Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring network performance and performing stress analysis are disclosed. The disclosed method and apparatus measure system delays through a network while selectively placing loads on nodes in the network. Each node in the network recognizes and processes a directed load/performance message (DLP) that travels along a specified route and measures the delays within the network. The directed load/performance message is a self-guided packet that traverses the network along a path specified by the initiator of the message. Each node inserts its current (local) time into the directed load/performance message as the node processes the DLP message on both the forward and reverse legs of the specified path. The delay seen by each node in the network can be obtained by subtracting the time-stamps inserted in the message by each node as the node processes the message in each direction.