Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

netperf VS tcpdump

Compare netperf VS tcpdump and see what are their differences

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...

tcpdump logo tcpdump

tcpdump is a common packet analyzer that runs under the command line.
  • netperf Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-07
  • tcpdump Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-27

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.

tcpdump features and specs

  • Powerful packet capturing
    tcpdump offers comprehensive capabilities for capturing network packets, providing detailed insights into network traffic, which makes it a powerful tool for network diagnostics and analysis.
  • Wide compatibility
    Being a widely used tool, tcpdump is compatible with numerous operating systems, including Linux, Unix, and macOS, ensuring accessibility across different platforms.
  • Filter flexibility
    tcpdump supports a wide range of filtering options that allow users to capture specific types of traffic, ensuring efficient and targeted packet capture.
  • Command-line interface
    tcpdump is a command-line tool, which provides advanced users the ability to script and automate tasks, making it highly efficient for those familiar with command-line operations.
  • Free and open-source
    tcpdump is open-source software, which means it is freely available for use and can be modified and distributed by anyone, fostering a community of users and contributors.

Possible disadvantages of tcpdump

  • Steep learning curve
    For users unfamiliar with command-line interfaces and packet-level networking, tcpdump can be difficult to learn due to its complex commands and options.
  • Minimal graphical interface
    tcpdump lacks a graphical user interface (GUI), which can make it less accessible for users who prefer visual tools over text-based interfaces.
  • Limited analysis capability
    While tcpdump is excellent for capturing packets, it offers limited built-in analysis features, requiring additional tools for comprehensive analysis of captured data.
  • High resource usage
    Running tcpdump with extensive capture options or on high-traffic networks can result in significant CPU and memory usage, potentially impacting system performance.
  • Security risks
    tcpdump requires root or elevated privileges to capture packets, which could pose security risks if not managed correctly, especially on sensitive systems.

netperf videos

netperf

tcpdump videos

Tcpdump - Protocol Review 5 (TCP)

More videos:

  • Review - Tcpdump - Protocol Review 3 (UDP)
  • Review - Tcpdump - Protocol Review 4 (DNS) - Draft

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to netperf and tcpdump)
Monitoring Tools
34 34%
66% 66
Network & Admin
100 100%
0% 0
Log Management
32 32%
68% 68
Productivity
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

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

netperf Reviews

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tcpdump Reviews

6 Best Wireshark Alternatives for Windows and macOS
The quickness that you can have with tcpdump over Wireshark is awesome. It is one of those tools that many network administrators prefer whenever they need to take a look at the actual network packets that are being transmitted. The Tcpdump is not as feature rich as Wireshark but the output of its packet dump can be used as input by other programs. Moreover, It can be used...
Source: techwiser.com

What are some alternatives?

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

iperf - A TCP, UDP, and SCTP network bandwidth measurement tool

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.

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

Ettercap - Ettercap is a suite for man in the middle attacks on LAN.

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

SmartSniff - SmartSniff is a packet sniffer that capture TCP/IP packets and display them as sequence of conversations between clients and servers.