NETWORK DRIVE SPEED TEST
ITB SHARE SPEED
A free Windows app that measures the real speed of a network drive or shared folder (SMB) from your computer: large and small files, latency, random reads and the time it takes to open an Excel file. Every run stays in the computer's history, so you can see when the network slows down and by how much. Nothing to install: extract it and run it.
VERSION 0.1.3
WINDOWS 10 / 11 · .NET FRAMEWORK 4.8
INSTALLATIONNONE
ONE PACKAGE · 32-BIT AND 64-BIT
One package for 32-bit and 64-bit Windows 10 and 11. Extract the archive and run ITBShareSpeed.exe; no administrator rights are needed.
- ad2492ce28759f9b40d6d01c33202369a0dd286f93e7d3d40af0057ce9e3a948ITBShareSpeed-0.1.3.zip
FEATURES
What ITB Share Speed does
Real speed, not cache speed. A large file (100 MB by default, adjustable) is written and read unbuffered, so the Windows cache does not inflate the result. Speed is shown in MB/s and Mbit/s together with its stability.
Many small files. 100 files of 100 KB by default (count and size adjustable), with 1 to 16 parallel threads: upload, folder listing, download and delete, measured in files per second. This is how most office programs use a network drive.
Latency. Ping (min, avg, max, jitter and packet loss), TCP port 445 connect time and the SMB file open and close round-trip.
Random reads. 4 KB blocks read in random order: IOPS and response time in milliseconds. This matters for accounting and database programs that keep their data on a network share.
Document opening time. The app creates an Excel workbook of about 1 MB on the share and measures how long it takes to open: a simulated Office open (file read and lock file) and, if Microsoft Excel is installed, the real Excel open time.
Connection context. Each run records the network adapter, connection type (Ethernet, Wi-Fi or VPN), link speed, Wi-Fi signal and free disk space, and when run as administrator also the SMB dialect, signing and encryption.
History and charts. Every run is stored on the computer with its date and time. The history view shows charts over time, the median, best and worst result for 24 hours, 7, 30 or 90 days or all time, speed by hour of day (to spot busy hours) and CSV export for Excel.
Scheduled measurement. Every few hours or daily at a set time through Windows Task Scheduler under your own account, with no administrator rights. The test runs in the background without a window.
Compared with the usual speed. Results are compared with the computer's own history: a tile turns amber or red when a result is much worse than usual.
Tidy, and ready for technicians. Test files are created in a hidden .itbsharespeed folder and deleted after every run. The itbsharespeed-cli.exe command-line tool is there for technicians. The interface is available in Lithuanian and English, with dark and light themes.
MEASUREMENTS
What one test measures
- Large file upload and download: MB/s, Mbit/s and speed stability.
- Small file upload, folder listing, download and delete: files per second.
- Ping: minimum, average and maximum response time, jitter and packet loss.
- TCP 445 connect time and the SMB file open and close round-trip, in milliseconds.
- Random 4 KB reads: IOPS and response time in milliseconds.
- Opening an Excel file of about 1 MB: a simulated Office open and, if Excel is installed, the real open time.
- Connection context: adapter, Ethernet, Wi-Fi or VPN, link speed, Wi-Fi signal, free space, and as administrator also the SMB dialect, signing and encryption.
VERSION 0.1.3 · 2026-10-16
Requirements
- Windows 10 or Windows 11, 32-bit or 64-bit.
- .NET Framework 4.8, which Windows 10 and 11 already include.
- No installation: extract the ZIP archive and run ITBShareSpeed.exe. No administrator rights are needed, scheduled measurement included.
- Write access to the network drive or folder being tested and enough free space for the test files (about 110 MB with the default settings).
- Microsoft Excel is optional: without it only the simulated Office open is measured.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Why does the result differ from the copy speed in Windows Explorer?
When copying, Windows uses its memory cache, so the speed at first looks higher than what the network really carries, and a file opened again may be read from memory. ITB Share Speed writes and reads unbuffered, so it shows the real speed of the network and the server. It also measures many small files separately, and those often move much more slowly than one large file.
What results are normal?
On a wired 1 Gbit/s local network a large file usually moves at 100-115 MB/s, and at about 11 MB/s on a 100 Mbit/s network. Latency on a local network is usually below 1-2 ms. Wi-Fi and VPN results are lower and vary more. What matters most is the comparison with the same computer's history, which the app makes automatically.
How much data does a scheduled test write?
With the default settings one test writes and reads about 110 MB: a 100 MB large file and 100 small files of 100 KB. For hourly measurement choose the Quick preset (a 20 MB large file and 50 small files, about 25 MB): changes show up just as well, and the network and server carry less load.
Where are the test files created?
In the folder you choose, the app creates a hidden .itbsharespeed folder with a subfolder named after this PC and the time. The large file, the small files and the Excel workbook go there and are deleted after every run, even when it fails or is stopped, so Explorer does not show them. During a run the app shows the exact path. Explorer shows the hidden folder only when hidden items are switched on.
Can I measure over Wi-Fi or VPN?
Yes. The app records whether the run used Ethernet, Wi-Fi or VPN, the link speed and the Wi-Fi signal, so the results can be told apart. Wi-Fi speed depends on the signal and other devices, and over VPN the internet connection and the VPN equipment set the limit, so the results are much lower than on a wired network. Compare only runs made in similar conditions.
Why is the first Excel open slower?
The first time Excel starts, Windows loads the program itself and its add-ins, which has nothing to do with the network. That is why Excel start-up is measured separately and is not counted in the file open time. Without Excel installed, only the simulated Office open is shown: reading the file and creating the lock file on the share.
Does the app need to be installed?
No. Extract the ZIP archive to any folder and run ITBShareSpeed.exe. The app needs .NET Framework 4.8, which Windows 10 and Windows 11 already include. No administrator rights are needed, scheduled measurement included: the task is created in Windows Task Scheduler under your own account.
Why does Windows show a warning when I start the app?
The app is not yet digitally signed, so Windows SmartScreen may show a warning. Click More info and then Run anyway. You can check the integrity of the downloaded file against the SHA-256 checksum on this page.
Does the app send data anywhere?
No. ITB Share Speed connects only to the network drive or server you choose and pings it. Results are stored in CSV files in %LOCALAPPDATA%\ITBShareSpeed\results (one per month) and stay on your computer. Test files are created in a hidden .itbsharespeed folder on the share and deleted after every run.
What should I do if the network drive is slow?
Run scheduled measurement for a few days, then export the history to CSV and send it to us. From the speed at different hours, the connection type and the SMB settings we will help find the cause.