Performance Testing
Performance testing as it applies to networks, websites and web-based applications involves load testing. Other performance testing for software and hardware involves benchmarking.
What is Load Testing?
Load testing is employed to determine if your system (application) and servers (website) are equipped to handle the network traffic anticipated at deployment, as well as increased network traffic in the future.
What is the purpose of Load Testing?
What happens when your server or web site is hit by a large number of users at the same time? Will it still function as intended? The basic purpose of load and performance testing an application and/or website is to accomplish the following
- To measure the effects on user experience as total user load is increased
- To measure the average page response time and determine if the performance is acceptable at both average and maximum user loads
- To quantify the upper limit of the hardware being accessed by the application to determine whether the current system is capable of handling the anticipated future loads
What will Load testing my application or website find?
- Capacity of your current system
- Router/firewall problems
- A broken web server, application server or database server
- Load balancing problems
- Bandwidth problems
- Server capacity problems
- Performance (average page response time) problems
How can nResult help you deliver products, websites and IT solutions that perform under stress?
nResult will employ sophisticated load testing tools to put stress on your servers. In 2004, we launched our performance engineering supercomputer laboratory. We physically assembled 1000 computers and integrated them into a harmonious machine, which can orchestrate hundreds of thousands of tasks replicating the computer network of a large modern company. The lab we have created is without parallel in the third party testing world, and creates an enormous resource for companies wishing to develop large-scale systems. Many companies can't afford to do large-scale testing - we provide a solution for them. In addition, the performance engineering lab has been equipped with the latest in automated testing tools to allow for the running of automated scripts and for the automated gathering of data for ultimate presentation. We will establish the maximum performance limits of your application, as well as uncover any unexpected problems that may occur during heavy usage.
What is Benchmarking?
A benchmark is a standard of excellence or achievement used to compare and measure similar products. It is a technique for identifying measurable successes of others and applying them to your own organization. The benchmarking process compares an organization's practices, processes and outcomes to standards of excellence in a systematic way. It is a process that can also be used to design a new system or model.
How can Benchmarking help prepare my product for optimal performance?
To gain insight into your application's behavior and bring about consistent performance, you need to quantify what is frequently only subjective or anecdotal information. Benchmarking programs provide the ability to set acceptability standards based on real world comparisons (such as a competing product or recognized industry standard) and track performance against those standards through each new release. Benchmarking will help you accomplish the following:
- Fine-tune your product and/or its operating environment
- Optimize response time and resource usage
- Verify marketing claims or set price points
- Compare the performance of a product to a competing software or industry standard
- Set and improve production standards
- Identify areas of improvement opportunities
What will a Benchmark reveal about my products?
- Performance issues
- System limitations
- Realistic comparison against known standards
- Areas of improvement opportunities
