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1.1.2. The Trade-off Triangle: Speed, Reliability, Cost
Every networking decision balances three competing factors. You can optimize for two, but the third suffers:
| Technology | Speed | Reliability | Cost | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiber optic | High | High | High | Best performance but expensive installation |
| UDP | High | Low | Low | Fast but no delivery guarantee |
| TCP | Medium | High | Medium | Reliable but acknowledgment overhead |
| Redundant links | Same | High | High | Availability costs double hardware |
| Single link | Same | Low | Low | Cheaper but single point of failure |
Exam Application: Questions asking "which technology should you use" often require identifying which factor the scenario prioritizes. A VoIP system prioritizes speed (UDP). A financial transaction prioritizes reliability (TCP). A startup prioritizes cost (single links). Match the technology to the priority.
Written byAlvin Varughese
Founder•15 professional certifications