Overview

Teaching: 10 min
Exercises: 0 min

Questions

• What are some tools we can use to test network throughput?

Objectives

• Learn about some of the tools for testing network performance.

Network (Only) Evaluation

Throughput testing

Iperf3 (as distinct from “iperf” which is v2 or less)

• https://software.es.net/iperf/
• https://github.com/esnet/iperf
• Pre-compiled binaries for (everything)
  • https://iperf.fr/iperf-download.php

nuttcp

• http://nuttcp.org/
• Much overlap with iperf3
• Allows “3rd party” operation where one machine can initiate tests between 2 other machines

perfSONAR test nodes

Provides test endpoints

• iperf3
• owping/ping
• traceroute/tracepath

• Academic and research centric
• Many servers around the world
• Multiple servers within UH Net
• You can install the clients on Linux laptop
  • Which allows you to control remote servers
• perfSONAR toolkit is available as a Docker Container\, which will work on Linux-based Docker engines. Getting the networking side working on MacOS or Windows (or WSL) is complicated\, if at all possible

perfSONAR installation options

https://docs.perfsonar.net/install_options.html

LibreSpeedTest

• https://github.com/librespeed/speedtest
• Take this code and drop it into a directory on any web server
• It will provide a browser-based throughput estimate for a path

• I have one in my house
• UH has one on Manoa Campus

• http://speedtest.uhnet.net

LibreSpeedTest On A Home Network

Ookla Speedtest (speedtest.net)

• Allows you to test to many points around the world from a web browser.
  • https://www.speedtest.net/
  • Allow page to load and choose: “Change Server”
• Also offers a command line version
  • https://www.speedtest.net/apps/cli
    • Which could be used to test from a remote machine via a terminal interface

      • Important to recognize that it focuses on testing your tester’s Internet connectivity, possibly from multiple server locations
      • Distinct from testing between your location and a specific location
      • There are Ookla Speedtest servers at some universities, and if you test from a U. Hawaii campus to those servers, they should use REN paths
      • Typically, an ISP hosted server will use commodity paths

Key Points

• Many times data transfer is impacted by factors other than the networks, but it helps to know how to test the network.