GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 531161
network panel applet: auto-scale Y-axis gives impression of constant heavy traffic
Last modified: 2009-07-08 11:49:28 UTC
gnome-system-monitor 2.22.0-1ununtu3 (ubuntu release: Hardy 8.04) (noob alert, Please advise if something is missing or I should report elsewhere. Confused if I should use gnome bugzilla or ubuntu launchpad.) What I expected to happen: the network use graph will behave similar to the CPU graph, showing scrolling color with use. >> More color when more use. << Color bar completely filled when some "max capacity" is reached. In short, at a glance I can see "oh, it's busy!" or "not much is happening" and click or mouse-over when I need more detail. What happened instead: the y-axis scales down with no indication of the scale. This means the bar is often full with color, even when minimal traffic exists. For CPU this doesn't happen because it's scaled by % use. [Note: The behavior in the System Monitor > Resources > Network History is similar, but since it has labels on the y-axis, you can see if the wiggles actually mean high traffic.] The problem sounds like another one https://bugs.launchpad.net/gnome-system-monitor/+bug/92119 BUT I am specifically talking about the panel applet. The panel graphic serves a different purpose than the Network History graph. Ideas how fix: (not sure which of the below would most best fulfill my "*glance* oh it's busy" criterion) * scale by whatever "% use" value is presented upon mouse-over, or at least have that be an option. * use a non-linear scale for the y-axis, such as log scale, to squish the low parts down, or at least have Linear/Log be an option * When "Network" checked, an option appears System Monitor Preferences > Options > [Network "heavy use" threshold]. Perhaps a radio dial with suggested values for DSL, T1, dialup, etc. Perhaps there could also be a "dynamic" option which is something like 80% all-time peak traffic, updated every 15-30s. Also, introduce a new color in the Colors > Network tab, for example red that overlays when the threshold is exceeded. * indicate upper y limit by small number (in grey) with units in upper left corner PS guess I could submit another bug report, but is the "bar graph look" intentional? For CPU use, adjacent bars touch each other. .. Inconsistencies aside, I'm still undecided as to which one is more visually appealing.
i'll give a try to the ln y-axis
(In reply to comment #1) > i'll give a try to the ln y-axis > On second thought, it will give the same problem. As long as the y-axis is rescaled, and there is no indication to the user about the scale, then there is not indication of "how busy" is the network. .. And also, I realize GNOME must be easier to use than to have all these options.. so if anyone can confirm that %use (currently displayed--after a short delay--upon mouse-over) is a realistic & useful value for this purpose, it would seem to be the best option
Define %use ... your computer is connected to the LAN at 100Mbps but also to the Internet via a DSL of a few Mbps ... Same answer as ever: multiload can't do everything, it's scale-less. If you want numeric values, then use netspeed applet ?
Created attachment 110353 [details] PNG of applet, showing "bar graph" style
To elaborate, when I said "%use": it is the number when I hover the mouse over the applet. I see "Network: 0% in use" How is 100% defined? [Mostly it is 0%, but rarely it will give a different number, for example 55%. Perhaps it is mostly 0 in relation to the way that net traffic appears as separate bars--screengrab attached.] Would the following match with the GNOME mission? 1) by default it remains as it is, the y-scale is automatically adjusted. 2) if the user defines a max KB/s value, perhaps via an interface with suggested values for dial-up, DSL, and T1, then the scale becomes static If my idea is not good for the applet, then I'll be quiet from now. :) Thanks
Could this be considered a dupe of bug 88654 ?
> Could this be considered a dupe of bug 88654 ? Yes, I think so. It is a surprisingly old complaint. > Same answer as ever: multiload can't do everything, it's scale-less. If you > want numeric values, then use netspeed applet ? With most humble respect, we are not asking for everything, rather "As useful as the CPU applet". I think the applet would be more useful to many people if: - full color bar means some limit of "user's 100%" has been reached Some day, perhaps this limit value could be set as a step in OS installation.
Dupe of bug #88654 as per comment #7. *** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of 88654 ***