Abstract: A system for monitoring the post-deployment performance of a web-based or other transactional server is disclosed. The monitoring system includes an agent component that monitors the performance of the transactional server as seen from one or more geographic locations and reports the performance data to a reports server and/or centralized database. The performance data may include, for example, transaction response times, server response times, network response times and measured segment delays along network paths. Using the reported performance data, the system provides a breakdown of time involved in completion of a transaction into multiple time components, including a network time and a server time. Users view the transaction breakdown data via a series of customizable reports, which assist the user in determining whether the source of the performance problem. Additional features permit the source to be identified with further granularity.

Abstract: A method and system for creating a web transaction test includes sending formatted information such as HTML comprising a parsed testing form to a web browser, receiving formatted messages such as HTTP format from the web browser as a submission from the HTML testing form, and developing a test configuration file from the received HTTP information. At least one section of the parsed testing form is to be filled out from a list of predetermined selections. Preferably, the parsing of the testing from as well as the list of predetermined selections are at least in part based on information contained on the web browser.

Abstract: A server monitoring system monitors the performance of a web site or other Internet server system, as seen by users in multiple geographic access locations, without the need for special monitoring software or hardware within such locations. Automated agents that run at a central data center generate message traffic that is used to access and monitor the server system from the multiple remote locations. The message traffic associated with a particular remote access location is transmitted from the data center to the remote location across a dedicated link, such as an ATM link, and is routed onto the Internet at a corresponding Internet access point. The server response to each request message flows back to the data center across the same link as the corresponding request message. The remote access points thus serve as virtual points of presence for monitoring purposes.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and evaluating the performance of a server comprises a component that monitors a plurality of performance metrics of the server over a period of time while the server responds to requests from clients. An analysis component analyzes the collected performance metric data values to evaluate degrees to which specific performance metrics are related. Causal relationships and dependencies that affect the performance of the server are thereby identified.

Abstract: A testing tool records a user session with a transactional server and generates a test for subsequently testing the server. Through a user interface of the testing tool, the user can define verification steps to automatically test for expected server responses during test execution. The test is displayed to the user as a tree having nodes which represent steps of the test. Via the user interface, the user can modify node properties and perform other types of tree edit operations to edit the test, without the need to know a scripting or other programming language. When a user selects a node that corresponds to a particular field or other object of the server screen, the testing tool automatically displays the screen with the object highlighted. The testing tool also allows the test author to use a spreadsheet to conveniently specify data sets for running multiple iterations of a test.

Abstract: A monitoring system monitors the amount of time spent by specific application components, such as Java components, during execution of specific web site transactions. A probe that runs on an application server initially instruments these components (preferably at component load time) to add code for tracking execution start and stop times. When a monitored transaction is executed by the application server, the probe measures the execution times of the invoked components—preferably at the component method level. The resulting measurement data is reported to a reports server, and is used to provide transaction-specific breakdowns of the amount of time spent by each instrumented component, and optionally each instrumented method within such components. In one embodiment, the probe only monitors transactions initiated by agent-generated transaction request messages that are marked or “colored” for monitoring, and thus ignores transactions initiated by actual users.

Abstract: A load testing system for testing a web site or other type of server system uses a thread architecture that reduces the computing resources needed to generate a desired load. The load testing system runs several virtual users on one or more clients to simulate user interactions with the web site. Each virtual user is executed as a virtual user thread under a process on a client computer. Each virtual user thread itself establishes and supports multiple connections to the web site; therefore, an additional thread need not be created for each connection. For each connection, the virtual user thread performs a sequence of functions in an asynchronous mode to establish and support the connection. If a function cannot complete without blocking, it immediately returns a RESOURCE UNAVAILABLE error code. If a function returns a RESOURCE UNAVAILABLE code, the calling thread switches execution to another task.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and analyzing the post-deployment performance of a web-based or other transactional server is disclosed. The monitoring system includes agent components that monitor and report various performance parameters associated with the transactional server, such as response times seen by end users, server and network times, and various server resource utilization parameters. A web-based reports server displays the data collected by the agents through a series of charts and graphs that indicate whether correlations exist between the response times and lower level parameters. A root cause analysis system applies statistical algorithms to the collected data to detect performance degradations in specific parameters, and uses predefined parameter dependency rules to correlate high level performance problems to likely sources or causes of such problems.

Abstract: A monitoring system provides a service for users to monitor their respective Web sites, or other server systems, as seen from the computing devices of other users. In a preferred embodiment, the system includes an agent component that runs on the computing devices of service users to provide functionality for accessing and monitoring the performance of a server (preferably when such devices are otherwise idle). By running the agent component on a computer, a user effectively makes that computer available to others for use as a monitoring agent. Processing resources for conducting monitoring sessions are thus contributed and shared by members of a community. The agents are remotely configurable over the Internet, and may be configured, for example, to execute a particular Web transaction while monitoring specified performance parameters (server response times, network hop delays, server availability, etc).

Abstract: A system for monitoring and evaluating the performance of a network accessible application comprises one or more load servers, each of which is capable of simulating the load imposed upon the application server by one or more clients. The load servers are configured to execute a particular sequence of server requests in order to evaluate the operation of the server under the specified load. Various performance metrics associated with the operation of the network and the application server are measured during the testing of the server, and these metrics are stored for later access by an analysis module. The analysis module identifies those portions of the test data which are statistically significant and groups these significant parameters to suggest possible relationships between the conditions of the load test and the observed performance results.

Abstract: A testing tool automatically records a series of user steps taken during a user session with a transactional server and generates a test for testing the functionality of server. Through a user interface of the testing tool, the user can define verification steps to automatically test for expected server responses during test execution. The testing tool displays the test to the user as a tree having nodes (displayed as icons) which represent steps of the test. Via the user interface, the user can modify node properties and perform other types of tree edit operations to edit the test, without the need to know a scripting or other programming language. When the user selects a node that corresponds to a particular field or other object of the server screen, the testing tool automatically displays the screen with the object highlighted.

