What it does
Measurement Lab hosts active Internet tests for speed, latency and other connection behavior, with published measurement datasets.
Choose the M-Lab test for the behavior of interest; NDT measures single-stream bulk transport capacity and reports upload, download and latency. It generates test traffic rather than reading ordinary browsing or email. The result samples the path to a measurement endpoint. Participation has a lasting data consequence: M-Lab publishes results including the connecting IP address, retains collected data indefinitely and cannot delete an individual test afterward. Researchers can use raw archives or processed dataset views, and should distinguish M-Lab-managed servers from host-managed deployments, whose data quality M-Lab does not manage. Review the policy before initiating a test.
Strengths
- Research-maintained active measurement tests
- Public datasets for broader analysis
Watch out for
- Test data includes IP addresses and is published indefinitely
Best for
- Internet measurement work that accepts public-data publication
Sources
- M-Lab Tests - M-Lab (Oct 26, 2026)
- M-Lab Network Diagnostic Tool (Oct 26, 2026)