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Stress testing gives a complete picture of your network’s performance and health at any time and helps you understand the level of traffic you can handle.

Many network administrators tend to ignore stress testing and instead focus more on bandwidth performance and latency. Unfortunately, that’s not the right approach because good bandwidth utilization alone doesn’t mean good network performance.

In fact, bandwidth utilization is one of the pieces of the network analysis puzzle and that alone is not sufficient. In general, no single metric gives you a complete picture of network performance, but a collective analysis of each of these parameters is essential because these networks are fully duplex, and asymmetrical too, in many cases.

A Network Stress Test will determine the ability, efficiency and performance of your network under unfavorable conditions, so you can decide on ways and means to strengthen it.

There are many tools that will simulate specific unfavorable conditions, so you’ll know how geared your network is to handle these situations.

Methodology for selecting the Best WAN/LAN Network Traffic Generators

Selecting the best WAN/LAN network traffic generators is essential for businesses to ensure that their networks remain secure and reliable. It is important to have a clear methodology for selecting the right traffic generator for your network.

Check if using the selected tool, you can replay real traffic
Check if the service has no possibility of being hacked
Check if it offers results analysis
Does it offer free trials or credit testing for a risk-free assessment

Traffic generators are a class of software that induce congestion (traffic) to your network to stress test its ability to handle traffic in real-time. There are different Network Traffic Generator tools and software available in the market, and some of the best ones are listed below!

Let’s take a detailed look into each of these tools and see where to download them!

1. Ostinato Packet Generator

Ostinato Packet Generator is a powerful network traffic generator and comes with a Python API for network test automation.

Key Features

The features of Ostinato are:

Ideal for load and functional testing.
It can be used through a well-developed GUI or through Python API
Supports most common standard protocols like Ethernet, VLAN, TCP, HTTP and more.
You can stack protocols in any order to test error cases.
Many controllers can share an agent, and one agent can have many controllers.
Runs on Windows, Linux and Mac OS
Makes it easy to add new protocol builders.
You can set a value for any field in any protocol.

Why do we recommend it?

Ostinato Packet Generator is lauded for its comprehensive Python API, versatility, and user-friendly GUI. Its adaptability in creating custom streams and visualizing data stream-by-stream, coupled with support for numerous standard protocols, positions it as a top-tier network testing tool.

Who is it recommended for?

This tool is best suited for network testers and administrators, both technical and non-technical, who prioritize flexible customization options and scriptable testing through Python. Furthermore, its support for multiple OS platforms makes it a good choice for professionals in varied IT environments.

Pros:

It provides comprehensive Python API for scripting
Ostinato is versatile and has an intuitive GUI
Offers quite flexible customizing options and is easy to use even by non-technical users
The feature to create own streams is available
Users can visualize the data on the per stream basis

Cons:

Unable to send multicast communication to certain network segments
Inexplicable packet losses occur

Pricing: Open source and licensed under GNU GPL v3, so free to use.

Download: You can download it below:

https://ostinato.org/downloads

2. Packet Sender

Packet Sender is a free utility to send and receive network packets and in the process, helps to understand the ability of your network to handle large volumes of traffic. In addition, it can be used for testing network APIs, malware analysis, testing network connectivity and firewalls, and security research.

Key Features

Some important features of Packet Sender are:

It can send and receive TCP, UDP or SSL.
Works with both ASCII and HEX data formats.
Works on Windows, Linux and Mac.
Command Line can be used for automation and scripting
You can save or share using the cloud version.

Why do we recommend it?

Packet Sender is a versatile open-source tool, offering both GUI and command line interfaces. Its robust capabilities in security research, malware analysis, and firewall testing, along with its feature to work with varied data formats and platforms, make it a standout in network packet tools.

Who is it recommended for?

Packet Sender is ideal for cybersecurity professionals, network administrators, and developers involved in malware analysis and security research. Additionally, its automation capabilities will appeal to those aiming to streamline testing procedures in diverse network environments.

