Prep your Web apps for stellar performances

After they have been saved, the scripts are then accessible in the Project Navigator browser window. The next step is to generate a load test. To do this, Proxy Sniffer constructs a Java app on the fly. After it has been saved and compiled, the load-test application is available within the Project Navigator.

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Developers can then define the parameters for load-test execution. In my tests I defined remote-agent execution using Unix and Linux machines and parameters, such as the number of virtual users and the length of the test run.

After my tests had been started, I was able to connect to and monitor them in yet another browser session. During the run time, testers can view summary and detailed statistics. When executing tests on the local network or across multiple proxies, Proxy Sniffer proved easy to configure and run.

At the conclusion of the tests, a simple click on a button acquired the output from the test into the analysis component of Proxy Sniffer. Particularly impressive are Proxy Sniffer's reporting and comparison facilities. Of the three tools tested here, it offers the most detailed reporting capabilities. I particularly liked its PDF output and comparison facilities. I simply entered a file name and generated a PDF that contained detailed data and charts from the test results.

After running several iterations of load tests to simulate baseline load plus successive business growth for three- and six-month intervals, I selected multiple test results, chose the comparison type (load curve or bar charts), and clicked the compare button.

It became quite clear that by the six-month interval, I would need to add servers to support the intended load, as the response time would have gone beyond the test SLA that I had previously defined. The compare charts and detailed drill down clearly showed the slowdown in response time with increased load. I successfully exported the comparison in HTML form.

Of the three solutions tested here, Proxy Sniffer offers the best ratio of features to price. In particular, its cross-platform support, ease-of-use, and in-depth reporting make it a strong contender and well worth short-list consideration if you are evaluating Web load-testing tools.

PureLoad Enterprise Edition 3.3.1

When compared with OpenSTA and Proxy Sniffer, PureLoad Enterprise Edition is capable of handling a broader range of testing duties. It is fully capable of testing Web sites and Web applications, but it also can be used to load test other enterprise technologies, such as JDBC connections, SMTP activities, and LDAP interactions.

A Java-based application, PureLoad is available in both a Web Edition (HTTP and HTTPS load testing) and an Enterprise Edition (Web load testing plus enterprise application load testing). If you need a single tool to gauge the performance and scalability of several types of technologies, PureLoad is a solid choice and should be on the short list.

When viewed through the lens of purely Web-based load-testing glasses, PureLoad is a tad pricey, though you get a lot for the money.