1 min read 361 words Updated May 09, 2026 Created May 09, 2026
#benchmarks

Benchmarks

Here are some benchmark tools I have used and like.

  • openssl speed rsa - test CPU performance w/ math & cryptographic operations
openssl speed rsa1024
  • john -test - test CPU performance w/ cryptographic operations
touch john.ini
john -test
  • sql-bench - ATIS and Wisconsin table tests I/O and CPU

Linux-RPM: yum install mysql-server mysql-bench
Linux-DEB: aptitude install mysql-server-5.0
FreeBSD: cd /usr/ports/databases/mysql50-server; make install

cd /usr/share/sql-bench
./test-ATIS
./test-wisconsin
  • bonnie++ - disk/filesystem

Linux-RPM: yum install bonnie++
Linux-DEB: aptitude install bonnie++
FreeBSD: cd /usr/ports/benchmarks/bonnie++; make install

cd /tmp
/usr/sbin/bonnie++ -u mf1 -d .
  • spew - disk performance

Linux-RPM: yum install spew
Linux-DEB: aptitude install spew

mkdir -p /usr/local/tmp; cd /usr/local/tmp
spew --write 512m bigfile
spew --read 512m bigfile
  • hdparm -tT - throughput of the processor, cache, and memory Linux Only
hdparm -tT /dev/sda
  • apachebench (ab) - network throughput, web-serving speed
ab -n 10000 -c 100  "http://127.0.0.1/icons/apache\_pb2.gif"

Run three times, taking middle #

  • samba compile - compilation tests I/O and CPU
cd /tmp/
wget [ftp://us4.samba.org/pub/samba/samba-latest.tar.gz](ftp://us4.samba.org/pub/samba/samba-latest.tar.gz) 
tar xzvf samba-latest.tar.gz
cd samba-\*/source
time ./configure
time make
  • make kernel/world - FreeBSD only compilation test I/O and CPU
cd /usr/src
time make buildkernel
time make buildworld
  • ubench - Unix Benchmark Utility measures CPU and MEM

FreeBSD: cd /usr/ports/sysutils/ubench; make install

ubench
  • unixbench - Unix Bench v5.1.3 Multi-CPU version

From https://github.com/cloudharmony/unixbench or https://github.com/kdlucas/byte-unixbench

cd /tmp
wget https://s3.amazonaws.com/cloudbench/software/UnixBench5.1.3.tgz
tar zxf UnixBench5.1.3.tgz
cd UnixBench
make all
./Run

Note1: it may be necessary to tweak the Makefile (comment out GRAPHIC_TESTS and uncomment first set of linux-applicable optimizations) on some systems.

Note2: use sudo aptitude install build-essential if you need the compiler tools

Linux-DEB: sudo apt install povray povray-examples

  • glxgears - part of Xorg suite, measures video performance. Not a "benchmark" per se but gives an idea of performance with graphics-intensive programs, such as games.

  • GIMPS - a tool that can torture-test / stress test a CPU using Prime95.

https://www.mersenne.org/download / https://www.mersenne.org/download/#stresstest