iPerf and other scriptable performance checkers

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Dynamic

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#240278 30-Aug-2018 16:31

Hi Team

I've just come across iPerf in another GZ post, and the idea of being able to script broadband performance checks interests me.

Is there a publicly available iPerf server in NZ? I can't see one, but my Google-fu may be letting me down. I may consider setting one up and just not publicise its availability.

Any other options to suggest?

Cheers

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gaddman

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#2081631 30-Aug-2018 19:14

You could also look at speedtest-cli, see https://github.com/sivel/speedtest-cli for one example. This tests to the usual Ookla (speedtest.net) servers.

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#2081683 30-Aug-2018 21:48

I run my own iperf3 server locally on my NAS in a container - i use it to test wifi performance (I really can't stand people using speedtest to test their wifi/LAN speeds, even so called professional reviewers do this.

I also run my own iperf3 server in GCP, to test internet performance. Better than speedtest, as I can control the number of threads so it is more representative of throughput that actually matters, not like speedtest that just ramps multiple tcp connections up to get a good number.

hio77

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#2081727 31-Aug-2018 00:53

gaddman: You could also look at speedtest-cli, see https://github.com/sivel/speedtest-cli for one example. This tests to the usual Ookla (speedtest.net) servers.

Does speedtest-cli actually preform well in higher rate connections now?

it never used to really hit consistent for anything gbit+

often only used a single thread.

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gaddman

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#2081732 31-Aug-2018 06:01

hio77
Does speedtest-cli actually preform well in higher rate connections now?

it never used to really hit consistent for anything gbit+

often only used a single thread.

I haven't found it all that consistent any way I use it, but just tried now on a 1G UFB and got 800-900. Socket based tests have been added to some of the forks out there, eg https://github.com/sivel/speedtest-cli/pull/498 possible that will help a little too.

But yeah, if you want accurate get a server you control.

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#2082330 1-Sep-2018 12:24

iPerf3 is the only tool to use with TCP speedtests over 300Mbit from the command line as long as you have a computer powerful enough.

I used the Speedtest Android app running on an ODroid C2 to get the speedtest in my signature. That was connected directly to a 1GB service directly plugged into Sparks network not over UFB.

The Speedtest App on Windows 10 also works reliably.

But iPerf3 for TCP tests, and iPerf2 for UDP tests for saturation tests on a connection that has a policer upstream (such as with UFB) where you have to have a constant bitrate of 500Mbit upstream whereas UDP upstream tests with iPerf3 sends 500Mbit burst of data every second so often the upstream policer will discard the traffic so you won't get an accurate test. That doesn't happen with iPerf2, and not sure if they have fixed it in a recent patch with iPerf3.

If you want to go to the next level check out PerfSonar as a testing node, they have some very clever stuff.