Cisco pyATS vs Tessabyte

Cisco pyATS is a Python framework for network testing, automation, and validation, available free under the Apache 2.0 license. It supports sanity, feature, solution, system, and scale test and verification workflows, with reusable data-driven tests ranging from simple checks to complex asynchronous suites. Genie libraries provide device connectivity, parsers, APIs, platform-agnostic feature models, reusable test cases, and a YAML-driven test runner. Built-in device libraries cover Cisco IOS, IOS XE, IOS XR, NX-OS, and ASA; plugins and extensions can add other platforms. Connections can use CLI, NETCONF, or RESTCONF. XPRESSO manages test suites, environments, testbeds, resources, live test views, and archived results with comparisons and analytics. It supports on-demand, bundled, and scheduled runs through Jenkins and Docker backends. Cisco also documents Ansible community integrations and out-of-the-box RobotFramework support. pyATS runs on Linux and macOS and supports self-hosted deployment. Cisco says more than 75% of its codebase is open source on GitHub. Email support is best-effort and usually receives a reply within a day.

Tessabyte measures performance on wired and wireless networks, including speed, packet loss, and jitter. Listed uses include Wi-Fi speed tests, network capacity tests, link quality analysis, stress tests, QoS assessment, and SLA verification. It tests across LAN and Wi-Fi using IPv4, IPv6, TCP, and UDP. Results can chart uplink and downlink speeds, packet loss, and jitter; users can customize payloads and generate reports. The software has client and server components, and multiple clients can connect to one server. The server component is free and can be installed on unlimited Windows, macOS, or Linux machines. Its evaluation version is fully functional for 30 days from first execution. Client licenses are one-time purchases: the 1-user license is $39 as a one-time purchase, and licenses are also listed for three, five, ten, and 25 users. Each Windows or macOS client user license allows installation on up to three personal machines, and one license is required per user. Purchases include technical support and software updates for one year; the license remains usable afterward, with upgrades available separately. Tessabyte is self-hosted, and its maker describes it as intended for professionals who have outgrown iPerf.