Pros:

The open-source application uses a command line and GUI
Great for automation of testing
Helps with security research by transmitting SSL and analyzing traffic log
Uses the UDP, TCP, and SSL servers to evaluate malware
Allows users to test firewalls as well as connectivity

Cons:

Not a great option for applications that require minimal latency
Packets will be lost in transit if there is an excessive amount of traffic

Pricing: 100% FREE. No ads or bundles are associated with it.

Download: You can download it here.

3. Nping

Nping is another open-source tool for response analysis, response time management and network packet generation. It can also be used as a simple ping utility to identify active hosts.

Key Features

The features of Nping are:

Flexible and powerful command line interface.
Supports multiple target hosts and ports.
Non-root users are given unprivileged access modes.
Supports Ethernet frame generation and IPv6.
Works well on Windows, Linux and Mac
Comes with route tracing capabilities
Its echo mode is helpful for advanced troubleshooting and discovery.

Why do we recommend it?

Nping offers a unique blend of flexible protocol testing through customizable packets and advanced discovery. Its ability to configure protocol headers, detect packet disruptions, and grant non-root users access to certain modes makes it a premier choice for those wanting an in-depth network packet tool.

Who is it recommended for?

Nping is tailored for network professionals and administrators who require intricate protocol testing and troubleshooting capabilities. Additionally, with its user-friendly command line interface and support for multiple platforms, it is a versatile tool fit for both beginners and advanced users.

Pros:

For flexible protocol testing, users can make their own unique packets.
You can configure the protocol header
Offers advanced discovery and troubleshooting
Helps detect packet disruption
Allows non-root users access to non-privileged modes

Cons:

The syntax can be challenging.
Scans can be aggressive in some cases

Pricing: 100% Free

Download: Download Nping from here.

4. TRex

TRex is a traffic generator tool fueled by DPDK. It is an open-source software that works well in both stateful and stateless modes.

Key Features

The features of TRex are:

Scales up to 200 to 400 GB per second with one Cisco UCS.
Measures latency and jitter
Generates stateless traffic streams
Supports multiple streams
Python APIs are available for automation.
Can be accessed through console and GUI
You can change any field inside the packet
Has multi-user support.
Works well for stress testing DPI, NAT, Firewall, IPS, Load balancer and network cache devices.

Why do we recommend it?

TRex stands out with its impressive scalability, reaching up to 400 GB per second, and its capability to work well in both stateful and stateless modes. Its extensive support for various interface speeds, coupled with features like NAT/PAT translation learning and a multi-platform compatibility, makes it a top recommendation for traffic generation.

Who is it recommended for?

TRex is perfect for network engineers and IT professionals who require advanced traffic generation capabilities, especially for stress testing various network devices. With its Python API automation and multi-user support, it’s also ideal for larger teams or environments with collaborative projects.

Pros:

Offers DPDK ½.5/5/10/25/40/50/100Gbps interface support
Users can check for flow ordering
Supports numerous streams and GUI
Offers NAT/PAT translation learning
TRex is compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac operating systems

Cons:

Difficult to use many devices without running multiple instances
Does not support routing emulation plugins

Pricing: 100% Free

Download: Download TRex here.

5. NetScanTools Packet Generator

NetScanTools Packet Generator creates packets to send to a target IPv4 address. These packets can be created in many formats such as TCP, UDP, ICMP, CDP or RAW.

Key Features

The features of NetScanTools Packet Generator are:

It can playback previously captured packet files.
Helps to understand the exact packet types that are getting lost between machines.
Uses WinPcap to send packets, so the network interface should be compatible with it. Works best with a wired Ethernet connection or a 802.11 wireless interface.
Gives full header control for predefined packet types.
Data payloads can be added for certain packets
Packet size depends on the MTU of your network, which is typically 1460 bytes for Ethernet.’
With simple scripting, you can send different types of packets.

Why do we recommend it?

NetScanTools Packet Generator excels with its capability to playback previously captured packet files and its detailed header control for predefined packet types. The versatility of creating multiple packet formats, combined with functionality like bandwidth usage checks and speed tests, makes it valuable for various packet generation tasks.

