[plug] Test program for Ethernet networks

[Luke Dudney]

Lyndon Kroker wrote:

>Can someone suggest a(n open source) program that I could use to test the 
>performance of Ethernet hubs, switches and routers, etc?  I am mostly looking 
>to test the network bandwidth.  I would like to do this for (1) large single 
>files and (2) groups of many small files.  A program that can run a series of 
>tests automatically would be ideal.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Lyndon
>
>  
>
I used NETIO when I had issues with my home switched network.
NETIO - Network Throughput Benchmark, Version 1.14
(C) 1997-2001 Kai Uwe Rommel

It is open source (not sure about the license, though).
It comes with a WIN32 binary so you can do testing for, in my case, 
Windows XP Pro <-> OpenBSD 3.0
This helped me figure out that there was indeed an ethernet problem and 
not an OS or disk problem (I had some wiring wrong).
It tests at layer3 though (you can chose TCP or NETBIOS as the protocol) 
so you can't test for large files / lots of small files.
The results it feeds back to you is a sustained throughput at the packet 
size you specify.
I don't know the URL of the top of my head, but I'm sure google will.

Cheers
Luke