# Install iperf with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, Nix, pacman, zypper Tool to measure maximum TCP and UDP bandwidth. Version 2.2.1 via Homebrew; verified from local package data. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:iperf ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install iperf ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata ### Linux - apk (92%): ```sh sudo apk add iperf ``` Evidence: Alpine Linux edge package indexes: iperf from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install iperf ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: iperf from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install iperf ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: iperf from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#iperf ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: iperf from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/master/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S iperf ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: iperf from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install iperf ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: iperf from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:iperf - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 2.2.1 - **Source summary:** Tool to measure maximum TCP and UDP bandwidth - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** BSD-3-Clause - **Source archive:** - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T18:08:21+00:00 ## Executables - iperf (cli) - iperf (alias) ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, sonoma, ventura, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 2.2.1 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://sourceforge.net/projects/iperf2/ - info: No package-manager update timestamp was available. - info: Release/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories. ## Project history and usage Iperf 2 is the maintained version of the original iperf line, a command-line network test tool for measuring TCP and UDP throughput, latency, jitter, packet loss, and related socket-level behavior. ### Project history The iperf family began as an NLANR/DAST tool for measuring maximum TCP and UDP bandwidth. The SourceForge iperf2 project preserves that lineage while making clear that version 2 is maintained separately from the original developers and from ESnet's iperf3 rewrite. The iperf2 documentation emphasizes continued divergence from iperf3: both tools measure network performance, but they do not interoperate and have different feature sets. Iperf 2 retained the traditional `iperf` command name, the classic client/server model, and a broad set of traffic-shaping and reporting options. ### Adoption history Iperf 2 became a standard Unix package because it gives operators a small, scriptable way to create repeatable traffic between two hosts. Its availability in Homebrew and common Linux package managers reflects that role as a baseline troubleshooting tool rather than an application framework. After iperf3 appeared, iperf2 kept a distinct user base around features such as multicast, CSV-style output, TCP and UDP latency measurements, full-duplex traffic, port ranges, and large parallel tests. ### How it is used Typical use is split between a receiver started with `iperf -s` and a sender started with `iperf -c host`, with options selecting TCP or UDP, target bandwidth, test duration, reporting interval, parallelism, and enhanced measurements. Package users tend to reach for iperf2 when they need the traditional `iperf` executable, compatibility with existing scripts, or iperf2-only features documented in the comparison table. ### Why package nerds care For package maintainers, `iperf` is the old-name counterpart to `iperf3`: both are useful, both are active, and the executable names intentionally differ so they can coexist. That split is why Homebrew's `iperf` formula maps to Iperf 2 rather than ESnet iperf3. The package is a good example of a long-lived networking utility whose version line matters more than the generic project name. Choosing `iperf` versus `iperf3` changes protocol compatibility, output format, and feature coverage. ### Timeline - NLANR/DAST era: Original iperf created as a modern TCP and UDP bandwidth measurement tool. - SourceForge era: Iperf 2 continued as the maintained version of the original iperf line. - 2026: Iperf 2 documentation describes the 2.2.2 comparison point with iperf3 and lists both projects as active but independent. ### Related projects - iperf3 is ESnet's separate rewrite and does not interoperate with Iperf 2. - nuttcp and netperf occupy nearby network benchmarking territory and are referenced by iperf3 documentation as related tools. ### Sources - - - ## Security Notes narrow executable package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - narrow executable package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** iperf - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Debian apt - iperf - 2.2.1+dfsg-1: normalized package name match | Debian stable package indexes: iperf from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz | Internet Protocol bandwidth measuring tool | https://sourceforge.net/projects/iperf2/ - Nix - iperf: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: iperf from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/master/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix - Ubuntu apt - iperf - 2.1.9+dfsg-1: normalized package name match | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS package indexes: iperf from https://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/dists/noble/universe/binary-amd64/Packages.gz | Internet Protocol bandwidth measuring tool | https://sourceforge.net/projects/iperf2/ - apk - iperf - 2.2.1-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: iperf from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | A tool to measure IP bandwidth using UDP or TCP | https://sourceforge.net/projects/iperf2/ - apk - iperf-doc - 2.2.1-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: iperf-doc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | A tool to measure IP bandwidth using UDP or TCP (documentation) | https://sourceforge.net/projects/iperf2/ - apk - iperf-openrc - 2.2.1-r0: normalized package name match | Alpine Linux edge package indexes: iperf-openrc from https://dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org/alpine/edge/community/x86_64/APKINDEX.tar.gz | A tool to measure IP bandwidth using UDP or TCP (OpenRC init scripts) | https://sourceforge.net/projects/iperf2/ - dnf - iperf - 2.2.1-4.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: iperf from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Measurement tool for TCP/UDP bandwidth performance | http://sourceforge.net/projects/iperf2 - pacman - iperf - 2.2.1-2: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: iperf from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | A tool to measure maximum TCP bandwidth | https://sourceforge.net/projects/iperf2/ - zypper - iperf - 3.21-1.2: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: iperf from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | A tool to measure network performance | https://github.com/esnet/iperf - zypper - iperf-devel - 3.21-1.2: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: iperf-devel from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | A tool to measure network performance | https://github.com/esnet/iperf - zypper - libiperf0 - 3.21-1.2: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: libiperf0 from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | A library to measure network performance | https://github.com/esnet/iperf ## Related links - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Networking and protocol packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/networking-protocol-tools/) - Matched network, protocol, or remote-service metadata. - [Homebrew utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew-utility-packages/) - Matched Homebrew package provider. - [iperf3](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/iperf3/) - Package name indicates the same formula family. - [nuttcp](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/nuttcp/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, performance-testing, tcp, throughput. - [flowgrind](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/flowgrind/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, performance-testing, tcp. - [thrulay](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/thrulay/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, tcp, throughput, udp. - [ip_relay](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/ip-relay/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: bandwidth, cli, networking, tcp. - [netcat](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/netcat/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, tcp, udp. - [speedbump](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/speedbump/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, latency, networking, tcp. - [stone](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/stone/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, networking, tcp, udp. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/iperf.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/iperf.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph