Globalping From $10/mo · Free plan 9.3 Visit HiPerConTracer
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What it is
HiPerConTracer is a free, GPL-licensed framework for Ping and Traceroute measurements on Linux and self-hosted systems. It supports ICMP and UDP, multi-homing, parallel measurements, network load balancing, and nanosecond-precision timing through Linux software and hardware timestamping. A shared and static libhipercontracer library lets other software integrate its measurement functions. Framework tools can view, merge, convert, sync, collect, import, query, and manage results; conversion includes CSV output. The Importer supports MariaDB, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB. The Sync Tool transfers result files to a remote Collector using Rsync and SSH, while a Reverse Tunnel Tool maintains an SSH reverse tunnel for nodes without publicly reachable addresses. Documentation recommends TLS for database connections and separate database users. The current stable release is version 2.2.12, announced October 6, 2026. Ready-made packages are listed for Linux and FreeBSD; other named systems require source builds.
Spec sheet
- Purpose
- HiPerConTracer is a Ping/Traceroute measurement framework for running regular measurements among sites.Read 11 Oct 2026 · nntb.no
- Platforms
- The measurement tool lists Linux and FreeBSD as its current multi-platform support; the page also gives build instructions for NetBSD, OpenBSD, Solaris/OpenIndiana, and GNU Hurd.Read 11 Oct 2026 · nntb.no
- Integrations
- The importer supports MariaDB/MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB backends.Read 11 Oct 2026 · nntb.no
- Security
- The documentation recommends separate database users with limited roles and strongly recommends configuring TLS for database access.Read 11 Oct 2026 · nntb.no
- Support
- The project directs users to its GitHub issue tracker for bug reports, issues, and questions.Read 11 Oct 2026 · nntb.no
- License
- HiPerConTracer is released under the GNU General Public License (GPL).Read 11 Oct 2026 · nntb.no
- Data transfer
- The Sync Tool copies data to a remote collector via rsync or SSH, and the Reverse Tunnel Tool maintains a reverse SSH tunnel.Read 11 Oct 2026 · nntb.no
- Database integrations
- The Importer supports MariaDB, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB backends for storing measurement results.Read 5 Oct 2026 · nntb.no
- Developer integration
- A shared and static library, libhipercontracer, is provided to integrate measurement functionality into other software.Read 5 Oct 2026 · nntb.no
- Framework tools
- The framework includes tools to view, merge, convert, sync, collect, import, query, and manage measurement results.Read 11 Oct 2026 · nntb.no
- Integrity
- The current stable source tarball is signed with the developer’s GnuPG key and the page documents how to verify it.Read 11 Oct 2026 · nntb.no
- Intended use
- The tool measures connectivity among sites and provides tools to collect and analyze network measurement data.Read 11 Oct 2026 · nntb.no
- Latest release
- The page lists version 2.2.12, announced October 6, 2026, with results output improvements and build and packaging enhancements.Read 11 Oct 2026 · nntb.no
- License and price
- The software is released under the GNU General Public License and the site provides installable packages and source downloads without listing a price.Read 5 Oct 2026 · nntb.no
- Measurement features
- It supports multi-homing, parallelism, network load balancing, and high-precision nanosecond timing on Linux.Read 11 Oct 2026 · nntb.no
- Measurement protocols
- The measurement tool supports ICMP and UDP, multi-homing, parallel measurements, and handling network load balancing.Read 5 Oct 2026 · nntb.no
- Node collection
- The Sync Tool copies result files from measurement nodes to a remote Collector using Rsync and SSH.Read 5 Oct 2026 · nntb.no
- Packaging limits
- The page says NetBSD, OpenBSD, Solaris, and GNU Hurd do not have the listed ready-made packages and directs users to build from source.Read 11 Oct 2026 · nntb.no
- Packet signing
- The current stable source tarball is signed with a GnuPG key, and the site provides verification commands.Read 5 Oct 2026 · nntb.no
- Protocols
- The measurement tool supports ICMP and UDP transport protocols.Read 11 Oct 2026 · nntb.no
- Remote access
- The Reverse Tunnel Tool maintains an SSH reverse tunnel so a Collector can connect to a node without the node having a publicly reachable IP address.Read 5 Oct 2026 · nntb.no
- Result processing
- The Results Tool can merge and convert result files, including to CSV.Read 5 Oct 2026 · nntb.no
- Security guidance
- The documentation recommends TLS for database connections and separate database users for importer, read-only researcher, and maintainer access.Read 5 Oct 2026 · nntb.no
- Timing
- It supports nanosecond-precision timing using Linux software and hardware timestamping.Read 5 Oct 2026 · nntb.no
Plans and prices
Free and open-source software Free GPL-licensed · no commercial plans listed Read 11 Oct 2026 · nntb.no
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Supports ICMP and UDP measurements
- Nanosecond timing with software or hardware timestamps
- Imports results into four database systems
- Remote transfer uses Rsync and SSH
- GPL-licensed and free
Limits
- Some platforms require building from source
- No commercial plans are listed
- Database security setup requires separate roles and TLS guidance
Who it suits
It suits operators running large-scale, long-running, high-frequency network measurements on Linux or FreeBSD. Developers can also embed its measurement library or connect results to supported databases.
Verdict
HiPerConTracer provides a broad measurement framework with distributed collection and database tooling. It is free and open source, but packaged-platform coverage is narrower than its source-supported options.
Where Specifiction places it
- Network Diagnostic Software#7 of 378.5
