[gentoo-amd64] Measure network speeds between machines?

[Mark Knecht]

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?

   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.

   Granted, 'up to 50Mb/S' might mean 1Mb/S, but that's not the way
they market it. ;-)

   Before I engage Comcast this apartment has wired Ethernet and a
provided 8-port switch in the wiring closet. I want to measure speeds
between machines going through that switch to ensure it's not causing
any problems.

Thanks,
Mark