ZapPerf – Zap iOS App at WLAN Book.com

December 18th, 2011

ZapPerf – Zap iOS App

by Zaib Kaleem

ZapPerf – Zap iOS App

ZapPerf is an iOS version of the Zap wireless performance tool. Like Zap, ZapPerf is a wireless throughput test tool which can be used to fully characterise the statistical performance of a wireless link.

ZapPerf iOS App has been submitted to App Store and should get approved in about 10 days. ZapPerf is compatible with iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch and any device running Zap v1.83.

Zap Client Screen

Zap Server Screen

Zap Results Screen

Zap for Mac OS and Windows

Zap for Mac OS and Zap for WIndows are available for download at no cost and can be used with any wireless or wired LAN equipment and devices.

Zap was open sourced by Ruckus Wireless in January 2010. Info from Ruckus press release about how Zap works below.

Zap works by sending controlled bursts of packets and measuring both packet loss and inter-arrival times. The primary results reported are number of packets lost, total packets received and detailed throughput statistics. Because Zap provides a measure of both throughput and consistency over time and distance, it has particular importance to streaming video, voice and other latency-sensitive applications. Conversely, knowing only average throughput levels will not help predict the performance of a wireless network.

By measuring the maximum throughput of batches of packets, Zap is able to determine the minimum throughput that can be expected at a given percentile. For example, if Zap reports the 99.5 percentile to be 50Mbps, that means statistically, throughput is at or greater than 50Mbps 99.5 percent of the time. For video applications, the ability to determine throughput within the 99.5 percentile gives IT managers and network designers the assurance of the maximum throughput that a given IP wireless network can deliver reliably to ensure picture-perfect viewing.

Zap is currently integrated into Ruckus ZoneFlex™ Smart wireless LAN products as the underlying engine used by SpeedFlex, a Wi-Fi performance diagnostic tool that lets customers quickly determine the uplink and downlink performance and packet loss of any given wireless connection.