Network tools that simulate slow network connection

user_80957 0
Viewed 158147

I would like to visually evaluate web pages response time for several Internet connections types (DSL, Cable, T1, dial-up etc.) while my browser and web server are on the same LAN or even on the same machine. Are there any simple network tools or browser plug-ins that slow down network bandwidth to simulate different real-world connection scenarios.

I appreciate any input on that.

simulate networking performance
16 Answers

On Linux, see netem: the kernel already contains support for traffic shaping, and can simulate high latency, low bandwidth, packet losses, and all sort of other adverse conditions, even on a loopback device (so you don't need a real, physical network to test across).

ephemient_207130

try Traffic Shaper XP you can easily limit speed of IE or other browser with this App and its also freeware

user_993430
user_1323740

I've successfully used TMnetSim (bottom of the page, under “Other Tools” - the link says something like “ZIP: TMnetSim Network Simulator version 2.4 32-bit (600KB)”

It's not just for websites - you can slow connections to any TCP port. I was using it to simulate a slow SQL Server (port 1433).

user_3690

In case you need to simulate network connection quality when developing for Windows Phone, you might give a try to a Visual Studio built-in tool called Simulation Dashboard (more details here http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windowsphone/develop/jj206952(v=vs.105).aspx):

You can use the Simulation Dashboard in Visual Studio to test your app for these connection problems, and to help prevent users from encountering scenarios like the following:

  • High-resolution music or videos stutter or freeze while streaming, or take a long time to download over a low-bandwidth connection.
  • Calls to a web service fail with a timeout.
  • The app crashes when no network is available.
  • Data transfer does not resume when the network connection is lost and then restored.
  • The user’s battery is drained by a streaming app that uses the network inefficiently.
  • Mapping the user’s route is interrupted in a navigation app.

...

In Visual Studio, on the Tools menu, open Simulation Dashboard. Find the network simulation section of the dashboard and check the Enable Network Simulation check box.

user_1823710
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