Who is it recommended for?

This tool is ideal for IT professionals and network administrators looking to delve deep into packet analysis and testing on both local and remote networks. Its functionalities, especially the scripting for sending various packet types, make it suitable for advanced users aiming for comprehensive network diagnostics and optimizations.

Pros:

Users can easily scan both local and remote networks
You can run speed tests
Helps users check on the bandwidth usage of their network
Allows creating UDP, TCP, CDP, ICMP as well as RAW packers
Offers full control over headers

Cons:

Only supports UDP for sending different packet types
Does not support sending customized packets via WAN interfaces

Pricing: Cost is $249 for one user installed version.

Download: Download a fully functional version for a trial period of 30 days from here.

6. PB Software

PB Software’s Network Traffic Generator and Monitor is an IP traffic generator that works on many types of IP networks.

Key Features

The features of PB Software are:

Each installation provides the use of 20 TCP/IP servers and clients, 20 UDP generators and clients and one ICMP ping utility where many instances can be started,
All components can be run in the automatic mode.
Comes with an integrated control panel
Emulates client and server activity within minutes.
Intuitive and user friendly interface.
You can search a domain by specifying its IP address, set the number of pings, limit the lifetime of data stored in a computer or network.
Generates traffic with little effort.
Allows to inspect ICMP, IP, TCP, and UDP statistics.
Monitors every aspect of each server’s activity.

Why do we recommend it?

PB Software’s Network Traffic Generator and Monitor stands out with its robust offering of TCP/IP servers, clients, and UDP generators, coupled with its capability to emulate client and server activities swiftly. The intuitive interface, domain discovery via IP, and comprehensive monitoring and analysis features solidify its place as a top recommendation for IP traffic generation.

Who is it recommended for?

PB Software is apt for network engineers, IT professionals, and organizations that require an all-encompassing tool for monitoring and generating IP traffic. With its user-friendly interface and efficient automation capabilities, it’s also suitable for users who prioritize ease-of-use alongside detailed network insights.

Pros:

Allows running network components in automatic modes
Hardly takes any time to emulate client and server activity
Helps discover domains using IP address
Takes hardly any effort to generate traffic
Helps analyze IP and UDP stats

Cons:

Lack of customer support
Limited customization options

Pricing: There are many editions, and each is priced as follows.

Pricing on their Website starts at $19.99 and goes as follows:

Personal license: $79.99
Corporate license: $249.99
Enterprise installation: $1,200

Download: Official Site can be found here:

http://www.pbsoftware.org/

7. SolarWinds WAN Killer

WAN Killer is a module in the SolarWinds Engineer’s Toolset. It helps to do stress tests to check the ability of your network to handle large volumes of traffic.

Key Features

With WAN Killer, you can:

Set the IP address or hostname of the device to which you want to send random traffic.
Set any packet size and circuit bandwidth percent to load random data on your WAN.
Track UDP/TCP packets to check how your network performs under specific conditions.
Understand network thresholds and with it, enhance your network’s performance.
Modify the Differentiated Serves Code Point (DSCP) and Explicit Congest Notification (ECN) settings.

Why do we recommend it?

SolarWinds WAN Killer stands out for its ability to target specific network traffic, generate crucial insights, and proactively test the network for optimization. Its comprehensive features, such as monitoring device availability and adjusting IP traffic, make it a top recommendation in its category.

Who is it recommended for?

This tool is ideal for network engineers and administrators aiming to understand their network’s thresholds and optimize performance. It’s also suitable for professionals who want to stress-test networks under different conditions and ensure stability during high-traffic periods.

Pros:

Helps users identify and target specific network traffic.
Generates insights into network performance
By monitoring UDP/TCP packets, you may proactively test your network and load balancing.
Supports testing connections and editing IP traffic
Helps monitor device availability, memory usage, CPU load, and more

Cons:

It is not compatible with certain routers and lacks support for IPv6 protocols

Pricing: 14-day Free Trial Download below!

