Methods / L4 / UDP-ZERO
L4 · NetworkVolumetricUDPHigh-PPSSpoofable
UDP-ZERO stress test
Floods your target with empty payloadless UDP packets to maximize raw throughput and packet count without any payload overhead.
How it works
Each datagram carries no payload at all, so the entire packet is header. This removes any cost tied to generating or carrying payload bytes and lets the sender push packets at maximum efficiency. The method validates how your edge handles a clean, content-free flood where there is nothing to inspect and detection must rely on volume, rate, and source behavior alone.
Parameters
Packet rate600k ppsPrimary tunable, packets per second per thread
Payload bytes0 bytesEmpty datagram, headers only
Threads1-16Parallel senders to scale aggregate rate
Duration10-600 sTest window length
Run it from the CLI
retro-cli
$ retro run udp-zero --target 203.0.113.45 --port 443 --duration 120
UDP-ZERO FAQ
Is UDP-ZERO testing legal?+
Only against infrastructure you own or are authorized to test. RETRO//STRESS requires authorized targets.
What does UDP-ZERO stress?+
Floods your target with empty payloadless UDP packets to maximize raw throughput and packet count without any payload overhead.
Can I combine it with other methods?+
Yes, add it as a step in a packet chain to sequence it with other protocols.