iperf3 vs Mininet
iperf3
software.es.netMininet
mininet.orgSide by side
| Figure | iperf3 | Mininet |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Network Testing Software | 8.1 (#10) | 8.6 (#4) |
| Integrations | iperf3 was developed initially as the bandwidth tester for the perfSONAR measurement suite, which the project identifies as its primary user base. | The recommended Mininet VM includes OpenFlow binaries and tools, and Mininet supports Open vSwitch and multiple OpenFlow controllers. |
| License | iperf3 is released under a three-clause BSD license. | Mininet is released under a permissive BSD open source license. |
| Support | The project provides a developer mailing list and GitHub issue tracker for questions and bug reports. | The project directs users to its FAQ, documentation, and mininet-discuss mailing list for support and discussion. |
Plans
In their own words
iperf3
iperf3 is a free command-line network measurement tool that reports achievable IP-network bandwidth, throughput, loss, and related results. It includes client and server functions for TCP, UDP, and SCTP tests, with adjustable timing, protocol, and buffer settings. Client or server output can be emitted as JSON, including line-delimited JSON for real-time parsing, and a library version can be embedded in other programs. The project uses a three-clause BSD license and lists Ubuntu Linux, FreeBSD, and macOS as its officially supported platforms. Windows is not officially supported; its FAQ points users with Windows problems toward iperf2. ESnet supplies source distributions rather than binary packages and recommends checking SHA256 checksums. iperf3 began as a perfSONAR bandwidth tester, its primary user base. It is not backwards compatible with the original iperf. Version 3.22 was released September 29, 2026.
Mininet
Mininet is a free network emulator that creates virtual hosts, switches, controllers and links on one machine. Its hosts run standard Linux network software on the real Linux kernel and network stack, while switches support OpenFlow. The project describes uses including research, development, learning, prototyping, testing and debugging, including experiments with SDN systems using OpenFlow and P4. A topology-aware and OpenFlow-aware command-line interface supports debugging and network-wide tests. Users can select parameterized topologies or create custom ones, and an extensible Python API supports network creation and experimentation. Mininet networks can connect to real networks, and code developed in Mininet can move to real systems with minimal changes. Installation options include a pre-packaged virtual machine, native installation from source and packages for recent Ubuntu or Debian 11 and later; Fedora support is experimental. Mininet depends on the Linux kernel, while its VM can run through VMware or VirtualBox on Mac, Windows and Linux. Its networks are constrained by a single server's CPU and bandwidth, and it cannot currently run non-Linux-compatible OpenFlow switches or applications. Mininet is released under a permissive BSD open source license.