Download: Down a Fully Functional free trial below!

https://www.solarwinds.com/engineers-toolset/registration

Conclusion

Thus these are the different testing tools that can be used to test the performance and efficiency of your WAN/LAN networks. Above everything, you’ll know how much stress your networks can take, and this can be particularly useful for planning your traffic.

So, download the tool that’s most compatible with your network, and start testing today!

Related Post: Best WiFi Heat Map Software & Tools

Источник

If you have ever commissioned a new network, then you will know how important it is to benchmark the environment before it is signed off and brought online.

Likewise, it is a good idea to Stress Test and Generate Network Traffic on existing networks to try and find any areas that need attention, such as packet loss and connection drops.

Network Traffic is essential for businesses if they are going to run well enough to keep your data flowing and your applications communicating correctly.

This is where a Network Traffic Generator Tool or Software comes into play – You can generate or simulate Network Traffic uses multiple different types of Protocols to mimic real-life network traffic to understand if your network becomes to congested or it can handle the “heat”.

Here is our list of the seven best network traffic generator software:

WAN Killer Network Traffic Generator This tool offers a range of options in packet formation, including packet length, destination address, and port number. The tool is part of a package of more than 60 network management and monitoring utilities. Runs on Windows Server.
Ostinato This traffic generator offers a very wide selection of packet conditions, including the type of IP addressing and packet length. Available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Raspberry Pi.
Packet Sender Use this tool to generate encrypted traffic – unencrypted is also an option – and it can be used with its GUI interface or at the command line. Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Nping This flexible free command line tool is more than Ping with its ability to examine packet changes during transmission, observe path changes, and generate a range of packet types. Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
TRex Generate streams of traffic and not just individual, unrelated packets with this system that presents live graphs of traffic patterns and network performance sd the stream in transmitted. Runs on Linux.
Packet Generator Tool This easy-to-use traffic creator offers a graphical interface to specify a great many factors in the packets that are created and sent. Runs on Windows.
NTGM This tool generates and sends traffic and lets you adjust the pattern of transmission and get feedback on network events as they happen. Runs on Windows.

Some businesses have multiple branches that need constant communications across the WAN, including internet and telephone communications. If these links become over-saturated, then it is possible for these important systems to grind to a halt so that you can no longer operate from these remote locations.

Running network saturation tests with Network Traffic Generators is a great way to make sure that you can uncover any weaknesses on the system ahead of time.

Below you’ll find a list of our Favorite Network Traffic generators, along with some screenshots and download links!

The Best Network Traffic Generators for Wan/Lan

What should you look for in a network traffic generator tool? 

We reviewed the market for network traffic-generating software and analyzed options based on the following criteria:

Packet capture and replay facility
The ability to direct traffic at a specific target
Traffic volume variation
Option to specify protocol and ports for traffic
Traffic analysis feature with graphs
A free trial for an opportunity to examine the package before buying or a free tool
Value for money from a traffic generator that is offered at a fair price or a free tool that is worth installing

With these selection criteria in mind, we looked for network traffic generators that provide effective network testing opportunities and we made sure to include both free and paid versions.

1. WAN Killer Network Traffic Generator

SolarWinds has created an application that will help you to identify and target very specific network traffic by allowing you to generate and create your own. This allows you to set a specific IP address or hostname that can be deliberately soaked with random traffic.

This means that the performance of your network can be properly tested and vetted, allowing you to even set the size and percent of circuit bandwidth and then generate data for your WAN testing.

It is a good idea to periodically test your network capacity and capabilities at set intervals, which helps you to stay proactive and not reactive. You can track UDP and TCP packets while you are flooding the network with random traffic so that you can check the operating conditions of normal network activity while load testing specific systems and applications. It is also a great way to load balance test your environment so that you can prevent any unforeseen drops in connectivity.

The great thing about this application is that you do not need to generate legitimate traffic to run your tests, as it will do all of this for you. When you setup SolarWinds WAN Killer you can check and test network connections in real-time while testing load balancing and testing.