Abstract: A load testing system comprises multiple load testing servers that are configured to apply a load to a target web site, or other target server system, remotely over the Internet. Using a web site associated with the system, a business entity can upload information (transactions to be tested, etc.) about a target server system to be tested. The business entity also preferably sets up a staged implementation of the target system. The uploaded information is used to generate and run one or more load tests against the staged system, and the results are stored in a database that is remotely browsable via various online reports and charts. The system includes a controller that permits an operator to assign load testing tasks to specific load testing servers. The controller preferably implements a load balancing algorithm to distribute a load associated with load test execution events among the load testing servers.

Abstract: A visual Web site analysis program, implemented as a collection of software components, provides a variety of features for facilitating the analysis, management and load-testing of Web sites. A mapping component scans a Web site over a network connection and builds a site map which graphically depicts the URLs and links of the site. Site maps are generated using a unique layout and display methodology which allows the user to visualize the overall architecture of the Web site. Various map navigation and URL filtering features are provided to facilitate the task of identifying and repairing common Web site problems, such as links to missing URLs. A dynamic page scan feature enables the user to include dynamically-generated Web pages within the site map by capturing the output of a standard Web browser when a form is submitted by the user, and then automatically resubmitting this output during subsequent mappings of the site.

Abstract: A service provider remotely load-tests web sites or other transactional servers over the Internet using a hosted service. The service is particularly useful for load testing a web site or web site application that has not yet been deployed. Initially, the owner or operator of the web site (“customer”) registers with the service through an online registration process. The customer also makes a staged implementation of the web site accessible to the service provider over the Internet. Using information remotely obtained from the customer during registration, the service provider develops the load test and then executes the load test from a remote server farm. The server farm preferably has sufficient processing power to simulate tens or hundreds of thousands of concurrent users. The customer may also have the opportunity to participate in the load testing process using a hosted collaboration application.

Abstract: A visual Web site analysis program, implemented as a collection of software components, provides a variety of features for facilitating the analysis and management of Web sites and Web site content. A mapping component scans a Web site over a network connection and builds a site map which graphically depicts the URLs and links of the site. Site maps are generated using a unique layout and display methodology which allows the user to visualize the overall architecture of the Web site. Various map navigation and URL filtering features are provided to facilitate the task of identifying and repairing common Web site problems, such as links to missing URLs. A dynamic page scan feature enables the user to include dynamically-generated Web pages within the site map by capturing the output of a standard Web browser when a form is submitted by the user, and then automatically resubmitting this output during subsequent mappings of the site.

Abstract: A monitoring system allows users to monitor the post-deployment performance of a web-based or other transactional server. The system includes an agent component (“agent”) which can be installed on computers (“agent computers”) that have access to the transactional server, including computers of actual users of the transactional server. The agent simulates the actions of actual users of the transactional server while monitoring the server's performance. The specific transactions to be performed by the agent computers are specified by testcases that are dispatched to the agent computers using a controller component (“controller”). As each agent computer executes a testcase, it reports the execution results (performance data) in real-time to a web-based reports server which stores the results in a centralized database.

Abstract: A testing tool automatically records a series of user steps taken during a user session with a transactional server and generates a test for testing the functionality of server. Through a user interface of the testing tool, the user can define verification steps to automatically test for expected server responses during test execution. The testing tool displays the test to the user as a tree having nodes (displayed as icons) which represent steps of the test. Via the user interface, the user can modify node properties and perform other types of tree edit operations to edit the test, without the need to know a scripting or other programming language. When the user selects a node that corresponds to a particular field or other object of the server screen, the testing tool automatically displays the screen with the object highlighted.

Abstract: A visual Web site analysis program, implemented as a collection of software components, provides a variety of features for facilitating the analysis and management of Web sites and Web site content. A mapping component scans a Web site over a network connection and builds a site map which graphically depicts the URLs and links of the site. Site maps are generated using a unique layout and display methodology which allows the user to visualize the overall architecture of the Web site. Various map navigation and URL filtering features are provided to facilitate the task of identifying and repairing common Web site problems, such as links to missing URLs. A dynamic page scan feature enables the user to include dynamically-generated Web pages within the site map by capturing the output of a standard Web browser when a form is submitted by the user, and then automatically resubmitting this output during subsequent mappings of the site.

Abstract: A visual Web site analysis program, implemented as a collection of software components, provides a variety of features for facilitating the analysis and management of web sites and Web site content. A mapping component scans a Web site over a network connection and builds a site map which graphically depicts the URLs and links of the site. Site maps are generated using a unique layout and display methodology which allows the user to visualize the overall architecture of the Web site. Various map navigation and URL filtering features are provided to facilitate the task of identifying and repairing common Web site problems, such as links to missing URLs. A dynamic page scan feature enables the user to include dynamically-generated Web pages within the site map by capturing the output of a standard Web browser when a form is submitted by the user, and then automatically resubmitting this output during subsequent mappings of the site.

Abstract: A system and a method for automatic detection of physical network topology, by correlating information from computers connected to the network. Preferably, this information is gathered through the operation of a plurality of agents, which are distributed throughout the network and which are operated by a computer connected to the network. More preferably, the agents exchange information in order to at least partially determine the physical topology of the network. In addition, information is preferably gathered from other sources of physical topology information, such as bridging tables from network switches. The physical topology is preferably built by first determining the relative location of the agents, such as the segment of the network on which the agent is located. Next, switches and other connectivity elements are added in order to connect these segments, and additional segments are created from other sources of information. The remaining connections are then determined.