Measuring Network Conditions to Increase File Transfer Speeds

Increasing file transfer speeds is essential for optimal productivity and data management in today’s digital environment. IT professionals utilize a variety of tools to assess network throughput and monitor traffic. Signiant recommends using iPerf to test the maximum bandwidth and speed achievable between a source and a destination by sending packets over a network.

What is iPerf?

iPerf is a command-line tool widely used by IT departments to check network conditions between two hosts, focusing on factors such as available bandwidth. This tool provides a wealth of information about network conditions and connectivity, helping companies anticipate how long a given transfer might take and diagnose issues when a transfer seems slow or variable. 

Since a company’s network utilization varies and end users are unlikely to know potential bandwidth at a specific moment, iPerf assesses the pathway between source and destination and provides insight into what transfers between users or servers might look like and options for tuning performance. 

Among the capabilities and benefits that iPerf provides are: 

• Evidence that a connection can or cannot be negotiated over a set port/protocol combination, which validates firewall rules.
• The ability to quickly test client/server connections at both ends by simply changing the command line flags. 
• Indicate the maximum speed that can be achieved during a transfer. This includes capabilities like fixed-rate UDP tests, which help validate packet loss at a given rate and provide evidence of high packet loss at certain rates.

Although iPerf is a third-party tool, Signiant customers regularly use it to help diagnose network conditions when deploying Signiant products. After testing with iPerf, if the measured throughput and file transfer speeds are below expectations, iPerf can help to reveal previously unknown bottlenecks that can be addressed to increase file transfer speeds.  

Increase File Transfer Speed with Signiant

Working with our customers, the Signiant customer service team leverages all this information to test performance and diagnose issues. Once iPerf is downloaded and installed, diagnostics can begin.  

We recommend stopping Signiant services before running a test so that personnel can test each of the port ranges configured on their organization’s firewall. Stopping Signiant software during this period ensures the ports are not being used and that one has as much capacity on the line as possible with no transfers happening in the background.  

From there, testing involves setting one end of the transfer route as the client and the other as the server with a given port/protocol combination. After this has been tested, IT should repeat the same test with the client/server options reversed. 

In addition to tuning the local configurations, utilizing the Signiant Platform’s intelligent transport technology will further optimize performance based on a variety of inputs. It will determine whether to use our proprietary UDP acceleration or parallel TCP streams and how many streams are optimal.  

Signiant software is used to move petabytes of content every day between more than 50,000 media companies around the world. Through this experience, we’ve seen nearly every possible type of network and configuration, and each environment is unique. Tools like iPerf have proven helpful in learning about our customer environments and helping customers get the best possible performance. 

Tips to Increase File Transfer Speeds 

Based on the results of the iPerf testing, there may be several areas for improvement and tuning in and around your endpoints. 

1. Assess whether the network infrastructure requires an upgrade. Check if routers, switches, and network interface cards (NICs) need upgrades to support advanced standards like 10 Gbps Ethernet or Wi-Fi 6. Make sure the cabling, such as Cat 6a or Cat 7 Ethernet cables, is high-quality and can handle increased speeds. 
2. Optimize the network configurations for more effective file transfers and traffic. Based on iPerf test results, consider using a UDP-based transfer solution to optimize flow and congestion control. This is especially true for long-distance connections where latency is significant. For local networks, boosting throughput can be achieved by increasing the Ethernet frame size from the typical 1500 bytes to up to 9000 bytes. Implement Quality of Service (QoS) policies to prioritize file transfer packets over less critical data, optimizing network configurations for more effective file transfers and traffic management. 
3. Inspect both the servers and client systems. Drive speed is not typically assessed by iPerf. Check server and client systems with tools like Blackmagic Speed Test, CrystalDiskMark or using dd on Linux. Upgraded as needed to solid-state drives (SSDs) with sufficient RAM and CPU resources for faster access times over traditional hard disk drives (HDDs).  
4. Manage and reduce network congestion effectively. To effectively manage and reduce network congestion, strategically schedule or configure additional bandwidth for large data transfers during off-peak hours. This timing reduces the load on network resources during high-traffic periods.  
5. Monitor and tune network traffic. Monitor network traffic regularly to identify and resolve issues quickly. Use automation tools for real-time adjustments and stay updated with the latest monitoring practices for sustained network efficiency. 
6. Utilize the Signiant Platform. While the initial tips can improve file transfer speeds, integrating an accelerated transfer service can enhance these enhancements by maximizing throughput. The Signiant Platform offers robust management tools, comprehensive visibility into file movements, and dedicated support, easing the workload on your internal teams and creating an optimized transfer environment. This strategic approach ensures faster, more reliable transfers across global networks with low latency. 

With iPerf and the Signiant Platform increasing file transfer speeds, IT professionals can tune network optimization configurations for faster file transfer. By using iPerf analysis, implementing these measures, continuously monitoring the network environment, and using the Signiant Platform, companies can enhance performance, manage bandwidth more efficiently, and ensure faster and more reliable file transfers.  

Note: This blog post was updated in 2024. It was first published in 2020 and written by Rick Clarkson.