This means that you can get the results that you need without creating problems on your network and applications with legitimate business-related data and traffic.

Unique Feature

Targets specific network traffic and proactively tests the network to provide the insights you need to improve the overall network performance and efficiency.

Why do we recommend it?

We love this tool as it generates random traffic and sends it over a specific target to help understand load-balancing issues. Using this information, it’s easy to fix network issues.

WAN Killer is able to equip you with the best methods of testing your network through specified IP addresses and hostnames. Particular ports and protocols are tested through heavy traffic, meaning that you can keep an eye on the specific data flows for your important applications and programs.

You can adjust all of these settings to get your system into the sweet spot. You can even drill down into Differentiated Serves Code Point, also known as DSCP, as well as Explicit Congest Notification settings. (ECN)

Who is it recommended for?

Ideal for network engineers who want to test the traffic and understand the patterns.

Pros:

Parts of a suite of over 60 network troubleshooting tools
Supports load balancing tests, great for networking planning
Highly customizable, specify port, IP, packet size, and target machine
Allows for traffic randomization, providing more realistic stress tests

Cons:

WAN Killer is a technical tool designed for networking professionals, not suited for non-technical users

Download: Official Site: https://www.solarwinds.com/engineers-toolset/use-cases/traffic-generator-wan-killer

For those that want to try out this awesome program a download link can be found right here. It will run for 14 days before you need to purchase a license.

Free Trial: 14-Day Free Trial!

2. Ostinato

Картинка с сайта: www.ittsystems.com

Ostinato is another packet generator that allows you to create your own streams of traffic, and it has an easy to use graphical user interface as well. It is all built on a powerful Python API which makes it an ideal application for automated network testing.

Why do we recommend it?

Another one of our favorite tools, mainly because of its user-friendly GUI, this tool also works well across multiple operating systems like Windows, BSD, Linux distributions, and Mac OS X.

You can construct your own network packets and send them at different rates, so instead of receiving packets for analysis like you would normally do which packet sniffers like Wireshark, you send out your own packets, which is the opposite of packet sniffing. This makes the application especially useful if you are testing specific data streams and connection types without having to actually run that software in your test environment.

People that would use Ostinato are IT professionals such as Network Engineers and software developers that need to analyze and monitor the effects of certain data types, as well as how certain packets and protocols react with the projects that they are creating and working on. This has not been possible in the past, where special programs needed to be coded from scratch for such test functionality to be accomplished.

Using Ostinato will help your skilled teams to perform at their best, which will ultimately lead to a better result when creating software. As a diagnostic tool, Ostanato is also invaluable for network engineers that need to generate specific data streams on demand, without the limitations of legacy solutions and products.

Ostinato is easy to use for both testing network load capacities, or as a traditional network testing tool. Users that have the Python API will be able to launch it directly as a Python app, while those that prefer the traditional Windows styled GUI can launch it via an executable. You are not limited to single streams, as multiple streams are supported, as well as stream rates, bursts, and packet numbers.

There is support for all common standard protocols such as Ethernet/802.3/LLC SNAP, VLAN, ARP, IPv4, IPv6, IP-IP, and much more. The only thing to keep in mind is that Ostinato is stateless, and it cannot be used to generate web traffic.

Who is it recommended for?

Works best for organizations that use multiple operating systems in their environment.

Pros:

A simple yet detailed interface that is easy to navigate
Packet statistics such as frames sent, captured, and transmitted are captured and displayed live during testing
Transparent open-source project

Cons:

Only older versions are free

Download:

Official Site: https://ostinato.org/

You can find the download packages here.

Pricing:

Desktop bundles start at $69, while the Super Bundle is $129 at time of writing.

3. Packet Sender

Packet Sender is a multipurpose application that allows you to send and receive multiple packet types such as UDP, TCP and SSL. It is configurable and will allow you to select the ports that you want to test, which means that customized testing is truly possible. Servers and clients are able to run this software simultaneously, giving you the ability to test in an uninterrupted and uniform way.

