A benchmark is the act of running computer programs in order to assess the performance of computer hardware and software applications. Hardware benchmarking assesses many different attributes such as the performance of the processor, memory, graphics card, hard disk, and the network. There are two different types of benchmarks: synthetic and application. Synthetic benchmark stress a component, such as continuously writing and reading data. Application benchmarks measure the performance of real-world applications, such as databases and servers.
The use of benchmark software enables system testers and users to obtain an objective and independent way of assessing the performance of hardware. By making changes to the system, users can determine whether there has been an improvement in the performance of that hardware. The results from benchmark software can help make important decisions about any necessary changes to the hardware to identify any bottlenecks in the system. However, it should be borne in mind that benchmarks are not always precise and can be open to manipulation by hardware developers who can design hardware to do particularly well in specific tests which are not replicated generally.
There are a wide range of Linux benchmarking tools that are released under an open source license. To provide an insight into the quality of software that is available, we have compiled our recommendations. We also include tools that stress a system. All the software featured is free and open source.
Click the links in the table below to learn all about each tool.
| Benchmark Tools | |
|---|---|
| hyperfine | Rust-based command-line benchmarking tool |
| Phoronix Test Suite | Comprehensive testing and benchmarking platform |
| s-tui | Terminal-based stress test and monitoring tool |
| fio | Scriptable I/O tool for storage benchmarks and drive testing |
| KDiskMark | HDD and SSD benchmarking with friendly graphical user interface |
| IOzone | Filesystem benchmark tool |
| stress-ng | Stress next generation |
| Hardinfo2 | System information and benchmark tool |
| sysbench | Scriptable database and system performance benchmark |
| GtkStressTesting | Stress and monitor hardware components |
| HardInfo | System Profiler and Benchmark |
| netperf | A network performance benchmark |
| GNOME Disks | View, modify and configure disks and media |
| bonnie++ | Benchmark suite software |
| LLCbench | Low Level Architectural Characterization Benchmark Suite |
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 Explore our comprehensive directory of recommended free and open source software. Our carefully curated collection spans every major software category.This directory is part of our ongoing series of informative articles for Linux enthusiasts. It features hundreds of detailed reviews, along with open source alternatives to proprietary solutions from major corporations such as Google, Microsoft, Apple, Adobe, IBM, Cisco, Oracle, and Autodesk. You’ll also find interesting projects to try, hardware coverage, free programming books and tutorials, and much more. Know a useful open source Linux program that we haven’t covered yet? Let us know by completing this form. |