Phoronix Test Suite
Phoronix Test Suite (PTS) is a free and open-source benchmark software for Linux and other operating systems which is developed by Michael Larabel and Matthew Tippett. The Phoronix Test Suite has been endorsed by sites such as Linux.com,[2] LinuxPlanet[3] and has been called "the best benchmarking platform" by Softpedia.[4] The Phoronix Test Suite is also used by Tom's Hardware,[5] ASELabs[6] and other review sites.
Phoronix Test Suite 2.0.0 running on GNU/Linux | |
Developer(s) | Michael Larabel, Matthew Tippett |
---|---|
Initial release | April 2008 |
Stable release | 9.8.0[1]
/ July 9, 2020 |
Preview release | 9.8.0 M2[1]
/ June 24, 2020 |
Written in | PHP |
Operating system | Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, OpenSolaris, Mac OS X, Windows |
Size | 703 kB (base program) |
Available in | English |
Type | Benchmark |
License | GNU General Public License v3 |
Website | phoronix-test-suite.com |
Features
- Supports over 220 test profiles and over 60 test suites;
- Uses an XML-based testing architecture. Tests include MEncoder, FFmpeg and lm sensors along with OpenGL games such as Doom 3, Nexuiz, and Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, and many others;[7]
- Contains a feature called PTS Global where users are able to upload their test results and system information for sharing. Then through executing a single command, other users can compare their test results to a selected system in an easy-comparison mode;[8]
- Allow report benchmark results to the Phoronix Global online database;
- Allow compare results side-by-side;
- Is extensible and new tests can be added easily;
- Can do anonymous usage reporting;
- Can do automated Git bisecting on a performance basis to find performance regressions. It features statistical significance verification.
Components
Phoromatic
Phoromatic is a web-based remote test management system for the Phoronix Test Suite. It does automatic scheduling of tests. It is aimed at the enterprise. It can manage multiple test nodes simultaneously within a test farm or distributed environment.
Phoromatic Tracker
Phoromatic Tracker is an extension of Phoromatic that provides a public interface into test farms.[9] Currently their reference implementations autonomously monitor the performance of the Linux kernel on a daily basis,[10] Fedora Rawhide[11] and Ubuntu.[12]
PTS Desktop Live
PTS Desktop Live was a stripped down x86-64 Linux distribution, which included Phoronix Test Suite 2.4. It was designed for testing/benchmarking computers from a LiveDVD / LiveUSB environment.[13]
Phodevi
Phodevi (Phoronix Device Interface) is a library that provides a clean, stable, platform-independent API for accessing software and hardware information.
PCQS
Phoronix Certification & Qualification Suite (PCQS) is a reference specification for the Phoronix Test Suite.
Phoronix website
Phoronix logo and screenshot | |
Type of site | Review |
---|---|
Available in | English |
Created by | Michael Larabel |
URL | phoronix.com |
Commercial | Yes |
Registration | Required (for the forums) |
Launched | June 5, 2004 |
Current status | Active |
Phoronix is a technology website that offers insights regarding the development of the Linux kernel, product reviews, interviews, and news regarding free and open-source software by monitoring the Linux kernel mailing list or interviews.
Phoronix was started in June 2004 by Michael Larabel, who currently serves as the owner and editor-in-chief.
History
Founded on 5 June 2004,[14] Phoronix started as a website with a handful of hardware reviews and guides,[15][16] moving to articles covering operating systems based on Linux and open source software around the start of 2005, such as Ubuntu, Fedora, SUSE[17] and Mozilla (Firefox/Thunderbird).[18] Phoronix heavily focuses on benchmarking hardware running Linux, with a heavy slant towards graphics articles that monitor and compare free and open-source graphics device drivers and Mesa 3D with AMD's and Nvidia's proprietary graphics device drivers. In June 2006 the website added forums in addition to news content.[19] On 20 April 2007, Phoronix redesigned its website,[20] and began Solaris hardware reviews and news in addition to Linux content.[21]
Phoronix benchmarks have been cited by a number of other technical publications such as CNET News[22][23] and Slashdot.[24]
OpenBenchmarking
OpenBenchmarking.org is a web-based service created to work with the Phoronix Test Suite. It is a collaborative platform that allows users to share their hardware and software benchmarks through an organized online interface.[25]
Release history
Version | Codename | Date |
---|---|---|
1.0 | Trondheim | 5 June 2008 |
1.2 | Malvik | 3 September 2008 |
1.4 | Orkdal | 3 November 2008 |
1.6 | Tydal | 20 January 2009 |