Why do we recommend it?

This open-source tool sends and receives TCP, SSL, and UDP packets to mimic the traffic patterns in your organization. You can analyze the behavior of these patterns to gain insights about what’s happening in your network.

There is a GUI and a command line, so you can use whichever interface you choose.The CLI comes with all versions of the software, so you always have access to it when you need it.

Packet Sender works on Windows, Linux and Mac OS, which makes it a truly multi-platform solution for your testing requirements.

Perhaps its most noteworthy attribute is the fact that it is open source and completely free, with no adds or bundled bloatware to interfere with your testing experience.

Because it is a client/server install you can send and receive test data between 2 separate test machines, giving you scope to narrow down or broaden your testing methods as your investigations proceed. It has built in ASCII and Hex readers to that you can read all the data that you need to, in specific formats when needed.

The command line aspect of this application is important because it allows you to automate and script within your test environment, which can really speed things up when you have multiple targets to deal with that would otherwise take too long to test.

Other than the automation and scripting options that are available, there is also a hotkey function for one button operation. Packet Sender is useful as a malware analyzer because of the raw inputs that it works with when sniffing packets and data. It is also a good way to poke around your firewall to find holes, due to the client/server functionality of the application.

Who is it recommended for?

Well-suited for a head office-branch setup that uses Windows, Mac, and Linux computers.

Pros:

Highly detailed provides ASCII and HEX outputs
Easily displays results in verbose log form
Open-source tool
Cross-platform with Windows, Linux, and Unix

Cons:

Not as beginner friendly as other tools

Download:

Official Site: https://packetsender.com

If you want to download it for yourself then you can find the links to the installation packages for all the most popular operating systems right here.

Pricing: As mentioned, the application is free and open source, but you can donate if you find the application useful.

4. Nping

Why do we recommend it?

Nping is another free and open-source tool that generates packets. It even analyzes the responses to measure network performance.

Protocol headers are also configurable with Nping, so you can fine tune your testing until you find the results that you are after. Nping is useful on several levels. As a basic ping utility it is very good, while more advanced features such as raw packet generation, ARP poisoning, DOS attacks, tracert and more lie just below the surface. Echo mode will give you a unique look at how your packets change during their journey to the destination, helping you understand what the conditions are for the data as it traverses the network.

Nping is a command line tool, so if you are not into Linux, Windows or Mac OS CLI commands then you might struggle with this application a little in the beginning. Luckily it is very easy for CLI users to get into.

There are many good reasons why you would want to use a CLI application like this. You can create custom TCP, UDP and ICMP packets, as well as ARP packets as well. You can include multiple target hosts, as well as target ports, so you can build custom scans that will help you to identify weaknesses and lapses in security on your network.

Who is it recommended for?

A good choice for small businesses that run on a combination of Linux, BSD, Windows, and Mac OS.

Pros:

Doubles as a security tool, allowing administrators to discover open ports, and applications communicating over ports that are suspicious
Massive open-source community is one of the most popular free security tools available
Syntax is straightforward and not difficult to learn for most users

Cons:

Nmap can have a steep learning curve for new users
More of a security/auditing tool
No GUI version

This is a very handy application to have in your toolbox, especially if you do a lot of network diagnostics. This is a free and open source application that will help you to get to the bottom of many network specific issues that you face on a daily basis as an IT professional, so downloading it and testing it is a good idea.

Download:

Official Site: https://nmap.org/nping/

You can find a download package here, as it is a part of the Nmap application.

Pricing:

Free and open source

5. TRex

TRex is yet another open source project but it is not free. It is a low cost stateful and stateless traffic generator that runs off of DPDK. It is able to generate L4-7 traffic, which is primarily based on the pre-processing and playback of real traffic templates. TRex is also able to amplify client and server-side traffic, which means that it can scale up in a big way, up to 200Gb/sec with only a single UCS. All aspects of your packet data can be changed and manipulated, so you are able to customize the variables around your network tests whenever you need to.

Why do we recommend it?

