Are you looking for the best IP (Internet Protocol) stresser to help you test, diagnose, and fix your internet issues? You're in the right place! Here are some of the best and most popular IP stressers available out there.
1:1 NAT
Among the most popular 1:1 NAT IP stressors are those from Linchpin, StackStorm, and Stresser Sage.
1:1 NAT stands for “one-to-one NAT”, which means that one IP address (the “1”) in IP stack is reserved for this server. Typically, a 1:1 NAT IP stressor has two IP addresses – a public facing IP address and a private IP address. The public IP address is usually associated with your Internet Service Provider (ISP) – it is what you use to log into the internet. The private IP address is used only by this one server and can be accessed by anyone on the internet using the 1:1 NAT IP address. When you use a 1:1 NAT IP stressor, you are creating a “fake” private IP address which is assigned to this particular server. This “fake” private IP address is what is known as a “hop” or “hopefully permanent” address. Hop addresses are used when a device needs to send data to another device on the internet, but doesn't have the direct connection to do so. When data is sent to a hop address, it is sent to a router that is in between the original sender and receiver. The router then decides how to forward the packet based on the contents of the packet and the IP addresses of both the sender and the receiver. With a 1:1 NAT IP stressor, you can test this hop by simply sending packets to the public facing IP address and monitoring the replies.
A 1:1 NAT IP stressor significantly reduces the load on your target server, as it allows you to test how well it handles high network traffic. It also allows you to test various protocols and how the application responds to changes while under heavy load. However, this server won't be able to interact with other devices on the internet, which might cause problems for certain applications.
Proxies & Cloud VPS
Another popular choice among online test subjects is a cloud VPS (Virtual Private Server), which provides you with a physical server that you can rent from a hosting provider. A virtual private server offers all the advantages of a physical server, without all the hassles of maintaining one. This is perfect for those who want to test how their websites perform under heavy load. A virtual private server provides you with everything you need to easily run your own private test network, complete with a domain name and a hosting plan from a reputable web host.
A virtual private server is accessed via the internet and connected to your target server. Once connected, you have full control over both servers and can install and configure any applications or services you want. This gives you the flexibility to test various setups without having to worry about maintaining one yourself.
Proxy Server
A proxy server is basically a type of gateway, or split tunnelling device, that sits between your internet connection and your target server. When you use a proxy server, all the traffic from your computer or mobile device (including web requests, FTP/SFTP sessions, and DNS queries) are sent to the proxy server, which then directs the traffic to the actual server you want to contact. This method of reaching a server is extremely flexible and allows you to perform actions such as browsing the web or transferring files, as if you were directly connected to the server.
The most popular proxy servers are Proxyserv and Zenproxy. Proxyserv is a free and open-source proxy server that can be easily installed on a Raspberry Pi or a comparable single-board computer. Just make sure that you have a WiFi connection available on the computer you use to install it. You don't need to configure anything else, and you can immediately start using the proxy server. Proxyserv supports HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, and DNS resolution, as well as some reverse-proxy features like URL rewriting and virtual hosting.
The Zenproxy server is another free and open-source proxy server designed for minimalists. It provides a fully featured web server with the lightest possible footprint, which makes it great for resource constrained devices like the Raspberry Pi. Similarly to Proxyserv, Zenproxy can be installed on a single-board computer and requires no configuration other than the IP address you want to use for it. What's great about Zenproxy is that it is designed to be extremely easy to use – just load it up and start sending requests!
Gateway Server
A gateway server, or virtual router, is a special type of server that provides a 'gateway' function, which allows it to forward packets between different networks or internet connections. A gateway server sits in the middle of a network and has two IP addresses – one external IP address and one internal IP address. The external IP address is what is normally used to reach the gateway server, and the internal IP address is only usable within the network.
The most popular gateway servers are CGW (Cisco Gateway), NGw (Netgear gateway), and Hamachi.
CGW is a free and open-source software project that provides a fully featured, stand-alone gateway server. It supports protocols such as IPv4/IPv6, TCP, and UDP, and lets you configure advanced rules like port forwarding and network address translation (NAT). If you are using GNU/Linux or another Unix-based operating system for your server, you can install CGW easily and get started configuring it to suit your needs.
Netgear's ngw is another free and open-source software project that provides a fully featured, stand-alone gateway server. It supports IPv4/IPv6, TCP, and UDP, and can do port forwarding and NAT. It is highly configurable, and has an extensive API for developers (netgear-ngw-developer-interface). If you are using Linux for your server, you can install Netgear's ngw easily and get started configuring it to suit your needs.
Hamachi is a commercial product available from Hashrocket, designed for home and small businesses. It is a fully featured gateway server that provides IPv4/IPv6, TCP, and UDP, and has advanced networking features like port forwarding, NAT, DMZ, and firewall. You can download Hamachi from the official website and get started configuring it to suit your needs.
A VPS is ideal for those who want to test their website's performance under heavy load, as it allows you to do this without worrying about resources on your target machine. A cloud VPS provides you with an IP-connected server that can be accessed via the internet, while a gateway server provides you with extra flexibility by letting you route all your internet traffic through it, in a way that is similar to how a proxy server works.
If you're looking for the best and most popular test and debugging tools for your Raspberry Pi, these are some great options to choose from.