Reduced Latency: Since local traffic does not need to go via a router or several network hops, latency is reduced.
· Enhanced Throughput: 80% of traffic should be locally generated; hence, local traffic generally moves more rapidly and avoids bottlenecks.
Making the Best Use of Network Resources
· Minimized Router Burdon: Reducing the load on routers can prevent network congestion and improve overall performance.
· Optimal Bandwidth Usage: Less bandwidth is used by local traffic than by traffic that needs to pass over external networks.
Enhanced network segmentation
· Logical Grouping: The 80:20 rule encourages logical grouping of devices and services that interact with one another regularly.
· Segmentation for Security: The 80:20 Rules help to isolate critical data and systems by implementing security measures like virtual local area networks, or VLANs.
Implementation Guidelines (Examining Networks for Compliance with the 80:20 Rule)
Understand traffic patterns.
· Identifying critical traffic: Investigate network traffic patterns in detail to determine which devices and services communicate most often.
· Determine Local vs. Remote Traffic: Find out how much traffic is local versus remote and note any places where the 80:20 ratio is not met.
Segmenting a network
· Setting up Subnets: Group devices and services with high communication needs into subnets while designing the network.
· Bringing VLAN into practice: Prepare devices within the same VLAN that have high communication needs and are physically close to each other.
Upgrading the structure of networks
· Switch Location: Arrange switches so that devices with a lot of local traffic are linked to the same switch or a group of closely connected switches.
· Router Configuration: Ensure that gateways have the capacity and performance to handle the 20% of traffic that has to be routed to other subnets or external networks.
Obstacles and Things to Think About
· Dynamic Environments: In constantly changing traffic patterns, having an adaptable network design and performing regular monitoring are essential.
· Remote Work: The increased use of cloud services and remote work is driving changes in traffic patterns, leading to a greater demand for external routing of traffic. In certain scenarios, it is crucial to reassess the 80:20 rule and introduce supplementary design concepts.
· High-Bandwidth Applications: For applications like video conferencing or huge data transfers, which need high bandwidth and low latency, special design considerations could be necessary to ensure optimal performance.
In summary
The 80:20 rule maintains most traffic locally, enhancing the manageability, efficiency, and performance of the network.