Re: [gentoo-amd64] Measure network speeds between machines?

[Mark Knecht]

On Thu, Jun 6, 2013 at 1:11 PM, Paul Hartman
<paul.hartman+gentoo@×××××.com> wrote:
> On Thu, Jun 6, 2013 at 2:09 PM, Mark Knecht <markknecht@×××××.com> wrote:
>> Hi,
>>    Just taking a shot at the dark on this list before I ask something
>> in the forums. Is there a simple app (or even something at the command
>> line) that I can use to measure network throughput between two Gentoo
>> machines on my internal network?
>
> Check out net-analyzer/ttcp and net-misc/iperf
>
> You could also probably "roll your own" test by using netcat to
> transfer /dev/zero from one machine to another or something like that.
>
>>    Background: We sold our house & moved. Comcast talked me into
>> getting there new 'Blast' level Internet service with "speed up to
>> 50Mb/S" but darned if it isn't slower than regular Comcast ISP service
>> was a the previous house. In our house I typically got about 27Mb/S
>> download using something like www.Speakeasy.net/speedtest at a
>> measurement tool. Here I've never gotten higher than 22Mb/S. I do
>> however get much better upload speeds - about 12Mb/S instead of the
>> 5Mb/S I got at the house.
>
> I don't have Comcast but often ISPs will host a speed test server
> inside their network, so you can ensure the speeds you're seeing are
> not being limited by normal Internet slowdown issues outside of their
> system.
>
> To take a page out of the generic ISP tech support, I would try
> plugging your computer directly into the cable modem and seeing what
> kind of speeds you get then, to eliminate any outside factors.
>
> If you're using your own router, I would check to ensure it is fast
> enough to handle that kind of speed. If it has Gigabit ethernet ports
> that is usually a good sign. If it only has 10/100 then you might wind
> up replacing it with something more modern.
>

David & Paul,
   Thanks for the pointer. On paper ttcp looks like an acceptable
place to start. I'll give it a try in a few hours.

Cheers,
Mark