HOWTO: test data transfer speed

The data transfer speed between OSC and another network can be tested.

Test data transfer speed with iperf3 tool

Connect to a data mover host at osc and note the hostname.

$ ssh sftp.osc.edu
# login
$ hostname
datamover02.hpc.osc.edu
# the hostname may also be datamover01.hpc.osc.edu

From there, an iperf3 server process can be started. Note the port used.

iperf3 -s -p 5201
Server listening on 5201
# the above port number could be different

Test Upload Performance

Next, on your local machine, try to connect to the iperf3 server process

iperf3 -c datamover02.hpc.osc.edu -p 5201

If it connects sucessfully, then it will start testing and then finish with a summary

Connecting to host datamover02.hpc.osc.edu, port 5201
...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate
[  7]   0.00-10.00  sec  13.8 MBytes  11.6 Mbits/sec                  sender
[  7]   0.00-10.00  sec  13.8 MBytes  11.6 Mbits/sec                  receiver

Test Download Performance

For the data downloaded speed, you can also test the newwork performace in the reverse direction, with the server on datamover02 sending data, and the client on your computer receiving data:

iperf3 -c datamover02.hpc.osc.edu -p 5201 -R

Run iperf3 using docker (alternative)

Docker can be used if iperf3 is not installed on client machine, but docker is.

$ docker run --rm -it networkstatic/iperf3 -c datamover02.hpc.osc.edu -p 5201
Make sure iperf3 server process is running on OSC datamover host or client iperf3 will fail with error.