Netatalk 4.3.0
Name
afp_lantest — AFP LAN performance and directory cache testing tool
Synopsis
afp_lantest [-34567GgVvbC] [-h host] [-p port] [-s volume] [-u user] [-w password] [-n iterations] [-f tests] [-F bigfile]
Description
afp_lantest is a comprehensive AFP (Apple Filing Protocol) performance testing tool designed to benchmark various aspects of AFP servers, with special focus on directory cache performance improvements in netatalk.
The tool runs a series of tests that measure file operations, directory traversal, and caching efficiency. It includes both traditional file system benchmarks and specialized cache-focused tests that highlight the benefits of optimized directory cache validation and probabilistic validation features.
Options
-3 : Use AFP 3.0 protocol version
-4 : Use AFP 3.1 protocol version
-5 : Use AFP 3.2 protocol version
-6 : Use AFP 3.3 protocol version
-7 : Use AFP 3.4 protocol version (default)
-b : Debug mode
-C : Run cache-focused tests only (tests 9-12)
-f tests : Specific tests to run, specified as digits (e.g., “134” runs tests 1, 3, and 4)
-F bigfile : Use existing file in volume root for read test (file size must match -g/-G options)
-g : Optimize for gigabit networks (increases file test size to 1 GB)
-G : Optimize for 10-gigabit networks (increases file test size to 10 GB)
-h host : Server hostname or IP address (default: localhost)
-n iterations : Number of test iterations to run (default: 1)
-p port : Server port number (default: 548)
-s volume : Volume name to mount for testing
-u user : Username for authentication (default: current uid)
-v : Verbose output
-V : Very verbose output
-w password : Password for authentication
Configuration
The test runner AFP client only supports the ClearTxt UAM currently. Configure the UAM in netatalk’s afp.conf:
[Global]
uam list = uams_clrtxt.so
Available Tests
The following tests are available:
(1) Opening, stating and reading 512 bytes from 1000 files : Tests basic file access patterns with many small operations
(2) Writing one large file : Measures sustained write performance
(3) Reading one large file : Measures sustained read performance
(4) Locking/Unlocking 10000 times each : Tests file locking performance
(5) Creating dir with 2000 files : Tests directory creation and file creation performance
(6) Enumerate dir with 2000 files : Tests directory enumeration with many files
(7) Deleting dir with 2000 files : Tests directory and file deletion performance
(8) Create directory tree with 1000 dirs : Tests nested directory creation
(9) Directory cache hits [CACHE] : Tests directory and file lookup performance (1000 dirs + 10000 files)
(10) Mixed cache operations [CACHE] : Tests mixed create/stat/enum/delete operations
(11) Deep path traversal [CACHE] : Tests performance with deep directory structures
(12) Cache validation [CACHE] : Tests directory cache validation mechanisms
Cache-Focused Tests
Tests 9-12 are specifically designed to highlight directory cache performance improvements in netatalk. These tests benefit significantly from optimized cache validation and probabilistic validation features. Use the -C option to run only these cache-focused tests.
Examples
Run all tests with default settings:
afp_lantest -h server.example.com -u testuser -w password -s TestVolume
Run only cache-focused tests:
afp_lantest -C -h server.example.com -u testuser -w password -s TestVolume
Run specific tests (file operations):
afp_lantest -f 123 -h server.example.com -u testuser -w password -s TestVolume
Run tests optimized for gigabit network:
afp_lantest -g -h server.example.com -u testuser -w password -s TestVolume
Run multiple iterations for statistical analysis:
afp_lantest -n 5 -h server.example.com -u testuser -w password -s TestVolume
Run the afp_lantest benchmark using AFP 3.4.
% afp_lantest -7 -h localhost -p 548 -u test -w test -s "File Sharing" -n 2
Run 0 => Opening, stating and reading 512 bytes from 1000 files 3237 ms
Run 0 => Writing one large file 146 ms for 100 MB (avg. 718 MB/s)
Run 0 => Reading one large file 36 ms for 100 MB (avg. 2912 MB/s)
Run 0 => Locking/Unlocking 10000 times each 772 ms
Run 0 => Creating dir with 2000 files 3615 ms
Run 0 => Enumerate dir with 2000 files 755 ms
Run 0 => Deleting dir with 2000 files 1245 ms
Run 0 => Create directory tree with 10^3 dirs 1724 ms
Run 0 => Directory cache hits (1000 dir + 10000 file lookups) 3056 ms
Run 0 => Mixed cache operations (create/stat/enum/delete) 484 ms
Run 0 => Deep path traversal (nested directory navigation) 377 ms
Run 0 => Cache validation efficiency (metadata changes) 8822 ms
Run 1 => Opening, stating and reading 512 bytes from 1000 files 3448 ms
Run 1 => Writing one large file 79 ms for 100 MB (avg. 1327 MB/s)
Run 1 => Reading one large file 37 ms for 100 MB (avg. 2833 MB/s)
Run 1 => Locking/Unlocking 10000 times each 779 ms
Run 1 => Creating dir with 2000 files 3731 ms
Run 1 => Enumerate dir with 2000 files 587 ms
Run 1 => Deleting dir with 2000 files 1156 ms
Run 1 => Create directory tree with 10^3 dirs 1802 ms
Run 1 => Directory cache hits (1000 dir + 10000 file lookups) 3006 ms
Run 1 => Mixed cache operations (create/stat/enum/delete) 463 ms
Run 1 => Deep path traversal (nested directory navigation) 247 ms
Run 1 => Cache validation efficiency (metadata changes) 8565 ms
Netatalk Lantest Results (average times across 2 iterations)
===================================
Test 1: Opening, stating and reading 512 bytes from 1000 files
Average: 3342 ms ± 149.2 ms (std dev)
Test 2: Writing one large file
Average: 112 ms ± 47.4 ms (std dev)
Throughput: 936 MB/s (Write, 100 MB file)
Test 3: Reading one large file
Average: 36 ms ± 1.0 ms (std dev)
Throughput: 2912 MB/s (Read, 100 MB file)
Test 4: Locking/Unlocking 10000 times each
Average: 775 ms ± 5.0 ms (std dev)
Test 5: Creating dir with 2000 files
Average: 3673 ms ± 82.0 ms (std dev)
Test 6: Enumerate dir with 2000 files
Average: 671 ms ± 118.8 ms (std dev)
Test 7: Deleting dir with 2000 files
Average: 1200 ms ± 62.9 ms (std dev)
Test 8: Create directory tree with 1000 dirs
Average: 1763 ms ± 55.2 ms (std dev)
Test 9: Directory cache hits (1000 dir + 10000 file lookups)
Average: 3031 ms ± 35.4 ms (std dev)
Test 10: Mixed cache operations (create/stat/enum/delete)
Average: 473 ms ± 14.9 ms (std dev)
Test 11: Deep path traversal (nested directory navigation)
Average: 312 ms ± 91.9 ms (std dev)
Test 12: Cache validation efficiency (metadata changes)
Average: 8693 ms ± 181.7 ms (std dev)
Return Codes
0 : All tests passed successfully
1 : One or more tests failed
Notes
- Tests that involve large file operations (tests 2 and 3) will create temporary files in the test volume
- The -g and -G options significantly increase test file sizes and test duration
- Cache-focused tests (8-11) provide the most insight into netatalk’s directory cache performance
- Multiple iterations (-n) are recommended for consistent performance measurements
- The tool requires write access to the specified AFP volume
See Also
afp_speedtest(1), afpd(8), netatalk(8)
