PChar

I recently had the opportunity to test out pchar, a bandwidth measurement software based on the algorithms of the pathchar utility. Originally developed by Van Jacobson, formerly of Lawrence Berkeley Laboratories, pchar is a reimplementation of the pathchar utility. Both programs are designed to provide insights into the bandwidth, latency, and loss of links along an end-to-end path through the internet.

One of the major selling points of pchar is its compatibility with both IPv4 and IPv6 networks. Although development of pchar stopped at version 1.5, it is still a powerful tool with a lot to offer. The software is also written in C++, with various compilers used during the development process including gcc-2.7.2.1, gcc-2.8.1, egcs-1.1.2, gcc-2.95, and gcc-3.4.2.

One interesting feature of pchar is its original support for IPv6, which was written for the KAME 19991018 snapshot for FreeBSD 3.3-RELEASE. Since then, the KAME team has tested pchar with various iterations of the integrated and native IPv6 stacks in FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, and Solaris 8.

Overall, I found pchar to be a reliable and efficient tool for network analysis. Its compatibility with both IPv4 and IPv6 networks makes it a versatile option for users with different needs. Although development on the software may have ceased, it is still a worthwhile option for anyone looking to gain insights into the performance of links along an end-to-end internet path.