What Does the Calculator Do?
The HostedBizz support team frequently is asked for assistance in the calculating the period of time required to transfer data to the cloud. In response, we created a File Transfer Time Calculator to help determine the amount of time and bandwidth it takes to move large files around a network.
The time it takes to transfer a file, whether it’s a download or an upload, is dependent on the size of the file and the internet speed. This calculator offers a drag-and-click approach to help understand the time required to move large files around a network.
How to Use the File Transfer Time Calculator
Select the Amount of Data
To use the HostedBizz File Transfer Time Calculator, select the amount of data you’d like to move. Choose the unit size your business uses, from kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes or terabytes.
Select the Transfer Rate
Next, enter your network transfer speed. Choose the unit size your business uses, from kilobytes, megabytes or gigabytes.
Interpret the Total Transfer Time
Once the selection criteria have been set, the transfer time rate will be displayed.
If in doubt about the accuracy of the calculator, please get in touch!
Notes on Network Availability
The real transfer speed will be slower than shown on the calculator. The calculator assumes full network availability. Some of the typical limiting factors include:
- All devices on the network are not capable of maintaining a consistent transfer rate
- Load on the network from other connections or sessions reduces transfer speed
- Signalling and network protocol reduce transfer speed
- Transmission errors, lost packets, impact transfer rate
Suggestions for Use
In determining the speed of your network, assume the network connection is not fully available. It is fair to assume that 70% of network speed is available.
Guidelines on Measuring the File Time Transfer Rate
Curious about the lingo used to talk about data transfer rates?
We put together the following definitions to help you understand some conventional terms that you might encounter in the data transfer process.
What is Bandwidth?
Bandwidth is the measurement of the ability of a device or system to send and receive information.
What is Throughput?
Throughput is the amount of data that enters and goes through a system.
What is Data Rate?
Data rate is the speed at which data is transferred between devices, measured in mega bits or giga bits per second (Mbps or Gbps)
Build a Plan to Move to the Cloud
The File Transfer Time Calculator determines how much time and bandwidth it takes to move large files around a network, or to the HostedBizz Cloud.
The Total Transfer Time calculation will also help make business continuity plans for migration to the cloud. While your data is being transferred from its existing location to a cloud repository, your business may face downtime or reduced data availability. This calculation can help select a time of day and week for the migration, and help to identify the members of staff required during that period.
Making the Transition to the Cloud
Now that you understand how long your business will require to transition to new IT infrastructure, you might be curious about opportunities to migrate to the cloud or the processes required to prepare your business for transition.
HostedBizz Cloud Solutions offers a quick and secure solution for transferring files from around the world. Our range of disaster recovery and backup solutions are offered as monthly services with no long-term contracts. We pride ourselves on cloud infrastructure solutions that are flexible to meet your needs.