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Filebench
What it is
Filebench is a Linux file-system and storage benchmark that generates workloads to examine I/O behavior. It supports micro- and macro-benchmarking, with random and sequential tests, IOPS measurement, and latency measurement. Users can describe application I/O patterns in Workload Model Language (WML), specifying filesets, processes, threads, and flow operations. The project includes workload personalities for mail, web, file, and database servers, and names webserver, fileserver, and mailserver as predefined examples. The documentation cautions that shipped workloads may not be sized for a particular system, and recommends copying and adjusting them. Filebench is free, with a listed plan price of free and no usage limits stated. It provides a command-line interface and runs on Linux. The README describes compiling and installing it with configure, make, and sudo make install; yacc and lex are required. The project directs questions, bug reports, and feature requests to GitHub Issues. Its license is the Common Development and Distribution License, Version 1.0.
For and against
For
- Supports both micro- and macro-benchmarking
- Workloads can be described with WML
- Includes several server workload examples
- Measures IOPS and latency
Against
- Runs on Linux only
- Building requires yacc and lex
- Shipped workloads may need system-specific adjustments
The verdict
Filebench offers customizable workloads alongside predefined examples for storage benchmarking. Users should account for its Linux platform and the documented build requirements.
Who it suits
Filebench suits Linux users who need to generate and customize storage workloads, including for mail, web, file, or database server patterns. It is a command-line tool that requires building and installing from source as described in its README.
Plans and prices
Filebench
No price or usage limits stated
Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- Benchmark types
- The README says Filebench supports both micro- and macro-benchmarking.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Built-in workloads
- The project includes workload personalities such as mail, web, file, and database server workloads.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Custom workloads
- Users can describe application I/O behavior with Filebench’s Workload Model Language (WML).github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The README describes compiling and installing Filebench with configure, make, and sudo make install, with yacc and lex required.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- License
- The repository’s LICENSE file identifies the Common Development and Distribution License (CDDL), Version 1.0.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Predefined examples
- The documentation names webserver, fileserver, and mailserver as predefined workloads.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Filebench is a file system and storage benchmark that generates a variety of workloads.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project directs questions, bug reports, and feature requests to GitHub Issues.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Workload sizing
- The documentation cautions that shipped workloads may not be sized for a particular system and recommends copying and adjusting them.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Workload structure
- Filebench workloads can define filesets, processes, threads, and flow operations.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026