1.8 | Selbu | 6 April 2009 |
2.0 | Sandtorg | 4 August 2009 |
2.2 | Bardu | 16 November 2009 |
2.4 | Lenvik | 2 February 2010 |
2.6 | Lyngen | 24 May 2010 |
2.8 | Torsken | 31 August 2010 |
3.0 | Iveland | 26 February 2011 |
3.2 | Grimstad | 15 June 2011 |
3.4 | Lillesand | 8 September 2011 |
3.6 | Arendal | 13 December 2011 |
3.8 | Bygland | 19 March 2012 |
4.0 | Suldal | 23 July 2012 |
4.2 | Randaberg | 20 December 2012 |
4.4 | Forsand | 20 February 2013 |
4.6 | Utsira | 21 May 2013 |
4.8 | Sokndal | 13 August 2013 |
5.0 | Plavsk | 12 March 2014 |
5.2 | Khanino | 5 June 2014 |
5.4 | Lipki | 9 December 2014 |
5.6 | Dedilovo | 24 March 2015 |
6.0 | Hammerfest | 6 November 2015 |
6.2 | Gamvik | 16 February 2016 |
6.4 | Hasvik | 2 June 2016 |
7.0 | Ringsaker | 7 March 2017 |
8.0 | Aremark | 5 June 2018 |
8.8 | Hvaler | 13 May 2019 |
9.0 | Asker | 16 September 2019 |
9.2 | Hurdal | 3 December 2019 |
9.4 | Vestby | 23 February 2020 |
On 5 June 2008, Phoronix Test Suite 1.0 was released under the codename Trondheim.[26] This 1.0 release was made up of 57 test profiles and 23 test suites.[27]
On 3 September 2008, Phoronix Test Suite 1.2 was released with support for the OpenSolaris operating system[28] and a module framework accompanied by tests focusing upon new areas[29] and many new test profiles.
Phoronix Test Suite 1.8 includes a graphical user interface (GUI) using GTK+ written using the PHP-GTK bindings.
3.4 includes MATISK benchmarking module and initial support for the GNU Hurd.
Criticism
Phoronix uses Phoronix Test Suite to compare performance of different operating systems – Linux distributions, OpenSolaris, and FreeBSD. Critics of Phoronix Test Suite argue that some of the third-party tests are unfair towards some platforms.
The compiler used in building the source-based tests has a large impact on the results. Depending on the reader's point of view this is seen as a detriment to the value of the results. However other readers may see that as a realistic expectation of performance for that particular system with that operating system. PTS 3.8 reports compiler options and compiler differences between test runs.
See also
References
- "Release History", Phoronix Test Suite, retrieved 13 July 2020
- "Phoronix Test Suite brings Linux benchmarking to the desktop", Linux.com
- "Benchmarking Linux With the Phoronix Test Suite — Worth Taking a Look", LinuxPlanet (reports)
- The Best Benchmarking Platform: Phoronix Test Suite – Linux-based testing platform for software and hardware validation!, Softpedia
- AMD, Intel CPU Charts, tetberichte (in German), Tom's Hardware, archived from the original on 2012-09-14
- ASE labs
- "Suites", Phoronix Test Suite, archived from the original on 2008-06-09, retrieved 2008-06-06
- "Global Database", Phoronix Test Suite, archived from the original on 2008-07-23, retrieved 2008-07-03
- Phoromatic Tracker Launches To Monitor Linux Performance, Phoronix
- "Kernel Performance Tracker", Phoromatic
- "Fedora Rawhide Performance Tracker", Phoromatic, archived from the original on 2012-07-11
- "Ubuntu Performance Tracker", Phoromatic, archived from the original on 2010-04-15, retrieved 2010-05-04
- Announcing PTS Desktop Live 2009.3 "Gernlinden", Phoronix
- "Happy 5th Birthday, Phoronix!". Phoronix. 5 June 2009. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
- "Intel Celeron D". Phoronix. 13 November 2004. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
- "Camo Painting Case Guide". Phoronix. 13 July 2004. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
- "Operating Systems Archives". Phoronix. 25 March 2005. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
- "Software Archives". Phoronix. 21 February 2005. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
- "Forums Launch". Phoronix. 15 June 2006. Retrieved 2010-03-05.
- "Welcome To The New Phoronix". Phoronix. 20 April 2007. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
- "Phoronix To Support Solaris OS". Phoronix. 20 April 2007. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
- Shankland, Stephen. "New Linux look fuels old debate". News.com. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
- Shankland, Stephen. "Intel aims for open-source graphics advantage". News.com. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
- "The State of ATI Drivers on GNU/Linux". Linux. Slashdot. 20 July 2006. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
- "Features". OpenBenchmarking.org. Retrieved 2019-08-06.
- "Demystifying Codenames: Trondheim", Phoronix Test Suite, Phoronix
- News (press release), Yahoo!
- "Phoronix Test Suite 1.2 To Support OpenSolaris", trondheim-pts (mailing list), Jul 2008, archived from the original on 2011-07-15, retrieved 2008-07-14
- "Phoronix Test Suite brings Linux benchmarking to the desktop", Linux.com