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Engineer's Toolset
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Engineer's Toolset

Traffic Generator for Network Stress Tests - WAN Killer

Run custom network tests with a straightforward traffic generator

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Fully functional for 14 days
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Run Traffic Tests
View Impact
Be Proactive
Understand Bandwidth
Customize Tests

Run realistic usage tests with WAN Killer network traffic generator

wan killer launchpad1.png

Deploying the WAN Killer tool in SolarWinds® Engineer’s Toolset™ can help you interactively test connections and adjust generated IP traffic to achieve the desired network load based on your requirements.

WAN Killer is designed to help you:

  • Set the IP address and hostname that should receive the random traffic
  • Adjust port numbers, packet size, and percentage of bandwidth to send
  • Modify the Differentiated Services Code Point (DSCP) and Explicit Congestion Notification (ECN) settings
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Use a network stress test tool to gain insight into traffic-level impact

wan killer open.png

It’s often not enough to focus on latency or bandwidth utilization. Network stress testing can reveal how spikes in packet levels may impact network device performance.

The WAN Killer tool in Engineer’s Toolset serves as a network stress tester by generating and sending packets to provide a realistic idea of how devices would perform in the event of sudden or extreme jumps in traffic. The information you get from a network stress test can help you figure out how to strengthen your infrastructure before serious issues occur.

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Fully functional for 14 days
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Simulate network traffic before you roll out new applications

Network Traffic Generator & Stress Test - WAN Killer 2 Features Array Item - features item image

Being able to simulate network traffic means you can take a proactive approach to managing network performance, which is useful if, for instance, you plan to roll out a new application to your network.

You can easily configure the network traffic simulator in Engineer’s Toolset to reflect realistic conditions such as port number and protocols. You can also send simulated traffic to see if your application’s traffic will receive appropriate priority. If not, you can find and resolve the issues that may stand in the way of providing the best quality of service.

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Fully functional for 14 days
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Check quality of service with a bandwidth killer to understand if more resources are needed

Network engineer toolkit requirements

You can also think of WAN Killer as a bandwidth stress test tool. Do you have enough bandwidth to support your traffic, even if sudden spikes occur? The bandwidth generator feature within SolarWinds Engineer’s Toolset is designed to help you understand if your current bandwidth configurations and constraints are sufficient for your end users. If the bandwidth killer suggests they are not, you can troubleshoot blockages or invest in additional bandwidth resources as needed.
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Fully functional for 14 days
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Get the packet-level customization options you need for a network load test

Open Port Scanner - Scan and Test Open Ports 3 Features Array Item - features item image

With WAN Killer, you can customize your network load tests down to the packet level to accurately imitate potential conditions by using the dashboard in Engineer’s Toolset to configure the settings you need. You can choose packet size, ports, and circuit bandwidth, and generate data equivalent to any percentage of that circuit bandwidth. You can even configure target devices, so they respond to echo requests, allowing you to use TCP or UDP echo protocols to route symmetrical traffic.
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Fully functional for 14 days
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Get More on Traffic Generators

Do you find yourself asking…

  • What is a traffic generator in networking?
  • How does a network traffic simulator work?
  • Why is network stress testing important?
  • How to generate network traffic for testing with WAN Killer in Engineer's Toolset

A traffic generator creates traffic, or packets, that machines on a network consume. A network traffic generator is built to resemble an actual machine on the network from the perspective of the target machines. These hardware or software tools provide visibility into the impact of traffic on network resources.

Traffic generators imitate the packets and payloads actual devices on a network might produce. This makes them effective tools for network stress testing, which is a form of experimentation or investigation for understanding the function and limits of network infrastructure and controls.

A network traffic simulator serves as a traffic source, provides evaluation tools, and allows admins to run quick “simulations” of high traffic loads. With a network traffic simulator tool, you can perform isolated tests without worrying about uncontrollable variables affecting the results.

A traffic generator tool should be able to reach the specific devices being tested. The generator sends out traffic but may also need to respond to traffic in cases of Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) traffic or TCP connections. If there are specific connections or blockages between a network traffic simulator and end devices, admins may need to account for this during setup.

Network stress testing allows network admins to proactively analyze how traffic affects devices across their network. For instance, network stress testing can help you understand if current bandwidth is sufficient, if your system can handle a sudden influx of user requests, or how rolling out a new application would affect other parts of your network.

Network stress testing can bolster overall network functioning, and therefore can help ensure a positive user experience. End-user experience can be affected by a number of factors, including traffic spikes, slow responses, downtime, packet loss, dropped connections, and link overload. To optimize system performance, admins can run network stress tests for insight into resource allocation and bandwidth.

When using SolarWinds WAN Killer within Engineer’s Toolset, it’s easy to generate and customize network traffic. WAN Killer software is a random traffic generator that sends network traffic to the IP address and desired hostname.

Once you install Engineer’s Toolset, you can find WAN Killer under the Diagnostics folder. After launch, you can begin to adjust the packet size and the percentage of bandwidth you want to load with randomly generated data.

  • A traffic generator creates traffic, or packets, that machines on a network consume. A network traffic generator is built to resemble an actual machine on the network from the perspective of the target machines. These hardware or software tools provide visibility into the impact of traffic on network resources.

    Traffic generators imitate the packets and payloads actual devices on a network might produce. This makes them effective tools for network stress testing, which is a form of experimentation or investigation for understanding the function and limits of network infrastructure and controls.

  • A network traffic simulator serves as a traffic source, provides evaluation tools, and allows admins to run quick “simulations” of high traffic loads. With a network traffic simulator tool, you can perform isolated tests without worrying about uncontrollable variables affecting the results.

    A traffic generator tool should be able to reach the specific devices being tested. The generator sends out traffic but may also need to respond to traffic in cases of Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) traffic or TCP connections. If there are specific connections or blockages between a network traffic simulator and end devices, admins may need to account for this during setup.

  • Network stress testing allows network admins to proactively analyze how traffic affects devices across their network. For instance, network stress testing can help you understand if current bandwidth is sufficient, if your system can handle a sudden influx of user requests, or how rolling out a new application would affect other parts of your network.

    Network stress testing can bolster overall network functioning, and therefore can help ensure a positive user experience. End-user experience can be affected by a number of factors, including traffic spikes, slow responses, downtime, packet loss, dropped connections, and link overload. To optimize system performance, admins can run network stress tests for insight into resource allocation and bandwidth.

  • When using SolarWinds WAN Killer within Engineer’s Toolset, it’s easy to generate and customize network traffic. WAN Killer software is a random traffic generator that sends network traffic to the IP address and desired hostname.

    Once you install Engineer’s Toolset, you can find WAN Killer under the Diagnostics folder. After launch, you can begin to adjust the packet size and the percentage of bandwidth you want to load with randomly generated data.

"I rely on the Toolset for one place to go to for all my troubleshooting needs. It's all about having the right tool at the right moment..."
Rschroeder
THWACK

SolarWinds traffic generator makes it easier to run network stress tests

Engineer's Toolset

  • Leverage the traffic generator tool to see how bandwidth performs in real conditions.

  • Customize your network traffic simulator to meet requirements.

  • Plan ahead on resource allocation by using a WAN Killer tool.

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Fully functional for 14 days
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