Introduction

· What is HTTP/S Load?

· Documentation Conventions

What is HTTP/S Load?

HTTP/S Load, provides all the functionality required to perform HTTP and HTTPS web site performance tests. It is designed to create and run Tests which simulate realistic web scenarios by reproducing the activity of hundreds to thousands of users. Resource utilization information and response times from web application environments under test can be monitored, collected and displayed. This enables you to identify system limitations or faults before launch, or after web services have been modified, in order to help you create reliable web sites that meet your load requirements.

HTTP/S Load combines HTTP/S recording and modeling functionality with Test creation and system data collection. It records browser requests issued during a web session at the HTTP/S level, rather than recording the real time events of a browser. This allows you to create and run Tests, incorporating Scripts created from HTTP/S recordings, that use minimum system resources enabling you to carry out large volume performance Tests.

HTTP/S Load is comprised of several Packages including the OpenSTA Architecture and the Commander GUI (Graphical User Interface) which runs within it. Use Commander to initiate and control the Test development process, including Script creation, Profile creation, Test creation, running Tests, monitoring Test-runs and displaying the results data for analysis after a Test-run is complete.

HTTP/S Load caters for the needs of different users by supplying the full range of function that e-business project managers and system performance testers need. It supplies modular software in which the creation of Scripts, Profiles and Tests are separate processes that can be conducted independently. It provides the functionality required to support the tasks you need to conduct, in order to achieve the objectives of your web performance tests.

Documentation Conventions

This guide uses the following conventions to indicate specific actions. Most of these relate to procedural text and are listed below:

Example	Describes
Click	Pressing the left mouse button.
Click OK	Bold text representing menu options, dialog box selections and key presses.
Right-click	Pressing the right mouse button.
Control-click	Holding down the Control key and pressing the left mouse button.
Select File > New Test	Choosing the New Test option from the File menu. Used mainly in procedural text. Bold text represents menu options. The > indicates the requirement to select each option in sequence.
Alt + 2	Holding down the Alt key and pressing 2.
Fixed-Pitch type	Program code.

Note: Most procedures in Commander are supported by keyboard shortcuts.