A commercial traffic generator that measures network performance with metrics like Packets Per Second (PPS) and No Drop Rate (NDR).

Stateful features are also available. TRex offers enterprise network interface support, with DPDL 1,2.55/5/10/25/40/50/100Gbps interfaces recognized and supported by the application. It provides a high scale of realistic traffic, up to 200 to 400Gb/sec with only one Cisco UCS.

Network Latency and jitter is also measurable, while flow ordering checks, NAT and PAT dynamic translation learning features are also available.

Stateless features allow you to create your own traffic streams, with customizable characteristics, while the large scale gives you support for up to 20 million packets per second. It allows multiple streams and the ability to change fields inside of each packet of data. It operates in Burst, Continuous or multi-burst modes, and has an interactive GUI as well as a CLI option for inputting your commands.

Who is it recommended for?

Works well on both stateful and stateless networks.

Pros:

Open source traffic generator, allowing users to build their own plugins and additions
Supports Layer 4 through 7 stress testing, giving users a more accurate test than some basic tools
Can build templates based on real traffic patterns for realistic replications of your environment

Cons:

The interface could use improvement, graphics are outdated and menus are clunky to navigate

Download:

Official Site: https://trex-tgn.cisco.com

Download it from here.

Pricing:

Contact information can be found here for pricing enquiries.

6. Packet Generator Tool

Packet Generator Tool is an application that will let you create your own TCP, UDP, ICMP, CDP, ARP/RARP and RAW packets. It only operate on IPv4, but that is usually enough for most people as the IPv6 implementation has not gotten to the point of universal adoption as yet.

Why do we recommend it?

Creates TCP, UDP, ICMP, and RAW packets to observe a target’s response. Ideally, you can use Packet Capture or WireShark to analyze the packets.

The program lets you do much of what you would expect from a packet generator. You have the ability to change headers, ethernet source and destination, as well as MAC address information, IP, TCP, UDP or ICMP headers as well.

Who is it recommended for?

A good choice for network engineers who want to gain insights about their network traffic.

Pros:

Supports random packet generation
Provides full technical control over data, including header, destination, size, and protocol
Supports scripting, great for automating the same tests
Offers packet capture, with pcap support

Cons:

The interface is very cluttered, making finding it difficult to use early on
Has a steep learning curve than similar tools
Does not support packet flooding

Download:

Download a 30 day demo from here.

Pricing:

Starts at $250 – visit https://www.netscantools.com/pricing.html for more information.

7. NTGM

Network Traffic and Monitor is an easy to use application that allows users to quickly and easily monitor IP, ICMP and TCP traffic, as well as UDP packets. This gives you the ability to analyze the incoming traffic on your network, and allows you to run tests over the network such as stress testing and load testing.

Why do we recommend it?

You can use NTGM to create and track ICMP and IP traffic. It also simulates client-server activity alongside monitoring your network.

The main benefit of using this application is that you can emulate client and server activity, meaning you can see what is happening under certain conditions with no issues.

This program lets users generate and measure different types of TCP traffic as well as UDP. Each installation of NTGM provides up to 20 UDP generators, 20 UDP clients, as well as an ICMP ping utility.

The application itself is very easy to use and has all of the standard features that you might expect from such a utility – It has been designed with user-friendliness in mind, so using it is really simple. It is compatible with Windows and works very well as a network monitor and traffic generator.

Who is it recommended for?

Ideal for network engineers who want to stress test networking devices, firewalls, and servers on their network.

Pros:

Highly detailed traffic creation and tracking tools, great for very specific tests
Supports basic graphing
Supports multiple protocols, allowing users to test specific devices such as firewalls or switches

Cons:

The interface needs improvement, interpreting large amounts of traffic statistics feels cluttered

Download:

Official Site: http://www.pbsoftware.org/id32.html

Download it from here.

Pricing:

Starts at $79.99 for the personal license

Conclusion

As we have seen there are plenty of options out there for the discerning network engineer or system administrator to choose from. This means that finding the right tool for you could be tricky, especially if the application that you want only has some of the implemented features that you are after.

