Ostinato
Ostinato is network traffic generation and analysis software for validating throughput, QoS, multicast, routing, switching, protocol behavior, and network pe…
What Ostinato is
Ostinato is network traffic generation and analysis software for validating throughput, QoS, multicast, routing, switching, protocol behavior, and network performance. It can generate traffic, customize protocol headers, and replay PCAP files with preserved or changed timing, looping, and reordering. Users can set frame sizes and create custom headers with hexdumps or scripts. Native protocols include Ethernet, VLAN, QinQ, IPv4/IPv6, UDP, stateless TCP, ICMP, ARP/NDP, IGMP/MLD, and GRE; other headers can be supported through scripts or other methods. Reports include transmit and receive statistics, per-stream packet loss, latency, and jitter. A Python API builds streams and scenarios, controls runs, collects counters, and supports CI/CD integration. Ostinato runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, API, and self-hosted setups, and lists several lab environments plus AWS and Azure VMs.
Good
- PCAP editing and replay
- Packet loss, latency, and jitter reporting
- Python API for automation
- Broad native protocol support
- Works with listed lab environments
Watch out
- No free plan
- Active subscription required
- Internet license checks required
- Stateful TCP connections unsupported
Who it suits
Ostinato suits network engineers validating traffic behavior, performance, and protocol handling. Its API and lab integrations also fit automated testing and virtual network environments.
Verdict
Ostinato provides packet crafting, replay, analytics, and automation across several deployment options. Buyers should account for subscription licensing, license checks, and the stated stateful-TCP and PCAP limits.
Plans and prices
From Ostinato's own pricing page, checked 30 Sep 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Solo | $12 a month | Personal use only · 1 device, 4 ports · 1,000 flows per port · 1 Gbps per port · Standard protocols · Port statistics · Device emulation · Annually |
| Pro | $49 a month | Commercial use · 2 devices, 8 ports · 10,000 flows per port · 10 Gbps per port · User-defined protocols · Stream statistics · Turbo 10G add-on ready · Annually |
| Business | $208 a month | Commercial use · 4 devices, 16 ports · 1 million flows per port · No bandwidth limit · Protocol emulation · Automation API · RFC 2544 Perf-Bench · Annually |
| Enterprise | Priced on request | Contact for PO, invoice, reseller procurement, or other enterprise purchasing support |
The facts
Each one read from Ostinato's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Automation
- Ostinato provides a Python API for building streams and test scenarios, controlling runs, collecting counters, and integrating tests with CI/CD pipelines.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Data handling
- The privacy policy says Ostinato does not sell personal data, uses Paddle for payment processing without storing full card numbers on its servers, and applies reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal data.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Integrations
- The maker lists GNS3, EVE-NG, Cisco CML, and Containerlab as supported lab environments, and says Ostinato works on AWS and Azure cloud VMs.checked 30 Sep 2026
- License requirements
- An active subscription is required to use the software, and license checks use the internet; Business supports offline license checks for Linux Drone agents in air-gapped environments.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Notable limits
- Ostinato does not support stateful TCP connections, and the pricing comparison limits included PCAP import to 5,000 packets for Solo and 250,000 for Pro, with Business listed as unlimited.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Packet crafting
- Users can edit supported protocol header fields, control frame size, and create custom headers with hexdumps or scripts.checked 30 Sep 2026
- PCAP replay
- Ostinato can edit and replay PCAP files, preserve or modify packet timing, and loop or reorder packets.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Performance
- The site states that the Turbo add-on supports line-rate traffic up to 400G.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Protocol emulation
- DHCP client/server, IGMP/MLD host, OSPFv2, and BGP emulation are marked Technical Preview.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Protocol support
- Native protocols include Ethernet, VLAN, QinQ, IPv4/IPv6, UDP, stateless TCP, ICMP, ARP/NDP, IGMP/MLD, and GRE; scripts or other methods support additional headers such as MPLS and VXLAN.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Purpose
- Ostinato generates, customizes, or replays L2/L3 traffic to validate throughput, QoS, multicast, routing, switching, protocol behavior, and network performance.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Security and privacy
- The privacy policy says product telemetry is pseudonymous and excludes packet payloads, packet captures, license keys, hostnames, user-configured MAC/IP addresses, and other customer-specific network configuration data.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Support
- Customers with Pro or Business licenses may submit support tickets; Pro email support is available for 30 days from purchase, and community forums are available to all listed license tiers.checked 30 Sep 2026
- Traffic analytics
- It reports port and stream transmit/receive statistics, detects per-stream packet loss, and measures latency and jitter using software timestamps.checked 30 Sep 2026
The company
- Founded
- 2010checked 28 Sep 2026
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