I do not want to use Adobe flash based speed testing site due to security concern on my desktop. How do I install Speedtest-cli on a CentOS Linux or Fedora Linux or Red Hat Enterise Linux (RHEL) for checking the Internet speed?
You can check the Internet speed with Python based tool called Speedtest-cli. In this quick tutorial you will learn how to install speedtest-cli on a CentOS/RHE/Fedora/Scientific Linux desktop server or or laptop computer.
Step 1: Install python
Type the following yum command to install Python on a CentOS/RHEL/Scientific Linux:
$ sudo yum install python
Type the following dnf command to install Python on a Fedora Linux v22+:
$ sudo dnf install python
Step 2: Download speedtest_cli.py
Type the following wget command to grab the speedtest_cli.py client:
$ wget -O speedtest-cli https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sivel/speedtest-cli/master/speedtest_cli.py
$ chmod +x speedtest-cli
Fig.01: Grab speedtest_cli.py
Step 3: Check the Internet speed
Simply type the following command:
$ ./speedtest-cli
OR
$ python speedtest-cli
Sample outputs:
Retrieving speedtest.net configuration... Retrieving speedtest.net server list... Testing from nixcraft Dutch Holdings BV (5.151.xx.yyy)... Selecting best server based on latency... Hosted by SoftLayer Technologies, Inc. (Amsterdam) [6.45 km]: 2.317 ms Testing download speed........................................ Download: 925.88 Mbit/s Testing upload speed.................................................. Upload: 105.69 Mbit/s
To see speed values in bytes instead of bits pass the --bytes option:
$ ./speedtest-cli --bytes
To generate and provide a URL to the speedtest.net share results image pass the --shareoption:
$ ./speedtest-cli --share
Of course, you can combine both the options:
$ ./speedtest-cli --share --bytes
Sample outputs:
Gif.01: Speedtest_cli.py in action
Not a fan of speedtest.net?
No worries. Try wget, lftp or specilized tool like iperf on a Linux to test the Internet or Intranet speed from the command line.