The Ultimate Linux Testing and Benchmarking Package - Phoronix Test Suite 1.0.0 Released

Today marks Phoronix.com’s 4th anniversary and in celebration we have announced the release of Phoronix Test Suite “Trondheim” 1.0. Phoronix Test Suite 1.0 is the most comprehensive testing and benchmarking platform available for Linux and is designed to carry out qualitative and quantitative tests in a clean, reproducible, and easy-to-use manner.

This GPLv3 software is shipping with 57 test profiles and 23 test suites covering many aspects of the Linux desktop. Furthermore, independent users can easily write their own profiles using this framework and the documented, standardized XML specification. In forthcoming releases we’ll be adding even more profiles and features! The Phoronix Test Suite supports reporting test results from any (official or user-created) profile to PTS Global, a publicly-controlled repository of all results with advanced sorting, graphing, and display features.

imagezf5 The Ultimate Linux Testing and Benchmarking Package - Phoronix Test Suite 1.0.0 Released

Key Features of 1.0.0:

57 test profiles
23 test suites
Automatic detection of installed hardware and software
All tests written in a documented, standardized XML-based specification
Support for housing multiple tests within a test suite
Automatic installation of tests
Support for running tests in batch mode
Unified system (thermal, fan speed, voltage) monitoring while tests are running
Automatic control of ambient services such as power management and screensaver
Side-by-side results comparison viewer
Integrated visual graphing support of test results
Online results repository via PTS Global
Test profiles compatible across Linux distributions, architectures

The Phoronix Test Suite was designed to be highly extensible. This software is provided under the GNU GPLv3 license to allow independent developers and companies to use this framework with the included tests, write test profiles for their own applications, or utilize third-party sources. A basic test profile can be written in a matter of minutes using the documented, standardized XML-based specification with support for installing the software, carrying out the programmed tests, and reporting the results. Through the turnkey deployment capabilities of the Phoronix Test Suite each test is run in a standardized, easy to use, and repeatable fashion on any Linux distribution and any system configuration.

The Phoronix Test Suite can be downloaded at http://www.phoronix-test-suite.com/. Going forward, Phoronix Media will provide regular point releases with the next major update being planned for a Q4′08 release.

Read more about Phoronix Test Suite 1.0.0 Release in this article.

In future, if there will be an opportunity to take up hardware reviews and testing on more regular basis, PTS is going to be my primary tool on Linux, as it is truly complete. I hope the package will soon have the feature built in which will allow to quickly compare other benchmark sessions side by side.