perfSONAR

6.6easy start · #13 of 31
in Network Testing Software

Free to practise onyes
Free trialnot on record
Well documentedyes
Runs where you worknot on record

Runs on api, Linux, self-hosted.

perfSONAR is ranked #13 of 31 in network testing software on The Geeks Club. It runs on API, Linux, Self-hosted. There is a free plan.

perfSONAR plans and pricing

All plans

perfSONAR Free Open-source network measurement toolkit; installation and operation require user-managed infrastructure perfsonar.net · 3 Oct 2026

Compared on network testing software

Free plan: No
Packet loss monitoring: Yes
Jitter monitoring: Yes
Path visualization: Yes
Synthetic network tests: Yes
Deployment: on_premises

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The record

Purpose: perfSONAR is a network measurement toolkit designed to provide federated path coverage and help establish end-to-end network performance expectations.
Problem diagnosis: It helps engineering teams identify and isolate network performance problems as they happen.
Measurements and visualization: It provides a uniform interface for scheduling measurements, storing data in uniform formats, retrieving data at scale, and generating visualizations.
Measurement coordination: Operators can coordinate tests among multiple nodes using a shared JSON mesh configuration, with results stored on each node or sent to a central dashboard server.
Measurement types: A standard node can run throughput or latency tests on a single network interface, while simultaneous testing on one interface may affect accuracy.
Integrations: The documentation includes deployment guidance for Docker and Ansible, and a cookbook for a central archive with Grafana.
Data access: The documentation provides a perfSONAR Client API and an esmond API reference for accessing raw data.
Deployment limits: The project describes perfSONAR as software installed on a local server controlled by the operator, and its deployment models require maintaining the nodes and test configuration.
Security: The project directs users to its documentation for security considerations and lists firewall and security software configuration guidance in the user guide.
License: perfSONAR components and tools are licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0, and distributed without warranty as described on the license page.
Support: The project provides a user mailing list for questions about deployments and an announcement mailing list for releases and security updates.
Intended users: The project describes use by science facilities, campuses, laboratories, network providers, exchange points, virtual organizations, network researchers, and software and service developers.
Development: perfSONAR is developed through a partnership that includes ESnet, GÉANT, Indiana University, Internet2, the University of Michigan, and RNP.
Price from: Free

Where it ranks on The Geeks Club

Best Network Testing Software in 2026#13 of 31
Best Network Performance Monitoring Software in 2026#12 of 24

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Sources

perfsonar.net· checked 3 Oct 2026
perfsonar.net/gtk_how.html· checked 3 Oct 2026
perfsonar.net/deployment_models.html· checked 3 Oct 2026
docs.perfsonar.net· checked 3 Oct 2026
perfsonar.net/gtk_why.html· checked 3 Oct 2026
perfsonar.net/deployment_security.html· checked 3 Oct 2026
perfsonar.net/about_license.html· checked 3 Oct 2026
perfsonar.net/gtk_whouses.html· checked 3 Oct 2026
perfsonar.net/collab_about.html· checked 3 Oct 2026
perfsonar.net/deployment_download.html· checked 3 Oct 2026