What is iPerf and how can it help your fast file transfers? Learn the history of iPerf vs. iPerf3 and how you can use them to determine your network throughput.
What is iPerf?
iPerf, which is short for Internet Performance Working Group, is an open-source speed test and network performance measurement tool. The mechanism is fairly simple: it creates TCP and UDP streams, and sends traffic from one host to another, then reports the maximum bandwidth to the user. This allows users to determine network throughput and top bandwidth speed.
Originally called ttcp by developers at the National Laboratory for Applied Network Research (NLANR), iPerf is the version that emerged when funding to NLANR was cut in 2006.
iPerf, iperf, IPERF, or Iperf – Which is Correct?
While all capitalization options refer to the same tool, we’ve seen it written out many ways. Top preferences seem to be iperf (all lowercase), capitalizing the P (iPerf), or capitalizing the P and I (IPerf).
Why Use iPerf?
Testing network throughput with iPerf is usually the first step in determining network speed and functionality. Because it’s an open-source command-line tool and produces standardized performance measurements no matter the network, iPerf has become a popular, accessible tool. It’s also flexible: it can test TCP, UDP, and SCTP.
What Data Can an iPerf Test Provide?
The main information users want from iPerf is throughput, but it can also provide information on packet loss, jitter, and traffic distribution.
For more information, see the iPerf FAQ or Stack Overflow.
iPerf vs. iPerf 3: What’s the Difference?
There have been multiple versions of iPerf over the years. Starting with NLANR’s ttcp, developers took the eventual iPerf code and started over from scratch to create a smaller, more streamlined version. This resulted in two different, incompatible branches of iPerf: iPerf2 and iPerf3.
iPerf3, first released in 2014, is mainly used to test networks, while iPerf2 is better suited to measuring Wi-Fi speeds. When end users refer to iPerf, they are typically talking about iPerf3, but both versions can run similar tests and provide similar results.
Supported Platforms for iPerf3
Originally iPerf was built only for Linux machines. iPerf3 however available for a multitude of platforms including Windows, Mac, Android, and Linux. If, however, it’s not supported on your preferred platform, you can likely find community-provided binaries to help you out.
How to Use iPerf3 with FileCatalyst
To achieve the fastest possible file transfer speeds, you can run a network test using iPerf3 to ensure your system is clean and free of bottlenecks before implementing a fast file transfer solution. While FileCatalyst is a premium file acceleration tool, its speed is defined by both the hardware and network on which it is used.
iPerf Example: How to Measure Network and Disk Throughput with IPERF3
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