Throughput is the measure of how much data can be transferred over a network in a given time period1.
To test the throughput of a network connection, a network administrator needs a tool that can generate and measure traffic between two endpoints2.
iPerf is a command-line tool that can create TCP or UDP streams and measure the bandwidth, delay, jitter, and packet loss of the network23.
iPerf can be used to test the performance of various network protocols, such as metro Ethernet, which is a type of Ethernet network that spans metropolitan areas and provides high-speed connectivity to businesses and organizations.
iPerf can also be used to verify that the network connection meets the service level agreement (SLA), which is a contract that defines the quality and availability of the network service provided by a vendor or a carrier.
Ping is a tool that can test the reachability and latency of a network device by sending and receiving ICMP echo packets. Ping cannot measure the throughput of a network connection, as it only tests the round-trip time of a single packet.
NetFlow is a protocol that can collect and analyze network traffic data, such as source and destination IP addresses, ports, protocols, and bytes transferred. NetFlow can provide information about the volume and type of network traffic, but it cannot measure the throughput of a specific network connection, as it does not generate or monitor traffic streams.
Netstat is a tool that can display information about the active and listening network connections, such as protocol, local and foreign address, and state. Netstat cannot measure the throughput of a network connection, as it only shows the status of the existing connections. Reference:
1: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Cert Guide, 1st Edition, Chapter 1: Introduction to Networks, p. 14
2: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Cert Guide, 1st Edition, Chapter 16: Network Optimization, p. 649
3: iPerf - The ultimate speed test tool for TCP, UDP and SCTP
4: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Cert Guide, 1st Edition, Chapter 3: Ethernet Networks, p. 105
5: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Cert Guide, 1st Edition, Chapter 15: Network Monitoring, p. 611
6: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Cert Guide, 1st Edition, Chapter 4: IP Addressing, p. 143
7: Ping (networking utility) - Wikipedia
8: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Cert Guide, 1st Edition, Chapter 15: Network Monitoring, p. 615
9: NetFlow - Wikipedia
10: CompTIA Network+ N10-008 Cert Guide, 1st Edition, Chapter 16: Network Optimization, p. 650
11: [netstat - Wikipedia]