Mikrotik Bandwidth Test Tool is one of the features in Mikrotik that we can use to measure the bandwidth capacity of Mikrotik devices. The point is that this Mikrotik Bandwidth Test serves to test bandwidth on Mikrotik.
Mikrotik bandwidth test can be used to measure throughput to other MikroTik routers (either wired or wireless), so that it can be seen how much bandwidth capacity between Mikrotik devices.
How The Mikrotik Bandwidth Test Tool Works?
Mikrotik Bandwidth Test will generate traffic which will then be sent to other devices via a connection line. This process is known as Bandwidth test. A Bandwidth test process consists of a Bandwidth test server and a Bandwidth test client. All versions of Mikrotik RouterOS can be used as a Bandwidth Test server or Bandwidth test client.
Besides being able to be used between Mikrotik routers, this Mikrotik bandwidth test can also be used by PC/laptops to measure bandwidth to Mikrotik. This is useful when we want to know how much bandwidth capacity of the link used from the client to the Mikrotik router.
For example, it is used on RT/RW net networks to measure bandwidth from customers to Mikrotik routers using wifi, so we know whether the bandwidth allocation that we have set on Mikrotik is correct or not. If the results of the bandwidth test do not match the settings, it means that there is a need to check again at the settings or there is a problem with the wireless network.
That’s a little initial overview of the Mikrotik Bandwidth Test. Next we will discuss How to Use the Mikrotik Bandwidth Test. Mikrotik bandwidth test consists of two parts, namely Bandwidth Test Server and Bandwidth Test Client.
Mikrotik Test Server Bandwidth
In RouterOS Mikrotik, the Bandwidth test server feature is known as BTest Server. We can access the menu from Winbox on the Tools menu –> BTest Server, or in the terminal in /tool btest server.
The original setting (default) for the BTest Server menu is already active, and can be used immediately. So we no longer need to activate the btest server feature unless it was previously deactivated.
We can also make our own settings on the Mikrotik Bandwidth Test Server. This setting can be done on the /tool btest server menu. There are several parameters that can be used.
1. Enabled: used to enable the bandwidth test server on the router. If the position is enabled = no (disabled) or unchecked (unchecked) then the bandwidth test cannot be done on the router.
2. Authenticate: As a regulator of authentication for Bandwidth test clients.
- Authenticate: yes (check), to be able to do a bandwidth test, the Bandwidth Test Client must enter the username and password as used to remotely configure the Router Btest Server.
- Authenticate: no (uncheck), Bandwidth Test Client does not need to enter a username and password to perform a bandwidth test.
3. Max session: used to set the limit on how many Max sessions/connection bandwidth tests that take place simultaneously.
Mikrotik Test Client Bandwidth
To perform a bandwidth test to another Mikrotik, a Bandwidth Test Client tool is provided on Mikrotik. We can access it on the Tools menu -> Bandwidth Test or command on the terminal / tool bandwidth test
In this proxy client bandwidth test, there are several parameters that we can set in doing the Mikrotik bandwidth test.
1. Test To: used to designate the router’s IP address bandwidth test server.
2. Protocol: the protocol that will be used in the bandwidth test on the protocol parameters (tcp/udp)
3. Direction: used to determine the direction of traffic. There are 3 choices of traffic directions to be generated:
- Upload (send)
- Download (receive)
- Upload and download (both)
4. Local Tx Speed and Remote Tx Speed: used to determine the transfer speed during the bandwidth test. Units of bps (bits per second).
5. Username and password: Adjust to the BTest Server Router settings. If the Router Btest server parameter authenticate: yes then enter the username and password used for the remote Mikrotik Router.
How to Use Mikrotik Bandwidth Test
To be able to use the Mikrotik test bandwidth, make sure that the Mikrotik that is used as the btest server and its clients can communicate using the IP address. Try the ping test first between the proxy, make sure it works. Next we try the bandwidth test between Mikrotik devices.
Fill in the Test to parameter with the IP Address of the Btest Server, select the type of protocol and its direction. Don’t forget to enter your opponent’s Mikrotik Router username and password (BTest Server). Parameters Local Tx Speed and Remote Tx Speed can be filled with how much traffic will be generated to measure its bandwidth capacity.
If this parameter is not filled, then the bandwidth test will generate traffic with the maximum speed according to the local value and the Remote Tx speed link.
Meanwhile, if the value of both is not specified, the router will try to generate traffic up to the device’s capacity limit or the maximum traffic that can be passed on the link.
Here are some examples of bandwidth test results between Mikrotik routers with 1000 Mbps (1Gbps) links
What needs to be considered in using the Mikrotik Bandwidth Test is that this bandwidth test consumes a lot of resources, especially CPU resources.
According to the Mikrotik Wiki, this Mikrotik Bandwidth test uses only one CPU core, and the test results will reach the maximum if the CPU resource has reached 100%. It can be seen in the picture above, I tried to test the Mikrotik RB1100 Router via a 1Gbps link. The results of the bandwidth test only reached 818.7 Mbps, not to the maximum because the CPU load was already stuck at 100%.
Another example I tried on a Mikrotik CRS125-24-1S with a 1Gbps link is also the same, but in the picture above the CPU usage does not reach a maximum of only 69%, but why is the test result not up to a maximum of 1 Gbps?
The answer is because the router versus the CPU resource is stuck at 100%. So the results of the bandwidth test are not optimal. Keep in mind that not all Mikrotik types are able to handle traffic generated 1Gbps, so it’s also necessary to check the Mikrotik CPU resources when we try the bandwidth test.
Therefore, it is recommended not to perform multiple bandwidth tests to one proxy at the same time. To limit how many sessions can be used for bandwidth test at the same time we can use the Max Session parameter. If we set max session=2 then the number of session/connection bandwidth test that can run simultaneously is only 2 connections.
Mikrotik Bandwidth Test from Client (PC/Laptop)
In addition to the bandwidth test between Mikrotik devices, we can also do a bandwidth test directly from a PC/laptop using the btest.exe application which can be downloaded on the mikrotik.com download page. Please download the btest.exe application first, open the application and fill in the same parameters as when testing between routers.
For example, I tried a bandwidth test from a laptop to a Mikrotik RB 951UI-2HnD via a 150 Mbps Wireless N link. The test results are as follows:
You can try to check Mikrotik bandwidth with your own scenario. You can try between Mikrotik, or if there is only one Mikrotik, you can use a PC/Laptop to do this bandwidth test.
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