Dealing with limited bandwidth or high latency scenarios can be challenging for web developers and frustrating for users. Over the years we've been able to utilize many different techniques and technologies to minimize the effects of a poor internet connection.
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SQL Server Replication
Minimizing the time spent accessing database records can significantly reduce the duration of each page load or request. A great way to achieve this, especially in multiple office scenarios that are separated by great distances (like we have), is to use SQL Server Replication - read more about it here!
File Compression
We all know that downloading files can be a time-consuming operation. A great way to optimize this process is to compress the files on the server before sending them over the wire to the client. GrandView uses this technique when you download your project files - read more about it here!
AJAX
Sometimes you need to refresh the contents of an entire web page, while others you just want to update a tiny piece of it. In the latter scenario, a full postback will get the job done, but it's both wasteful and unnecessary. AJAX (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML) allows developers to tackle this all too common problem. GrandView uses AJAX in many different areas - read more about it!
HTTP Compression (Static and Dynamic)
Very often the content your browser retrieves from a web server can be sent more efficiently. For example, scripts, stylesheets, and some image types (among other things) can be compressed once on the web server, sent to the client, and then decompressed before use - this feature (Static Compression) is enabled by default in IIS 7 when you create a new virtual directory! Other content, like ASP or ASPX pages, will more than likely change with each request, but can still benefit from compression. You can enable this feature (Dynamic Compression) in IIS 7 at the cost of some CPU time per page request, but it's well worth it since bandwidth is usually more expensive than CPU cycles. Read about HTTP Compression here! Also, check out the results of some load tests done with different levels of compression enabled.
Content Expiration
Another great way to be more efficient with your web traffic is to tell the browser when content will expire. Even if you have the most up-to-date image or script downloaded, the browser will still make a request to the web server for an even newer version. Enabling content expiration for certain files (or even entire folders) in IIS 7 tells the browser when to try and look for a newer version; if the content hasn't expired yet, the browser will just use what it has and won't waste bandwith by making a useless request. Read about content expiration here!
Mark Carpenter
GrandView Business Solutions Developer