I have a '100Mb' network connection that's currently consistently transmitting at about 20K packets/sec, irrespective of packet size in the range of 300-600 bytes. This yields an observed bandwidth of 25-98Mb. I'm constantly being told that because we've not hit the bandwidth limit, we don't have a line problem. I don't agree.
This connection is, on average, running at 60% of maximum the theoretical PPS rate for a 100Mb (copper ethernet) line, once packet size is accounted for. (Although the 100Mb bottle neck is fibre of unknown type, so may have different impact, I don't think that any fibre protocol is better than copper with interpacket gap).
My problem is - without access to the routers or fibre hardware (3rd party provided, can't be helped) how can I prove that we are packet limited? Ideally without causing a massive outage in the process :)