Packet-Level Analysis of Zoom Performance Anomalies

Abstract

In this paper, we use Wireshark packet-level traces to study the performance of the Zoom network application. Our work is motivated by several anecdotal reports of Zoom performance problems on our campus network during the Fall 2021 semester. Through the collection and analysis of Wireshark traces from different vantage points, we are able to pinpoint the root cause of the Zoom performance problems, which is a congested external Internet link for our campus network. We also identify several characteristics of the Zoom application that exacerbate its performance issues on congested and lossy networks, due to multi-layer protocol interactions.