nym/documentation/docs/pages/operators/performance-and-testing.mdx

import { Callout } from 'nextra/components';
import { Tabs } from 'nextra/components';
import { MyTab } from 'components/generic-tabs.tsx';
import { AccordionTemplate } from 'components/accordion-template.tsx';
import NodePerfWG from 'components/operators/snippets/node-perf-wg.mdx';
import NodePerfMixnet from 'components/operators/snippets/node-perf-mixnet.mdx';

# Performance Monitoring & Testing

As Nym developers constantly improve the software, the role of Node Operators is to keep their nodes up to date, monitor their performance and share feedback with the rest of the community and Nym team. Node performance measurements and [server monitoring](#monitoring) are an essential pillar of our common work. 

Nym Network is routed either through the Mixnet (5-hop) or through Wireguard (2-hop). In all cases Nym node operators always employ only one binary called [`nym-node`](/operators/nodes/nym-node). Through provided arguments (or changes in the config file), `nym-node` can be utilised for different [functionalities](/operators/nodes/nym-node/setup#functionality-mode). However, once it's [registered to Nym Network](/operators/nodes/nym-node/bonding) it's by default available for Nym Mixnet not for Wireguard routing. Only nodes with Wireguard enabled, are also available for Wireguard routing. This creates a situation where every Wireguard enabled `nym-node` is required to have a solid performance score in Mixnet to begin with, but not every Mixnet routing `nym-node` must have Wireguard enabled. 

Given this complexity, we divided the part below about perfromance calculation logic and node selection into two parallel tabs: Mixnet and Wireguard. 

<div>
  <Tabs items={[
    <strong>Mixnet: Nodes Performance Calculation</strong>,
    <strong>WireGuard: Gateways Performance Calculation</strong>,
    ]} defaultIndex="0">
    <MyTab><NodePerfMixnet /></MyTab>
    <MyTab><NodePerfWG /></MyTab>
  </Tabs>
</div>


## Functionality & Performance Check

If you want to check your nodes performance, connectivity and much more, see some of the dashobards:

- [Node Status dashboard](https://node-status.nym.com/dvpn): Shows latest probe results on one board
- [Nym Node Status Observatory](https://harbourmaster.nymtech.net): New version of a good old Nym Harbourmaster, allowing operators preview stats of each node

For more information about available endpoints and their status, you can refer to [`nymvpn.com/api/public/v1/directory/gateways`](https://nymvpn.com/api/public/v1/directory/gateways) or see directly self described endpoints of your node:
```sh
# sustitude <IPv4_ADDRESS> or <HOSTNAME> with the one corresponding to your node
# for http
http://<IPv4_ADDRESS>:8080/api/v1/swagger/#/
# or
http://<IPv4_ADDRESS>/api/v1/swagger/#/

# for reversed proxy/WSS
https://<HOSTNAME>/api/v1/swagger/#/
```
<AccordionTemplate name="✏️ Example: Accessing self-described endpoints">
For example to determine which mode your node is running, you can check the `:8080/api/v1/roles` endpoint:
```sh
# sustitude <IPv4_ADDRESS> or <HOSTNAME> with the one corresponding to your node
# for http
http://<IPv4_ADDRESS>:8080/api/v1/roles
# or
http://<IPv4_ADDRESS>/api/v1/roles

# for reversed proxy/WSS
https://<HOSTNAME>/api/v1/roles
```
</AccordionTemplate>

## Monitoring

There are multiple ways to monitor performance of nodes and the machines on which they run. For the purpose of maximal privacy and decentralisation of the data - preventing Nym Mixnet from any global adversary takeover - we created these pages as a source of mutual empowerment, a place where operators can share and learn new skills to **setup metrics monitors on their own infrastructure**.

### Guides to Setup Own Metrics

A list of different scripts, templates and guides for easier navigation:

* [`nym-gateway-probe`](performance-and-testing/gateway-probe.mdx) - a useful tool used under the hood of [Node Status Observatory](https://harbourmaster.nymtech.net)
* [Prometheus and Grafana](performance-and-testing/prometheus-grafana.mdx) self-hosted setup
* [Nym-node CPU cron service](https://gist.github.com/tommyv1987/97e939a7adf491333d686a8eaa68d4bd) - an easy bash script by Nym core developer [@tommy1987](https://gist.github.com/tommyv1987), designed to monitor a CPU usage of your node, running locally
* Nym's script [`prom_targets.py`](https://github.com/nymtech/nym/blob/develop/scripts/prom_targets.py) - a useful python program to request data from API and can be run on its own or plugged to more sophisticated flows

### Collecting Testing Metrics

For the purpose of the performance testing Nym core developers plan to run instances of Prometheus and Grafana connected to Node explorer in the house. The network overall key insights we seek from these tests are primarily internal. We're focused on pinpointing bottlenecks, capacity loads, and monitoring cpu usage on the nodes' machines.

{/* LEAVING THIS BIT FOR FUTURE F&F CASES:
## Testing

<Callout type="info" emoji="ℹ️">
For the moment we paused Fast and Furious `perf` environment. All load and speed testing is carried on directly Nym Mainnet as this is the only way to collect real performance data.
</Callout>

We do testing in order to **understand and increase the overall quality of the Nym Network**. The main takeaways of such event are:

1. Understanding of the network behavior under full load
    - How many mixnet client users can all active set entry gateways handle simultaneously?
    - How much sustained IP traffic can a subset of mainnet nodes sustain?
2. Needed improvements of Nym Node binaries to improve the throughput on mainnet
3. Measurement of required machine specs
4. Raw data record
5. Increase quality of Nym Nodes
6. Show each operator a way to monitor their nodes in a distributed fashion
7. Adjust rewarding based on the machine specs and server pricing

Visit [Nym Harbour Master](https://harbourmaster.nymtech.net/) monitoring page to monitor network components (nodes) performance.
*/}