title: Specify read buffer size in NetCDF (Python or C)
body: <p>I would like to benchmark <code>NetCDF</code> <code>I/O</code> performance compared to reading a plain binary file in <code>Python</code> and <code>C</code>.</p>
  
  <p>For reading the binary file, I have defined different buffer sizes to read. Here is the code of the read function in <code>Python</code>:</p>
  
  <pre><code>def parse_os_read(filename, buffersize):
      f = open(filename, 'rb')
      for loops in itertools.count():
          record = f.read(buffersize)
          if not record:
              break
      return loops
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I can then call this function with different buffer sizes ranging from 64 KB to several 100 MB.</p>
  
  <p>I would like to implement now a comparable sequential reading benchmark for <code>NetCDF</code>. However, I could not identify a read function, where I can set a pre-defined buffer size. I assume the <code>NetCDF</code> file should have a 1D array with random <code>floats</code> as a data structure.</p>
  
  <p>Any thoughts?</p>