# iperf

> software tool for network performance measurement and tuning

**Wikidata**: [Q1067122](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1067122)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iperf)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/iperf

## Summary
iperf is a free software tool for measuring and tuning network performance. It evaluates TCP, UDP, and SCTP bandwidth performance and is widely used by network administrators and engineers.

## Key Facts
- iperf is free software distributed under BSD licenses
- It runs on Linux operating systems, which were first released in 1991
- The first version of iperf was released on January 10, 2014
- Current versions include 3.4 (released February 12, 2018) and 3.5 (released February 28, 2018)
- The tool has multiple aliases including iperf3 and iperf
- It is available through package repositories for major Linux distributions including Fedora (iperf3), Ubuntu (iperf3), Debian (iperf3, iperf), Arch Linux (iperf3, iperf), Gentoo (net-misc/iperf), and OpenSUSE (iperf)
- The project has entries in multiple languages on Wikipedia including English, German, Spanish, French, and Japanese

## FAQs
### Q: What network protocols does iperf measure?
A: iperf measures TCP, UDP, and SCTP bandwidth performance, providing detailed statistics on network throughput and other performance metrics.

### Q: Is iperf compatible with Windows or macOS?
A: The provided information doesn't specify compatibility with Windows or macOS, but it does confirm compatibility with Linux operating systems.

### Q: How is iperf licensed?
A: iperf is distributed under BSD licenses, making it free software that allows users to freely run, study, change, and distribute it and modified versions.

## Why It Matters
iperf has become a standard tool for network performance testing and troubleshooting in both academic and industry settings. Its ability to measure network throughput accurately has helped countless network administrators diagnose bottlenecks, validate service level agreements, and optimize network configurations. The tool's availability across multiple Linux distributions and its inclusion in major package repositories has made it accessible to a wide range of users. By providing objective measurements of network performance, iperf has enabled both individuals and organizations to make data-driven decisions about their network infrastructure and services.

## Notable For
- Being a free software solution for network performance measurement under BSD licenses
- Comprehensive compatibility across multiple Linux distributions through official package repositories
- Support for multiple network protocols including TCP, UDP, and SCTP
- Longevity in the field, with development spanning from its initial release in 2014 to current versions
- Multilingual documentation and presence on Wikipedia in over 10 languages

## Body
### Overview
iperf is a specialized software tool designed for network performance measurement and tuning. It is categorized as free software, distributed under BSD licenses that permit users to freely run, study, modify, and redistribute the software and its modified versions.

### Development History
- Initial release: January 10, 2014
- Version 3.0.1 released January 10, 2014
- Version 3.0.2 released March 10, 2014
- Version 3.0.3 released March 26, 2014
- Version 3.0.4 released June 13, 2014
- Version 3.0.5 released June 16, 2014
- Version 3.0.6 released July 28, 2014
- Version 3.0.7 released August 28, 2014
- Version 3.0.8 released September 30, 2014
- Version 3.4 released February 12, 2018
- Version 3.5 released February 28, 2018

### Platform Support
iperf primarily runs on Linux operating systems. It is available through official package repositories for:
- Fedora (package: iperf3)
- Ubuntu (package: iperf3)
- Debian stable (packages: iperf3, iperf)
- Arch Linux (packages: iperf3, iperf)
- Gentoo (package: net-misc/iperf)
- OpenSUSE (package: iperf)
- FreeBSD (ports: benchmarks/iperf, benchmarks/iperf3)
- OpenBSD (ports: net/iperf, net/iperf3)
- NetBSD (packages: net/iperf, net/iperf3)

### Resources and Documentation
- Primary website: https://software.es.net/iperf/
- Alternative website: https://sf.net/projects/iperf2/
- Wikipedia article available in multiple languages: Czech, German, English, Spanish, Basque, French, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean
- AUR packages for Arch Linux users: iperf3-git, iperf-git
- Homebrew formula names: iperf, iperf3

### Licensing and Classification
- License: BSD licenses
- Instance of: free software
- Copyright status: copyrighted
- Freebase ID: /m/03gxqj2
- Free software directory entry: Iperf

## References

1. [iperf3:  A TCP, UDP, and SCTP network bandwidth measurement tool](https://github.com/esnet/iperf/releases/tag/3.4)
2. [esnet/iperf](https://github.com/esnet/iperf/releases/tag/3.5)
3. [Release 3.0.1. 2014](https://github.com/esnet/iperf/releases/tag/3.0.1)
4. [Release 3.0.2. 2014](https://github.com/esnet/iperf/releases/tag/3.0.2)
5. [Release 3.0.3. 2014](https://github.com/esnet/iperf/releases/tag/3.0.3)
6. [Release 3.0.4. 2014](https://github.com/esnet/iperf/releases/tag/3.0.4)
7. [Release 3.0.5. 2014](https://github.com/esnet/iperf/releases/tag/3.0.5)
8. [Release 3.0.6. 2014](https://github.com/esnet/iperf/releases/tag/3.0.6)
9. [Release 3.0.7. 2014](https://github.com/esnet/iperf/releases/tag/3.0.7)
10. [Release 3.0.8. 2014](https://github.com/esnet/iperf/releases/tag/3.0.8)
11. [Release 3.0.9. 2014](https://github.com/esnet/iperf/releases/tag/3.0.9)
12. [Release 3.0.10. 2014](https://github.com/esnet/iperf/releases/tag/3.0.10)
13. [Release 3.0.11. 2015](https://github.com/esnet/iperf/releases/tag/3.0.11)
14. [Release 3.0.12. 2016](https://github.com/esnet/iperf/releases/tag/3.0.12)
15. [Release 3.1. 2015](https://github.com/esnet/iperf/releases/tag/3.1)
16. [Release 3.1.1. 2015](https://github.com/esnet/iperf/releases/tag/3.1.1)
17. [Release 3.1.2. 2016](https://github.com/esnet/iperf/releases/tag/3.1.2)
18. [Release 3.1.3. 2016](https://github.com/esnet/iperf/releases/tag/3.1.3)
19. [Release 3.1.4. 2016](https://github.com/esnet/iperf/releases/tag/3.1.4)
20. [Release 3.1.5. 2017](https://github.com/esnet/iperf/releases/tag/3.1.5)
21. [Release 3.1.6. 2017](https://github.com/esnet/iperf/releases/tag/3.1.6)
22. [Release 3.1.7. 2017](https://github.com/esnet/iperf/releases/tag/3.1.7)
23. [Release 3.2. 2017](https://github.com/esnet/iperf/releases/tag/3.2)
24. [Release 3.3. 2017](https://github.com/esnet/iperf/releases/tag/3.3)
25. [Release 3.6. 2018](https://github.com/esnet/iperf/releases/tag/3.6)
26. [Source](https://github.com/esnet/iperf/releases/tag/3.7)
27. [Source](https://software.es.net/iperf/news.html)
28. [Source](https://software.es.net/iperf/news.html#iperf-3-18-released)
29. [Source](https://software.es.net/iperf/news.html#iperf-3-20-released)
30. [Source](https://software.es.net/iperf/news.html#iperf-3-0-1-released)
31. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013