Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

iperf VS netperf

Compare iperf VS netperf and see what are their differences

iperf logo iperf

A TCP, UDP, and SCTP network bandwidth measurement tool

netperf logo netperf

Netperf is a benchmark that can be used to measure the performance of many different types of networking. It provides tests for both unidirectional throughput, and end-to-end latency. - HewlettPack...
  • iperf Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-17
  • netperf Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-07

iperf features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    iperf is compatible with a variety of operating systems including Windows, Linux, and macOS, making it a versatile tool for network performance testing across different environments.
  • Comprehensive Performance Metrics
    Provides detailed metrics such as bandwidth, jitter, and packet loss, which are essential for in-depth network analysis and troubleshooting.
  • Client-Server Model
    Utilizes a client-server model that allows for measuring the maximum TCP and UDP bandwidth between two endpoints, making it suitable for both local and remote testing.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source, iperf allows users to review, modify, and contribute to the codebase, ensuring transparency and fostering community involvement.
  • Customizable Test Parameters
    Allows users to customize tests with various parameters such as port number, buffer size, and test duration, offering flexibility to perform targeted network evaluations.

Possible disadvantages of iperf

  • Complexity for Beginners
    The command-line interface and numerous parameters might be overwhelming for beginners who are not familiar with network testing tools.
  • Limited Graphical Interface
    While powerful in functionality, iperf lacks a native graphical user interface, which could be a disadvantage for users who prefer visual tools over command-line utilities.
  • Resource Consumption
    iperf can consume substantial network resources and CPU power during testing, potentially affecting other applications running on the same network or device.
  • Manual Deployment Required
    Users need to manually deploy iperf on both client and server machines, which may be cumbersome for those looking for out-of-the-box network testing solutions.
  • Security Considerations
    Running iperf in server mode might expose a system to network attacks if not secured properly, necessitating careful consideration of security measures.

netperf features and specs

  • Comprehensive Performance Testing
    Netperf is a versatile benchmarking tool that provides a robust suite of tests for evaluating various aspects of network performance, such as throughput, latency, and transaction rates. This allows users to gain a detailed understanding of network performance under different conditions.
  • Wide Protocol Support
    The tool supports a range of protocols including TCP, UDP, and SCTP, as well as a variety of test configurations. This flexibility allows users to tailor the tests to match specific network conditions and requirements.
  • Open Source
    Being open-source, Netperf is free to use and can be easily accessed by anyone. This encourages community involvement, fostering an environment where users can contribute to and improve the tool.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Netperf runs on a variety of operating systems, including Linux, UNIX, and Windows, making it a versatile choice for network performance testing across different environments.

Possible disadvantages of netperf

  • Command-Line Interface
    Netperf primarily operates through a command-line interface, which can be complex and unintuitive for users who prefer graphical user interfaces or are not experienced with command-line operations.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    New users may find it challenging to properly use Netperf due to its wide array of options and configurations. Understanding all the nuances of the tool to perform effective tests can require a significant learning effort.
  • Limited Documentation
    While there is documentation available, it may not be as extensive or as user-friendly as needed, which can make it hard for beginners to quickly find the information they need to execute specific tests.
  • Specialized Use Case
    Netperf is highly specialized for network performance testing, which limits its utility outside of networking contexts. Users seeking a tool with broader capabilities beyond network measurement might need to look elsewhere.

iperf videos

Using Iperf to measure network speed / bandwidth

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to use iperf to test local network LAN speed in Windows 10
  • Review - [HOWTO] Test My Network Speed?! [iPerf & JPerf]

netperf videos

netperf

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to iperf and netperf)
Monitoring Tools
72 72%
28% 28
Log Management
71 71%
29% 29
Network & Admin
60 60%
40% 40
Security
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, iperf seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 4 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

iperf mentions (4)

  • Microsoft: Don't Use Iperf3 on Windows
    Just some clarification: IPerf 2 is different from the iperf3 found at https://github.com/esnet/iperf. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Yet Another Bench Script (YABS): evaluate Linux server performance with this simple Bash script and utility
    Network - network throughput (both incoming and outgoing) is tested using iperf3 on several geographically diverse public iperf servers. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Speed testing Visible with a modem
    File transfer using iperf3 over Tailscale. I noticed that the bandwidth to my home computer (on a 500/500 fiber connection) was higher than with speedtest.net. For the first few days I was getting downloads and uploads of 28Mbps (+/- std dev of 6Mbps) and 150ms latency (+/- 35ms). After somewhere around 100GB total transfer (maybe half of that over Tailscale), it is now downloading and uploading at 10Mbps (+/-... Source: about 3 years ago
  • FTP upload speed isn't great
    I can add to this. I have two mini self contained projects to create multiarch static bins of mtr and iperf3 for general usage. Source: almost 4 years ago

netperf mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of netperf yet. Tracking of netperf recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing iperf and netperf, you can also consider the following products

JPerf - This project gives a better UI and new functionalities to the initial JPerf 1.

TamoSoft Throughput Test - TamoSoft Throughput Test is a utility for testing the performance of a wireless or wired network.

NetIO-GUI - NetIO-GUI is a Windows frontend for the multiplatform commandline utility 'netio'.

NetStress - NetStress is a user-friendly benchmarking tool that is mostly used by networking professionals to measure the network performance of both wired and wireless connections.

Wireshark - Wireshark is a network protocol analyzer for Unix and Windows. It lets you capture and interactively browse the traffic running on a computer network.

Flent - The FLExible Network Tester