pveperf

Show CPU and hard disk performance data for the hard disk mounted at /

$ pveperf

pveperf [options]

    No parameters. Executes the standard set of tests.

pveperf is a command-line tool included with Proxmox Virtual Environment (Proxmox VE) designed to quickly assess the performance of the storage and network subsystems of a Proxmox VE host. It runs a series of tests to measure I/O operations and network throughput, providing insights into the underlying hardware's capabilities. These tests include measuring the speed of disk writes, sequential reads, and random accesses, as well as testing network bandwidth. pveperf is extremely useful for diagnosing performance bottlenecks, comparing different storage configurations (e.g., different RAID levels, SSD vs. HDD), and validating network performance after hardware changes or upgrades. The results generated by pveperf are typically presented in a human-readable format, showing the speeds achieved in megabytes per second (MB/s) or operations per second (IOPS). While not a comprehensive benchmarking suite, pveperf offers a convenient and rapid method for gauging basic system performance within the Proxmox VE environment.

The results provided by pveperf are specific to the tests it performs and may not reflect the performance of all workloads. It is a quick indicator rather than a full-fledged benchmark. Network performance may be affected by other network traffic. Storage performance will vary based on storage backend, use caution when comparing disparate systems. Be aware it may significantly impact performance of running virtual machines while tests are being run.

The results from pveperf should be interpreted in the context of the expected workload. Low storage write speeds may indicate a bottleneck with the storage device, while low network speeds can point to network congestion or configuration issues. The results can be used to identify components that need attention or further investigation. It is important to run the tests multiple times to get a stable reading, minimizing the impact of any temporary factors.

pveperf was specifically developed as part of the Proxmox VE ecosystem to provide a simple and easy way to evaluate the performance characteristics of the platform. It has been included as a core utility within Proxmox VE since its early releases, reflecting the need for administrators to quickly assess system performance during setup, troubleshooting, or upgrades.

hdparm(8), dd(1), iostat(1), vmstat(8)