When developers and SREs design application tests, they often prioritize user workflows and API availability. Extending that suite with network tests that match your app’s traffic protocols can reveal whether issues originate in the network or application layer.
In this post, we’ll explore how you can design effective network tests using the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP), or Internet Control Message Protocol (ICMP), including:
Choosing the right protocol for your network testsSimulating realistic traffic using synthetic tests
How to choose the right network test protocol
Traceroute-based tests are a common way to measure network health. By showing you the amount of time it takes for devices to respond to incoming requests, traceroute queries enable you to measure performance along every step of the network path, from the intermediary hosts to the destination server.
