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Gigabit Network Card Testing Process (Using iperf)

1. Preparation

1.1 Hardware Preparation

Test Computer: One with the network card to be tested, the other as a server; optional gigabit switch; recommended Cat5e or Cat6 cables; stable power supply.

1.2 Software Preparation

iperf3 Installation: Debian/Ubuntu use sudo apt install iperf3; CentOS/RHEL use sudo yum install iperf3; macOS use brew install iperf3. Ensure the network card drivers are up to date.

2. Test Items

Item Goal Tool
Basic Connectivity Ensure the network card is properly connected ping
Bandwidth Performance Test maximum TCP/UDP throughput iperf3

3. Testing Methods

3.1 Basic Connectivity Test

ping -c 10

3.2 TCP Bandwidth Test

Server side: iperf3 -s; Client side: iperf3 -c -t 30

4. Test Results Analysis

Item Normal Range Abnormal Situation
Basic Connectivity ping packet loss rate < 1% High packet loss rate
TCP Bandwidth Close to gigabit speed Low speed, large fluctuations

5. Troubleshooting

Possible Causes Solutions
Poor cable quality Use Cat6 or higher quality cables
Port not negotiated correctly Manually set to gigabit mode (check with ethtool)
Driver incompatibility Update the network card driver
Network congestion Test in an idle network environment