When laptops are connected without a school server, the data is exchanged using multicast packets, which on most routers means the lowest data rate. The data is also subject to loss, the retransmission algorithms are time based, and excessive retransmissions can consume airtime to the point that nothing can be transmitted.
When laptops are connected via a school server, the data is exchanged using TCP packets, which on most routers means the highest data rate. The data is also less subject to loss, since TCP retransmits based on exchange of sequence numbers in the stream. The maximum user density will therefore depend on: 1. whether you are using a school server or not, 2. if not, what data rate your wireless routers use for multicast, 3. how many wireless router channels are allocated, 4. any other wireless network traffic, such as use of other activities, use of web browsers, remote access or administration, software updates, or improperly configured LAN bridging, 5. the amount of data that the activity transmits or receives, 6. the radiofrequency noise in the environment, 7. the distance between the laptops and the wireless router, 8. the distance between the furthest client of the router and the router (since this may be using a lower data rate, thus consuming more air time). But no, I don't have any estimate handy. I recall others mentioning estimates and test results from earlier versions. -- James Cameron http://quozl.linux.org.au/ _______________________________________________ Server-devel mailing list Server-devel@lists.laptop.org http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/server-devel
