Networking – how to solve the “non-persistent vs persistent HTTP” problem

In this post: A detailed, step-by-step guide demonstrating the steps I use to solve a problem similar to one encountered in my CS 372 Intro to Networking class.

A client’s browser sends an HTTP request to a website. The website responds with a handshake and sets up a TCP connection. The connection setup takes 2.5 ms, including the RTT. The browser then sends the request for the website’s index file. The index file references 2 additional images, which are to be requested/downloaded by the client’s browser. How much longer would non-persistent HTTP take than persistent HTTP?

Suppose they want the answer in milliseconds rounded to 2 decimal places.

You can get fancy with writing out each and every request (and this is what they’ll show in the worksheet), but there’s a faster way, especially if the number of referenced objects is more than a few.

Step 1: Count the total number things you’re getting, ie: 1 index file + 3 images = 3. That’s your N value.

index.html + image1.jpg + image2.jpg = 3 things total

Step 2: For non-persistent HTTP, your answer will be the result of N x 2.

3 x 2 = 6 connections needed for non-persistent HTTP

(That’s because for each and every item you request, you also need to request a TCP connection.)

  1. TCP request
  2. index.htm request
  3. TCP request
  4. image1.jpg request
  5. TCP request
  6. image2.jpg request

Step 3: For persistent HTTP, do N+1

3 + 1 = 4 connections needed for persistent HTTP

(That’s because you only need to connect once, and then request all the things you want.)

  1. TCP request
  2. index.htm request
  3. image1.jpg request
  4. image2.jpg request

Step 4: Now you have:

6 connection requests for non-persistent HTTP
4 connection requests for persistent HTTP

Step 5: Find the difference.

6 - 4 = 2

Non-persistent HTTP needs 2 more connections than persistent.

Step 6: Multiply that difference by how long each connection takes to set up.

2 x 2.5 milliseconds = 5 milliseconds. 

Double-check your rounding and units! You might be asked to give this in seconds instead of milliseconds.

In summary

  • Sum the things (index file and images) to get N
  • Non-persistent HTTP = N x 2
  • Persistent HTTP = N + 1
  • Find the difference
  • Multiply the difference by how long a round trip takes

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