Iometer
Iometer is a free tool for measuring and characterizing I/O subsystems in single systems and clusters.
What Iometer is
Iometer is a free tool for measuring and characterizing I/O subsystems in single systems and clusters. It supports storage I/O and network I/O workloads, custom test profiles, command-line or automation use, and CSV result export. The Windows GUI includes Access Specifications for defining workloads, while project screenshots show configured tests and a tachometer during a running stress test. Iometer has two required components: Iometer and Dynamo. Iometer runs in a Windows environment; installation notes list Dynamo on Windows, Linux, Solaris, Mac OS X, and NetWare. SourceForge lists version 1.1.0 Windows installers and binaries, documentation, and source downloads. The Iometer and Dynamo executables use the Intel Open Source License, while the iomtr_kstat kernel module uses the GNU Public License. A known-issues page documents workarounds, including Linux Dynamo segmentation faults with glibc 2.3 or newer and a Solaris/SPARC fault with multiple swap devices. Installation or compilation help is directed to the iometer-user mailing list.
Good
- Free I/O measurement tool
- Storage and network workloads
- Custom test profiles
- Command-line or automation support
- CSV result export
Watch out
- Both Iometer and Dynamo require installation
- Iometer itself runs in Windows
- Known platform-specific faults
- Support uses a mailing list
Who it suits
It suits developers, IT users, science and research users, and system administrators measuring storage or network I/O. It is also relevant when custom workloads, automation, or CSV results are required.
Verdict
Iometer provides customizable and automatable I/O measurement across a broad operating-system list, with CSV output and no paid plan. Plan installation around its two-component structure and review the documented platform issues.
The facts
Each one read from Iometer's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Additional component license
- The iomtr_kstat kernel module is distributed under the GNU Public License.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Component license
- The iomtr_kstat kernel module and other future independent components are distributed under the GNU Public License.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Components
- Iometer has two major components, Iometer and Dynamo, and both need to be installed.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Development
- The project says it is driven by an international group of individuals who improve and port the product.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- SourceForge lists version 1.1.0 Windows installers and binaries, documentation, and source downloads.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Intended audience
- SourceForge lists developers, IT users, science and research users, and system administrators as the intended audience.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Known issues
- The project maintains a known-issues page with workarounds, including an issue where Dynamo on Linux with glibc 2.3 or higher may segfault after a test.checked 11 Oct 2026
- License
- The Iometer and Dynamo executables are distributed under the Intel Open Source License.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Origin
- Iometer was originally developed by Intel and announced at the Intel Developers Forum on February 17, 1998.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Project history
- After Intel discontinued work on Iometer, it was given to the Open Source Development Lab; the project was registered at SourceForge in November 2001.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Iometer is an I/O subsystem measurement and characterization tool for single and clustered systems.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Solaris support
- The known issues page documents a Dynamo segmentation fault on Solaris/SPARC when multiple swap devices are configured.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- The installation notes direct users with installation or compilation problems to the iometer-user mailing list.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Test results
- The project’s screenshots show results and a tachometer during a running stress test.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Workload setup
- The Windows GUI includes Access Specifications for defining the workload.checked 11 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Linux support
- The project's known issues page documents Dynamo issues on Linux, including an IA32 segmentation fault with Red Hat 9.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Platform support
- The installation notes say Dynamo runs on Windows, Linux, Solaris, Mac OS X, and Netware; Iometer itself runs in a Windows environment.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Windows interface
- The project describes screenshots of its native Windows GUI, including workload configuration and running stress tests.checked 11 Oct 2026
Alternatives to Iometer
- 1
GitHub CodeQL
Free planWebExtensionLinuxmacOS7.5From $30 a month - 2
Parkdale
Free planAndroidmacOSWindows7.2Free plan - 3
CrystalDiskMark
Free planWindows6.9$9.99 one-time - 4
fio
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.6Free plan - 5
AJA System Test
Free planmacOSWindows6.5Free plan - 6
DiskSpd
Free planLinuxmacOSWindows6.5Free plan