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Performing Server Speed Tests

A speed test is the easiest method to check your server's maximum bandwidth and ensure that the promised transfer rates are actually achieved.

How Server Speed Tests Work

Unlike common consumer speed tests that run through a web browser, server speed tests examine the raw connection speed by downloading large files via the command line. This ensures that measurement results are not skewed by browser or application limits.

Download speed is measured by having the server download a very large file (e.g., 1 GB or 10 GB) from a known, reliable third-party test server. The time required for this is clocked to calculate the bandwidth.
We recommend using the wget command with the -O /dev/null option, as this prevents the file from actually being saved to the hard drive; it is immediately discarded. This ensures that hard drive speed does not distort the measurement.

Speed Test Commands for Your Data Centers

Use the following commands to test your server's download speed via the command line. Replace DESTINATION_IP with the IP address you want to test (if you have multiple IPs).

Frankfurt Data Center (SXB) - Download Test
wget -O /dev/null http://speedtest.frankfurt.de.velia.net/1000.data
St. Louis Data Center (USA) - Download Test
wget -4 -O /dev/null http://speedtest.stlouis.us.velia.net/1000.data

Important Notes for Diagnostics

Excluding Operating System Issues:

If you suspect your network speed is below par, it is highly recommended to repeat the speed test in Rescue Mode of your server. If full speed is achieved in Rescue Mode but not during normal operation, the problem is most likely due to your operating system's configuration (e.g., firewall rules, traffic shaping, incorrect network configuration) and not the hardware or data center connection.