The traffic page shows the amount of data transferred through the Merkato network control point by the data stream associated with this user. Three graphs are provided to represent three time scales:
All three graphs are based on five-minute sample intervals. Merkato gathers traffic statistics in both the input and output direction every five minutes. Each five-minute sample represents an average over that five-minute period. In other words, peaks lasting less than five minutes are not accurately represented in the graphs. These five-minute samples are used directly in the daily graph. These values are then combined into longer averages for the weekly and monthly graphs.
The green-shaded portion of the graph indicates traffic in the incoming direction. Traffic indicated by the blue line is in the outgoing direction. If you are unclear which direction corresponds to “in” and “out” with respect to your application, contact your Merkato administrator.
Use the traffic graphs to help you decide how much bandwidth The amount of data transmitted or received per unit of time. When we
refer to acquiring or selling bandwidth, we mean the amount of information
that can be sent over a connection at one time, at the allowed speed,
without packet loss or excessive delay. Bandwidth is measured in bits-per-second.
to purchase on the spot and reservations markets. Often, the best buying
strategy is to buy what you normally use on the reservation
market The Merkato market mechanism by which a specified quantity of bandwidth,
for a specific duration, is sold for a firm price specified by the seller
and agreed to by the buyer. This is an automated process based on a rate
sheet that the seller establishes in advance.,
then purchase additional bandwidth during periods of burst demand on the
spot market The Merkato mechanism by which bandwidth is traded, in a progressive
second price auction. An optimal fair market price The price for something that buyers and sellers agree on. Merkato establishes
a market price for bandwidth during each spot market auction round. There
is a fixed amount for sale, so as demand increases, prices rise. The market
price is reached when the cumulative demand of all the buyers is exactly
equal to the amount of bandwidth being offered by the seller.
is established and bandwidth is allocated to buyers, based on their bids
relative to other buyers..
The traffic graphs can also help you select the maximum desired quantity
for your spot market valuation The value a buyer or seller places on bandwidth. Setting a valuation
is part of setting a purchasing strategy. Valuation settings within a
buyer agent The program that interacts with the rest of Merkato on behalf of buyers
and sellers. Buyers can acquire bandwidth by configuring their agents
to offer the price they are willing to pay for a range of available quantity,
or use their agent to request a quote for a fixed-price bandwidth reservation.
Sellers configure their agents with a quantity of bandwidth for sale and
a minimum price they are willing to accept for that quantity.
let buyers specify the amount they are willing to pay for varying amounts
of bandwidth. This information is used by the agent to respond to changing
market conditions during a Merkato progressive second price auction.
settings. There is little performance improvement, but potentially significant
cost impact, when you purchase more bandwidth than you need.