Abstract:
Browser-based throughput tests are commonly used
to evaluate end-to-end performance metrics in IP networks.
They provide an easy-to-use throughput test tool. Unlike native
software solutions such as iperf3, browser-based tests are
restricted by the capabilities of the web browsers they use,
which can potentially affect the accuracy and reliability of test
results. This work investigates the limitations of browser-based
throughput tests in a controlled lab environment equipped with
a 100 Gb/s link. It is demonstrated that browser-based tests do
not reach full link utilization, with the choice of browser having
a significant impact on the measured throughput rate. The cause
of the bandwidth limitation is determined by measuring the
individual components of the test setup separately. The bottleneck
is introduced by running the tests in a browser and limits
the measurable throughput rate to below 10 Gb/s. The study
reveals that browser-based tests are currently not suitable for
the evaluation of connection speeds in networks with throughput
rates of 10 Gb/s and beyond.
