Testing GigE Ethernet speed

[PatRoy]

G'day experts :)

I'd like to know how I can test my 1000Gb ethernet cards to make sure my network speed is really okay, that I've got no errors, etc.

[James R. Ferguson · Accepted solution]

Hi Pat:

You could use 'ladadmin'. To obtain the 'ppa' you want, use 'lanscan'.

Regards!

...JRF...

[Olivier Masse]

First do "lanadmin -x [n]" where [n] = the number of your interface, and confirm that speed is at 1000 Full-Duplex.

Then, as James mentioned, you can use lanadmin to check for error statistics.

If you have the time, the best way to actually test network performance between servers is using iperf (available on sourceforge, it compiles easily with gcc). Or simply FTP off some huge file somewhere that's also gigabit-connected.

Good luck

[rick jones]

iperf - tsk tsk tsk :) go with http://www.netperf.org/

[Olivier Masse]

Geez. Sorry Rick, I haven't used netperf in a long, long while, kinda forgot its name, and found iperf when googling for such a tool last year. Worst thing is, I have a few slides that mention iperf in an upcoming HPTF presentation, they're frozen, but I'll check if I can submit a reviewed version with a note that mentions netperf.

[rick jones]

No worries, there are some things easier in iperf than netperf2 at present - like multiple concurrent tests. I'll have to deal with that one of these days :)

[Olivier Masse]

Well I'll see anyway what can be done to have it revised with a bullet that mentions netperf as an option. I completely missed it, and that sucks.