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Ostinato

ostinato.org

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Spec score 8.1 #11 of 33 in Network Testing Software

What it is

Ostinato generates and customizes network traffic, or replays PCAP files, to help validate throughput, QoS, multicast, routing, switching, protocol behavior, and network performance. Users can edit supported protocol headers, set frame sizes, and create custom headers with hexdumps or scripts. PCAP replay can preserve or alter packet timing, loop traffic, or reorder packets. Native protocols include Ethernet, VLAN, QinQ, IPv4/IPv6, UDP, stateless TCP, ICMP, ARP/NDP, IGMP/MLD, and GRE; other methods can support headers such as MPLS and VXLAN. Reports show transmit and receive statistics, per-stream packet loss, and latency and jitter measured with software timestamps. A Python API supports stream and scenario creation, run control, counter collection, and CI/CD integration. Ostinato lists GNS3, EVE-NG, Cisco CML, and Containerlab as supported lab environments, and says it works on AWS and Azure cloud VMs. It runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, and self-hosted or API setups. Plans start at $12 a month billed annually; an active subscription is required.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Ostinato generates, customizes, or replays L2/L3 traffic to validate throughput, QoS, multicast, routing, switching, protocol behavior, and network performance.Read 30 Sep 2026 · ostinato.org
Integrations
The maker lists GNS3, EVE-NG, Cisco CML, and Containerlab as supported lab environments, and says Ostinato works on AWS and Azure cloud VMs.Read 30 Sep 2026 · ostinato.org
Support
Customers with Pro or Business licenses may submit support tickets; Pro email support is available for 30 days from purchase, and community forums are available to all listed license tiers.Read 30 Sep 2026 · ostinato.org
Founded
2010Read 28 Sep 2026 · ostinato.org
Automation
Ostinato provides a Python API for building streams and test scenarios, controlling runs, collecting counters, and integrating tests with CI/CD pipelines.Read 30 Sep 2026 · ostinato.org
Data handling
The privacy policy says Ostinato does not sell personal data, uses Paddle for payment processing without storing full card numbers on its servers, and applies reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal data.Read 30 Sep 2026 · ostinato.org
License requirements
An active subscription is required to use the software, and license checks use the internet; Business supports offline license checks for Linux Drone agents in air-gapped environments.Read 30 Sep 2026 · ostinato.org
Notable limits
Ostinato does not support stateful TCP connections, and the pricing comparison limits included PCAP import to 5,000 packets for Solo and 250,000 for Pro, with Business listed as unlimited.Read 30 Sep 2026 · ostinato.org
Packet crafting
Users can edit supported protocol header fields, control frame size, and create custom headers with hexdumps or scripts.Read 30 Sep 2026 · ostinato.org
PCAP replay
Ostinato can edit and replay PCAP files, preserve or modify packet timing, and loop or reorder packets.Read 30 Sep 2026 · ostinato.org
Performance
The site states that the Turbo add-on supports line-rate traffic up to 400G.Read 30 Sep 2026 · ostinato.org
Protocol emulation
DHCP client/server, IGMP/MLD host, OSPFv2, and BGP emulation are marked Technical Preview.Read 30 Sep 2026 · ostinato.org
Protocol support
Native protocols include Ethernet, VLAN, QinQ, IPv4/IPv6, UDP, stateless TCP, ICMP, ARP/NDP, IGMP/MLD, and GRE; scripts or other methods support additional headers such as MPLS and VXLAN.Read 30 Sep 2026 · ostinato.org
Security and privacy
The privacy policy says product telemetry is pseudonymous and excludes packet payloads, packet captures, license keys, hostnames, user-configured MAC/IP addresses, and other customer-specific network configuration data.Read 30 Sep 2026 · ostinato.org
Traffic analytics
It reports port and stream transmit/receive statistics, detects per-stream packet loss, and measures latency and jitter using software timestamps.Read 30 Sep 2026 · ostinato.org

Plans and prices

Solo $12 a month Annually Personal use only · 1 device, 4 ports · 1,000 flows per port · 1 Gbps per port · Standard protocols · Port statistics · Device emulation Read 30 Sep 2026 · ostinato.org
Pro $49 a month Annually Commercial use · 2 devices, 8 ports · 10,000 flows per port · 10 Gbps per port · User-defined protocols · Stream statistics · Turbo 10G add-on ready Read 30 Sep 2026 · ostinato.org
Business $208 a month Annually Commercial use · 4 devices, 16 ports · 1 million flows per port · No bandwidth limit · Protocol emulation · Automation API · RFC 2544 Perf-Bench Read 30 Sep 2026 · ostinato.org
Enterprise Priced on request Contact for PO, invoice, reseller procurement, or other enterprise purchasing support Read 30 Sep 2026 · ostinato.org

Every Ostinato plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Edits and replays PCAP traffic with timing controls.
  • Reports per-stream loss, latency, and jitter.
  • Python API supports CI/CD test integration.
  • Works with several listed network lab environments.

Limits

  • No free plan; subscription required for use.
  • Stateful TCP connections are not supported.
  • Solo and Pro PCAP imports have packet limits.
  • License checks use the internet except specified Business use.

Who it suits

Ostinato suits network teams that need to generate or replay traffic for validation and analysis. Its Python API and listed lab integrations may suit teams incorporating network tests into automated or virtual lab environments.

Verdict

Ostinato combines packet crafting, PCAP replay, traffic measurements, and automation in one network testing tool. Plan limits, subscription requirements, and the lack of stateful TCP support are important to weigh.

Where Specifiction places it

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