On Wed, October 11, 2006 6:43 pm, Matthew Dillon wrote: > Packet overhead for bulk data transfers is only around 3.4%. The > ethernet MAC is 12 bytes. The TCP/IP header is 40 bytes (20 bytes > for UDP/IP), plus additional bytes for options, and the data payload > is usually around 1448 bytes.
Just to throw another wrinkle in there, the overhead can change when you change physical networks, which happens at least once as data travels into the home. The cable modem or DSL modem at home is a bridge or (more likely) switch for analog<->digital, along with any wireless hookup from there. For a more exotic example, powerline communication eats up 12 bytes, if it's HomePlug standard.
