I have several options available for networking on the RPI2 I am using in my media center. I would like to be able to test the speeds back to the NAS where all of my files are stored. I can’t seem to find a way to test these speeds. Could anyone give me a suggestion?
Thanks in advance.
p.s. I did search the forums and couldn’t find this topic. If I missed it, please point me in the right direction.
Search for iperf. I haven’t personally used it, but I’ve seen it mentioned here.
If your NAS has the option of using NFS, that would be your best bet, as that’s native to linux. Avoid SMB/Samba unless you have no other choice.
Thank you, I will search for that. I am using NFS as my NAS is linux based also.
The media center I am setting up is my first venture into linux, the NAS and the PI. It is quite interesting if a bit confusing.
Since your NAS supports NFS, stick with that. I wouldn’t bother with network testing unless you have problems.
My files are served from a Pi2 (OSMC) via NFS to a Pi Model B (also OSMC) via 150 wireless N, and the only movies I can’t play are direct Bluray copies, but I think that’s more of just that the model B can’t keep up with the movie. I couldn’t even play it wired. (I never did try copying to the SD card because I have recoded the movies to save space)
I have been having issues streaming Blu-Ray copies over WiFi. I have a different USB WIFI dongle I am trying out and also have a power-line adapter I can try. As a final resort I am thinking about using an AC1900 router as a wireless bridge. I would like to test due to the inefficiency of waiting on a movie to stutter or buffer excessively. 
If it’s only a problem with full Bluray, I’d suggest that you try copying one of the movies to the SD card to make sure it’s not a problem with the movie. Once you know that isn’t a problem, then you can tackle the network.
I attached a 128GB SSD drive to the USB, it worked well from there. I have also ran an Ethernet cable across the house to the PI and this works also. Unfortunately, my wife didn’t care for that.
So how are you connecting to the NAS then? SMB or NFS?
I am using NFS, everything I read said that was the best way to connect.
Sounds like you’ve done everything right.
Is it possible to move the Pi closer to the router for testing?
If the WiFi dongle is connected directly to the Pi, you may want to consider getting a powered USB hub and connecting the dongle to that. One other thought would be to get a USB extension cable so you can move the dongle around to get the best signal.
I haven’t tried the powered hub, I will give that a try. I have moved the PI around quite a bit. The iperf program looks interesting, but I am having a hard time understanding how to install it and use it. You would think a guy who writes programs for PLCs and DCSs all day could use basic linux commands. 
In order to move the PII would have to move the TV also, and that would upset my wife more than the cable running across the house. 
Hi,
I’m in your same situation here, starting to struggle with Linux and that stuff.
I was able to install iperf both in my NAS and my PI and made some tests.
In PI install it with apt-get install iperf.
Install it in your NAS .
Run it as server in your NAS
Iperf -s
Run it as client in your PI
Iperf -c (NAS IP address)
After 10 seconds you’ll get the transfered data figure and the network speed in Mbps.
This is the basic TCP test. Then you can start tweaking the test using UDP (-u option), different window size (-w), limiting bandwidth (-b), setting more time (-t)…
Hope this helps.
SMB isnt that bad these days, i personally am running SMB got NFS if i want to but SMB preforms just fine
That can also depend on the hardware you’re running.
I have a NAS that has a pretty old smb in it’s firmware and performs really badly compared with nfs.
You are right of course when all software is up to date.
I got it installed on my NAS today before work, however I am still having issues with installing it on PI. Will try again this evening.
Thank you all for the help.
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install iperf
Thank you, I will give that a try.
There is also this little app
test how good write read speed it gets of the nas
The throughput on the NAS is very good. I can stream multiple hd videos to computers in the house. The only time I have issues is with the PI. Which is a shame since it is what is hooked up to the main TV. Hopefully I can find my throughput tonight and make a decision on which adapter gives me the best result.
Hi, I have a Pi Zero with an ext HDD and a powered hub. The read/write speed through wifi is about 600kb/s and the iperf sais that the transfer speed is around 3.5 mb/s. Do you have any idea what causes this slow transfer speed?
Thanks in advance.
The transfer speed between ext HDD and int SD card is 10 mB/s and also it is around 10mB/s between two ext drivers.