Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

iperf VS Zenmap

Compare iperf VS Zenmap and see what are their differences

iperf logo iperf

A TCP, UDP, and SCTP network bandwidth measurement tool

Zenmap logo Zenmap

Zenmap is the official cross-platform GUI for the Nmap Security Scanner.
  • iperf Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-17
  • Zenmap Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-01

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.

Zenmap features and specs

  • User-friendly Interface
    Zenmap provides a graphical interface that makes it easier for users to conduct network scans without needing to memorize command-line options.
  • Visualization Tools
    It includes tools for visualizing scan results, such as network topology diagrams, which can help in understanding network structure and vulnerabilities.
  • Profile Management
    Supports saving scan configurations as profiles, enabling quick re-runs of common scans with predefined settings.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Zenmap is available for multiple operating systems including Windows, Linux, and macOS, making it versatile for different environments.
  • Integration with Nmap
    Leverages the powerful capabilities of Nmap, a well-known network scanning tool, providing advanced scanning options and performance.

Possible disadvantages of Zenmap

  • Performance Overhead
    The graphical interface can add additional performance overhead compared to the command-line version of Nmap, which may be noticeable during large scans.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its graphical interface, Zenmap still requires a certain level of understanding about network scanning concepts and Nmap parameters to effectively use it.
  • Limited Customization
    While it supports many Nmap features, some advanced customization options available in the command-line version may be less accessible or harder to implement in Zenmap.
  • Security Risks
    Running a graphical network scanning tool can attract unwanted attention on shared or monitored systems as it might appear in process lists or leave trace logs, potentially indicating a security tool is being used.
  • Complexity in Large Data Sets
    When dealing with very large data sets or complex networks, the visual output can become cluttered or difficult to interpret efficiently.

Analysis of Zenmap

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Zenmap is a good tool.

Why this product is good

  • Zenmap is the official graphical user interface (GUI) for the Nmap Security Scanner, which is highly regarded for its ability to discover hosts and services on a computer network. Zenmap simplifies Nmap's complex functionality, making it more accessible to users who may not be as comfortable with command-line operations. It provides features such as network inventory, managing service upgrade schedules, and monitoring host or service uptime. Additionally, Zenmap is open-source and supports multiple operating systems, making it flexible and widely available.

Recommended for

  • Network administrators who need to map out or monitor their networks.
  • Security professionals performing security audits or vulnerability assessments.
  • IT personnel responsible for managing enterprise networks.
  • Enthusiasts interested in learning more about network security and scanning techniques.

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]

Zenmap videos

Scan for Open Ports w/ Zenmap - Review

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Zenmap Tutorial - Network Scanning Tool

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to iperf and Zenmap)
Monitoring Tools
42 42%
58% 58
Security
10 10%
90% 90
Log Management
100 100%
0% 0
Network & Admin
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare iperf and Zenmap

iperf Reviews

We have no reviews of iperf yet.
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Zenmap Reviews

15 Best Nmap Alternatives Network Security Scanner
The aim of the Zenmap app is to learning the Nmap tool easy for newbies to use and at the same time giving the best-advanced features to Nmap professionals.
Top 5 Best Port Scanners
Zenmap is not a new port scanner, but the official NMAP Front End interface (GUI). For those who are not familiar with command line terminals, Nmap creators launched this GUI release that will allow you to scan remote hosts in a fancy and friendly way.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Zenmap should be more popular than iperf. It has been mentiond 11 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

Zenmap mentions (11)

  • Upgrading my opnsense setup. Today I am trying to give names to all my devices checking what is connected to my network, need help.
    Another way would be to use nmap from a Linux machine or virtual machine using: $ sudo nmap 192.168.0.1/24 where the subnet address is replaced with yours. They have a graphic interface, that I haven't used, but you might want to test it. It's called zenmap https://nmap.org/zenmap/. Source: about 2 years ago
  • What is this eye icon on the taskbar? Never seen it before.
    I agree with this but the eye is not exactly the same. https://nmap.org/zenmap/. Source: over 2 years ago
  • SSL / TLS scanning utility (internal) ?
    There's also the GUI version if you want. https://nmap.org/zenmap/. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • If OpenSSL Were a GUI
    I... Kind of like it? Not the fact that using such a GUI would be almost impossible, like the humorous example of an "engineer oriented UI" in the Silicon Valley series https://www.reddit.com/r/SiliconValleyHBO/comments/4nvvnl/pied_pipers_easytouse_tools/ which might be confusing for most people. But rather the fact that all of the complexity the software has is laid bare, so that nobody could mistakenly assume... - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • Share your greatest free tools
    I'll have to give Advanced IP Scanner a look to compare, but I like Zenmap so there's another option if you need one! Source: about 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

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

Nmap - Nmap Free Security Scanner, Port Scanner, & Network Exploration Tool. Download open source software for Linux, Windows, UNIX, FreeBSD, etc.

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...

Angry IP Scanner - Open-source and cross-platform network scanner designed to be fast and simple to use

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

Nessus - Nessus Professional is a security platform designed for businesses who want to protect the security of themselves, their clients, and their customers.