Performance Evaluation of Browser-Based Throughput Measurement for 100 Gb/s Infrastructure

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.