Web Application Performance

Internal

• Performance

Methodology

Set up the performance testing environment.

Platform

Map it (Performance Testing Environment.odg)- get a diagram that shows:

• Hosts (names, IP addresses/subnet masks, external ports).
• Represent all network interfaces and their connectivity to various networks. It helps to understand how the hosts are interconnected - on the diagram.
• Represent processes
  • Load Agent
  • Proxy
  • Application Server
  • Database
• Document the procedures to stop/start the processes - some load tests may need the processes to be completed shut down and restarted. Usually there's an "Environment" document associate with the environment where all these procedures are documented.
• Encode log locations as aliases (al, jbl, etc.)
• If the target are Windows machines, it's a good idea to install Cygwin - it'll improve productivity and provide a lot of good tools.
• Annotate the environment diagram with the RAM and CPU amount on each host.

Application Server

• Identify the application server configuration file and its location on disk.
• Represent the database connection pools and the connections to their respective databases on the diagram. For JBoss, look for jboss:domain:datasources.

Distribute in the Right Place

• Put in place monitoring for CPU, physical RAM, open file descriptors and other system resources.