[Hidden-tech] Stress Testing Web Applications

[Tom Goldsmith]

Whatever tools you find, and however you
generate load, be sure you also do some
"collateral" testing with REAL USERS.

The trick is to get load up with whatever
tools you can find.  Monitor your servers
to see that the load is true and realistic,
and then at the same time get in with a
"human" user or two to see that you have
full functionality when load is in place.
Also, if any parts of your application do
error logging, of course you should be
prepared to look at those logs.  ...Real
time with a "tail" function, if possible.

Be realistic about the amount of load you
want to test.  Not an astronomical number
of users at the start.  And see that a
modest amount of load works well before
you increase the intensity of your test.
Do any really heavy, peak load testing,
only after you've confirmed that your
initial daily ambitions will be met with
good service.

As you may gather, I suggest having a
good "Performance und Load Test Plan"
in place from the start to increase the
quality of your measurements, and your
effectiveness.

I've done a few such plans, and would be
glad to discuss issues with you.

Tom Goldsmith

=====================================================

TTGsmith at TGandA.com
Thomas Goldsmith & Associates
Tel: 617-723-9494

-----Original Message-----
From: hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net
[mailto:hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net]On Behalf Of Colin
Mitchell
Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2006 8:53 AM
To: hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net
Subject: RE: [Hidden-tech] Stress Testing Web Applications


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Apache comes with a few such tools:

http://httpd.apache.org/test/
http://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.0/programs/ab.html

I've used ab a couple of times and it was reasonably helpful.

HTH,
Colin



-----Original Message-----
From: hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net
[mailto:hidden-discuss-bounces at lists.hidden-tech.net] On Behalf Of Ben
Liyanage
Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2006 12:42 AM
To: hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net
Subject: [Hidden-tech] Stress Testing Web Applications

   ** Be a Good Dobee and help the group, you must be counted to post .
   ** Fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.


Does anyone have any suggestions for software that will perform stress tests
on a web application.  In particular I am looking for something that is
free/cheap, and simple to use.

One company I am working for needs to stress test a CMS that we are using,
and we need to make sure that the CMS can handle our predicted traffic.

Thanks in advance for any feedback,

Ben Liyanage
ben at smartankgroup.com
410.336.2464