This file contains important information that may not appear in SilkPerformer Online Help. Read this file in its entirety.
For information about installation, deployment, and licensing issues (including the evaluation version of SilkPerformer), see the SilkPerformer Installation Guide.
For an overview of the new features in the current release, see the What's New section below.
| Contents | ||
|---|---|---|
| What's New | Tested Software | Installation Instructions |
| System Requirements | Virtual User Types | |
| Known/Resolved Issues | Getting Help | |
SilkPerformer offers a plug-in framework for third-party diagnostics tools to provide top-down
analysis of errors and performance problems starting from the end user view down to the individual component/line
of the application code. SilkPerformer's TrueLog Explorer and Performance Explorer provide seamless linkage to diagnostics
tools, minimizing the time to detect the root-cause of performance bottlenecks and load dependent errors.
When analyzing individual user sessions in TrueLog Explorer you can drill into third-party
diagnostics tools for a detailed performance and error analysis of single execution paths.
Plug-ins that implement the Performance Explorer diagnostics interface can be called from
the Overview Report/Ranking section, thus providing performance breakdown information
across all virtual users for each ranking measurement.
SilkPerformer 2006 ships with a plug-in for dynaTrace Diagnostics which provides in-depth Java/J2EE and .NET application performance and error diagnostics down to the code level.
SilkPerformer 2006 supports integration with Borland's StarTeam 2005 that enables you to manage
and share your SilkPerformer project files, test scripts, custom include files, and data files.
SilkPerformer's source control integration with StarTeam supports file check-in, check-out,
get-latest-version, and other functions typical for source control systems.
To learn about the StarTeam 2005 integration, see the SilkPerformer User Guide, chapter 'Source Control Integration'.
SilkPerformer 2006 ships with a new User Guide that is also available as PDF.
Process Functions
Remedy Functions
SAP Functions
Web Functions
Each computer that is to be used in a load test must meet the minimum hardware and software requirements listed below.
For details about SilkPerformer performance and scalability, please see the Performance and Scalability Matrix below.
To install agent software, or both controller and agent software, and use the full potential of SilkPerformer to run heavy load-tests, your system must meet the following minimum requirements:
Load Testing
| System Area | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Processor | Pentium IV or equivalent CPU |
| RAM | 512 MB (1024 MB recommended) |
| Virtual memory | Three times as much virtual memory as RAM |
| Network | Windows network with TCP/IP (when using remote SilkPerformer agent computers) |
| Network adapter | 10 MBit (fast Ethernet recommended) |
Recording, Monitoring, and Scripting
To use SilkPerformer functionality only for traffic recording purposes, monitoring and scripting, the following minimum system requirements are sufficient:
| System Area | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Processor | Pentium IV or equivalent CPU |
| RAM | 256 MB |
| Network | TCP/IP |
To install and use SilkPerformer, your system requires a minimum set of software components.
Supported Operating Systems
SilkPerformer cannot be installed on computers running Windows 95, 98, or ME. Windows NT is not supported.
Other Required Software Components
The specific components that are required vary based on installation type. For example, to run SilkPerformer Java Explorer, your system must be equipped with a Java 2 SDK. All required components are included on the SilkPerformer Installation CD. Components can also be downloaded from their respective vendors' Web sites. See the SilkPerformer Installation Guide for full details.
| Max. # of Vusers per agent |
Web Business App. |
Web Business App. with SSL(-35%) |
Web low level (+20%) |
Recommended #NICs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4xPIII, 1GHz, 4 GByte RAM |
5900 | 3800 | 7100 | 4 |
| 1xPIV, 2GHz, 2 GByte RAM |
4000 | 2600 | 4800 | 2 |
| 2xPIII, 1GHz, 2 GByte RAM |
3600 | 2300 | 4300 | 2 |
| 1xPIII, 1GHz, 1 GByte RAM |
1900 | 1200 | 2300 | 1 |
| 1xPIII, 1GHz, 512 MByte RAM |
800 | 500 | 1000 | 1 |
| 1xPIII, 600Mhz, 512 MByte RAM |
800 | 500 | 1000 | 1 |
| 1xPIII, 600Mhz, 256 MByte RAM |
300 | 200 | 400 | 1 |
Note:
Web Business App uses Page-based Browser-level API (HTML/HTTP)
Web low level uses Browser-level API (HTTP)
Numbers are based on Intel CPUs.
We recommend using single processor agent computers, as they provide the best cost/performance ratio.
Test Parameters:
The numbers of the table above have been determined using a realistic workload with the following characteristics:
The page structure of all requested Web pages corresponds to very popular public Web pages.
The average think-times of all virtual users were about 32 seconds between each subsequent page view, which is a realistic value.
A single virtual user was emulated with 4 concurrent connections, which is a realistic Web browser emulation.
This means that the number of virtual user simulated corresponds to a realistic number of concurrent users accessing a popular Web site resulting in:
Avg. Hits/page: 39
Avg. page size: 130 kByte
Avg. think time between pages: 32 sec
Formula:
Look up the virtual user value from the "User vs CPU" and the "User vs RAM" graph that match the configuration of your agent machines.
From both virtual user values you have received take the minimum value in order to find out how many virtual users your agent machine supports (Web Business App).
Ex: 1xPIII, 1 GHz, 512MB RAM
1) User vs CPU = 2000 vuser
2) User vs RAM = 850 vuser
Min (1, 2) = 850 vuser
-> Agent machines support max. about 850 vuser
For an up-to-date list of resolved defects and known issues/workarounds, please refer to the online Release Notes Add-On.
TopFor an up-to-date list of tested software, please refer to the online Release Notes Add-On.
TopThe available Virtual User Types (VUser Types) Web, Standard, and Premium include the following SilkPerformer application types:
| VUser Type | Application Type |
|---|---|
| Web |
HTTP(S) (Web browser low level) HTTP(S)/HTML (Web browser high level) HTTP(S)/XML (Web services, SOAP) SAP NetWeaver WebDAV (MS Outlook Web Access) Email (SMTP/POP) FTP TCP/IP UDP i-Mode (HTTP) Macromedia Flash Remoting Add-On Streaming Media (MS, Real) DLL Interface |
| Standard | All of Web, plus: .Net Add-On Java Add-On DB2-CLI Add-On OCI Add-On ODBC Add-On (D)Com Add-On Visual Basic Add-On (Framework) Directory server (LDAP) CORBA Add-On |
| Premium | All of Standard, plus: SAPGUI Add-On for SilkPerformer Oracle Applications/Forms Add-On PeopleSoft Add-On Siebel Add-On Citrix Add-On Terminal Emulation (Green-Screen) Add-On Tuxedo/ATMI Add-On WAP Add-On |
If you have questions about Borland products or want to contact Borland Technical Support, visit the Borland Technical Support Web site
TopFor information about installation, deployment, and licensing issues (including the evaluation version of SilkPerformer), see the SilkPerformer Installation Guide.
Top