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What is OpenSTA?
Open, Systems Testing Architecture
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OpenSTA is a distributed software testing architecture designed around
CORBA, it was originally developed to be commercial software by
CYRANO.
The current toolset has the capability of performing scripted HTTP and
HTTPS heavy load tests with performance measurements from Win32 platforms.
However, the architectural design means it could be capable of much more.
Web Load Testing
HTTP Stress & Performance Tests
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The applications that make up the current OpenSTA toolset were designed
to be used by performance testing consultants or other technically
proficient individuals. This means testing is performed using the record
and replay metaphor common in most other similar commercially available
toolsets. Recordings are made in the tester's own browser producing simple
scripts that can be edited and controlled with a special high level
scripting language. These scripted sessions can then be played back to
simulate many users by a high performance load generation engine. Using
this methodology a user can generate realistic heavy loads simulating the
activity of hundreds to thousands of virtual users.
Data Collection
Timers, Windows Performance
& SNMP Statistics
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Results and statistics are collected during test runs by a variety of
automatic and user controlled mechanisms. These can include scripted
timers, SNMP data, Windows Performance Monitor stats and HTTP results &
timings. Much of the data logged can be monitored live during the test
runs; once test runs are complete, logs can be viewed, graphed, filtered
and exported for use by more sophisticated report generation software.
Completely Free & Open Source
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The OpenSTA toolset is Open Source software licensed under the GNU
GPL (General Public License), this means it is free and will always remain
free. If you wish to build your own customized version of OpenSTA or take
part in its development then the complete toolset source code, buildable in
Microsoft Visual Studio 6, and all related information is available from
OpenSTA.SourceForge.net, the developer
home site.
Community Supported
Development Driven by the Users
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Much more information can be found out about OpenSTA by checking the
online documentation or simply
downloading and installing the toolset. The
FAQ contains lots of
other useful background information and helpful tips, this should be the
first place you look if you need help with anything not covered in the
documentation. There is no need to stop at reading the FAQ either, it is
hosted on the
OpenSTA Community Portal and, in
common with every other resource on this site, it is user editable. This
site is a great place for every OpenSTA user to share their experiences
with the product and help others learn and use OpenSTA: Remember, the
toolset is completely free and any time the developers spend helping users
is time they are not enhancing, or fixing problems with, the toolset. By
helping other users you are in fact helping OpenSTA and its community
become stronger. The premier place for free OpenSTA support and
discussions is the
OpenSTA
Users Mailing List, here the developers and many long time users of this
toolset give as much help as their freetime will allow.
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