Network Download Analyzer (SSL/TLS)

A comprehensive network diagnostics tool that measures download throughput over encrypted SSL/TLS connections. Perfect for understanding network performance patterns and optimizing file transfer scheduling across different times of day.

Overview

This project analyzes your network behavior over time by performing repeated SSL/TLS-encrypted downloads and identifying peak/off-peak performance patterns. It generates actionable insights for scheduling large file transfers, backups, and synchronizations to avoid congestion and maximize throughput.

Core Features:

• SSL/TLS-encrypted network throughput measurement
• Statistical analysis (mean, median, standard deviation, percentiles)
• Temporal performance pattern analysis (hourly grouping)
• Network quality assessment and stability metrics
• Multi-format output (JSON, CSV, text report, PNG visualization)
• Transfer time estimation for various file sizes

Setup

macOS/Linux:

python3 -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate
pip install -r requirements.txt
python3 setup.py

Windows (PowerShell):

python -m venv venv
venv/Scripts/activate
pip install -r requirements.txt
python setup.py

Windows (Command Prompt):

python -m venv venv
venv/Scripts/activate
pip install -r requirements.txt
python setup.py

Usage

After setup is complete, the analyzer will automatically start. Choose from the available test modes:

• Quick Test - 5 downloads, 10s apart (1 minute)
• Short Intervals - 12 downloads, 5min apart (1 hour)
• Standard 24-Hour - 24 downloads, 1hr apart (24 hours)
• Custom - User-defined parameters

The analyzer will begin measuring your network performance. Results are saved to a timestamped directory (results/) with your test data and report.

Understanding Your Report

The generated network_report.txt provides:

• Throughput Metrics — Mean, median, and variability of your download speed
• Quality Rating — EXCELLENT/VERY GOOD/GOOD/FAIR/POOR based on consistency
• Per-Hour Analysis — Shows which hours have faster/slower speeds
• Transfer Estimates — How long different file sizes will take at your speed
• Real-World Suitability — Whether your network supports 4K streaming, video calls, concurrent downloads, etc.
• Recommendations — Best times to transfer files and optimal strategies

Why Use This?

Answers practical questions:

• When should I download large files? → Peak/off-peak hour analysis
• How long will my file take? → Accurate time estimates based on your network
• Is my network stable? → Throughput variability metrics
• What's my network quality level? → Simple EXCELLENT/VERY GOOD/GOOD/FAIR/POOR assessment

Architecture

The analyzer consists of three main components:

• Server (src/server.py) — SSL/TLS server serving a 20MB test file to simulate real-world network conditions

• Client (src/client.py) — Performs encrypted downloads and measures throughput with nanosecond precision

• Analysis Engine (src/analysis.py) — Computes statistical metrics, identifies performance patterns, and generates reports

• 

Output

Each test creates a timestamped directory with:

• download_log.json - Raw results
• download_log.csv - Spreadsheet format
• network_report.txt - Summary with recommendations and time estimates
• throughput_chart.png - Visual throughput graph

Real-World Use Cases

User	Use Case	Benefit
IT Admin	Schedule backups during peak hours	Reduce backup time 2-3x
Remote Worker	Sync large files at optimal times	Avoid video call disruption
Content Creator	Upload videos during stable hours	Reliable completion times
Network Engineer	Monitor 24-hour patterns	Identify bottlenecks

Requirements

• Python 3.8 or higher
• matplotlib (for visualization charts)
• cryptography (for SSL/TLS certificate handling)

Key Capabilities

✓ SSL/TLS-secured throughput measurement
✓ Hourly network performance analysis
✓ File transfer time estimation (100MB to 100GB)
✓ Network stability and quality metrics
✓ Multi-format reporting (JSON, CSV, text, visualization)

Network Metrics Explained

• Mean Throughput — Average download speed across all tests
• Median Throughput — Middle value of all speeds (less affected by outliers)
• Standard Deviation — How much your speeds vary; lower is more stable
• Jitter — Speed variability expressed as a percentage; <10% is excellent
• P95/P99 — Speeds at which 95% and 99% of transfers perform at or above

Project Structure

CN_Project/
├── src/
│   ├── client.py          # Download client with SSL/TLS encryption
│   ├── server.py          # SSL/TLS test server (20MB file)
│   └── analysis.py        # Statistics and report generation
├── data/
│   ├── testfile.bin       # 20MB binary test file
│   ├── server.crt         # SSL certificate (self-signed)
│   └── server.key         # SSL private key
├── results/               # Test results directory
├── README.md
├── requirements.txt
└── setup.py               # Installation and first-run setup

Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
Port 8000 already in use	Kill existing process or use setup.py to configure a different port
SSL certificate errors	Run setup.py to regenerate self-signed certificates
No matplotlib charts	Install matplotlib: pip install matplotlib
Connection refused	Ensure server is running before starting client

Limitations

• Tests use a 20MB file; results apply best to files of similar size
• Local network loop (client-server on same machine) may not reflect ISP speeds
• Peak/off-peak analysis requires longer test duration (recommend 24-hour test)
• One-way transfer measurement; actual bidirectional usage may differ

Contributors

Name	GitHub
Shreya S Mattimadu	github.com/Shreya04M
Shivakumara G P	github.com/shivakumara-gp
Shashank A	github.com/ShadowMarty