Setting up a test lab is a great way to start testing this software, so be sure to look at some of these examples, download and install the trial versions, and see for yourself which one works best for your requirements. Learning how to generate your own traffic and then learn how to use the information that you gather is a vital function if you follow a path in cyber security.

These applications can help you to get there, so be sure to download and try them out until you find your favorite.

What are some use cases for network traffic generators?

Network traffic generators can be used for a variety of purposes, including network testing, troubleshooting, capacity planning, and security analysis.

How does a network traffic generator work?

A network traffic generator typically works by creating packets or frames that simulate different types of network traffic, such as TCP/IP or UDP traffic. These packets are sent across the network to measure the performance of different network components.

What types of network traffic can be generated with a network traffic generator?

A network traffic generator can simulate a variety of network traffic, including web traffic, email traffic, VoIP traffic, and video traffic, among others.

What are some popular network traffic generator tools?

Some popular network traffic generator tools include Ixia, Spirent TestCenter, SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor, and Colasoft Capsa.

What are some best practices for using a network traffic generator?

Some best practices for using a network traffic generator include understanding the network topology and protocols being used, setting realistic traffic patterns and loads, and verifying the results with other network monitoring tools. It is also important to ensure that the generated traffic does not interfere with live network traffic.

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Network Traffic Generator and Monitor

Network traffic generation and monitoring is essential for both debugging and performance testing of networks, servers and applications. The Network Traffic Generator and Monitor (NTGM) is a comprehensive tool that enables you to generate and monitor network traffic in order to better understand and debug network performance issues.

NTGM is a powerful and intuitive software solution that allows you to easily and quickly configure custom network traffic patterns and measure their impact on the network performance. The software is designed to generate and monitor network traffic in real-time, allowing you to get a detailed view of the network performance.

Network Traffic Generator and Monitor can generate and monitor network traffic to identify performance issues and validate network configurations.

Features:

• Generate custom network traffic patterns

• Monitor network performance in real-time

• Create and modify traffic profiles

• Measure latency, throughput, and other performance metrics

• Automatically generate reports on network performance

• Generate alerts and notifications when performance thresholds are exceeded

• Support for both Wi-Fi and wired networks

• Supports a range of protocols including TCP, UDP, ICMP, IGMP, and HTTP

• Generate and analyze traffic from multiple sources

• Visualize network performance using interactive charts and graphs

• Generate detailed reports for further analysis

• Automatically detect and diagnose network anomalies

• Support for both IPv4 and IPv6 networks

• Easily integrate with other network tools and applications

• Easy to use graphical user interface

• Comprehensive documentation

NTGM is an invaluable tool for network administrators and engineers who need to generate and monitor network traffic in order to diagnose and debug network performance issues. The software is designed to be easy to use and understand, making it suitable for both experienced and novice users. With its comprehensive set of features, NTGM enables you to quickly generate and monitor network traffic, measure performance metrics, and generate detailed reports for further analysis.

1. Platform: The software should be capable of running on Windows, Mac, and Linux computers.

2. User Interface: The software should have an intuitive graphical user interface that makes it easy to configure and monitor traffic.

3. Network Protocols: The software should support a wide variety of network protocols, including TCP/IP, UDP, IPX/SPX, and others.

4. Traffic Generation: The software should be able to generate various types of traffic, including HTTP, FTP, DNS, VoIP, and others.

5. Traffic Monitoring: The software should be able to monitor the generated traffic in real-time, including the source and destination IPs, ports, protocols, and other relevant parameters.

6. Security: The software should support secure transmission of traffic, including encryption and authentication.

7. Logging: The software should be able to log the generated traffic and other relevant information, such as packet size, time of transmission, and others.

Allows detailed analysis of network performance and troubleshooting.

Simulates various traffic types for testing.

Offers real-time monitoring and reporting of network activities.

May require advanced knowledge for setup and effective use.

Potential for high system resource consumption affecting performance.

Limited customer support or troubleshooting assistance.

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