Although NeoLoad is not a tool for functional testing, it can carry out checks on content returned by the server. Validations using regular expression-based content assertions allow you to perform basic functional tests.

No, NeoLoad is commercial software.

Neotys offers different types of NeoLoad software license to suit the customer's specific usage requirements. Each license key gives access to the controller and defines the number of simulated users and monitors allowed. Load generators are not covered by the license, so you can install as many of these as you wish.

The standard NeoLoad license allows the controller to be installed on one single machine. The end user may purchase either a permanent license or a leased license.

There is also the floating license option, which allows you to use the same license for several machines using a license server (one simultaneous user per license). The license server can manage several license keys, thereby allowing several simultaneous users.

A service provider's license is also available.

Contact for more details on available licenses.

The standard NeoLoad license allows you to install a single controller and as many load generators as you wish to generate the required load. You may not use more than one controller with each standard license.

A floating license allows you to install several controllers on different machines and to launch one controller for each floating license.

Install a standard NeoLoad license key as follows:

Installing a license key

A standard license may be transferred from one workstation to another. This operation de-activates the key on the first machine, making NeoLoad inoperative with that key on that machine.

The procedure is as follows:

Transferring a license key

This will depend on the application tested, the scenario and its parameters, particularly the think time between pages: a load generator can generate approximately twice as heavy a load with a think time of two seconds than with a think time of one second.

Likewise, generating a load using HTTPS (SSL) and using modules such as Flex, GWT, Oracle Forms, Java Serialization and RTMP use up more machine resources than with HTTP.

As an example, a Pentium IV 2.4GHz can generate up to 1500 Hits/sec. A load generator typically can generate between 500 and 1500 users on a standard application.

It should be noted that the NeoLoad controller can use as many load generators as is required to generate the number of users specified in the license, at no additional cost.

To carry out tests using heavy loads, it may be necessary to install a load generator on another machine.

The license does not limit you in the number of load generators you can install.

The installation may be carried out using the special load generator installer. Several versions are available according to the machine's platform.

The program may be downloaded from the Neotys web site.

This dedicated version of the load generator does not require a license key to be installed. The program installs automatically via the NeoLoad agent, which detects and controls the load generator from a NeoLoad controller.

Yes. See the section called “Using a Firewall Between the Controller and Load Generator” for further information.

It doesn't matter which web or application server is used. NeoLoad lets you test any HTTP application: ASP, .Net, J2EE, PHP etc.

Yes. NeoLoad records all HTTP requests.

Applications using Ajax send HTTP requests to the web servers; NeoLoad will create an HTTP page containing the request for each action.

You will then be able to vary this request just like any other request and to verify the server response.

NeoLoad supports Basic, Digest, NTLM, Kerberos and form-based authentication.

Yes. NeoLoad can record HTTPS requests and play them back.

What's more, NeoLoad also supports client certificate authentication. It should be noted that the browser generates a security alert on recording an SSL site. This is normal; ignore the alerts and continue browsing normally.

NeoLoad records and plays back all HTTP traffic between the browser and web server.

NeoLoad therefore can simulate client-side component activity, such as an ActiveX component, as long as communication with the server is via the HTTP protocol.

If the component send binary data, NeoLoad will only be able to play back what has been recorded, unmodified. If this data contains session ID data or other parameters requiring dynamic replacement, the test will not work.

NeoLoad can connect to a server via a proxy. To configure a proxy :

The configuration will be used for both recording and playback.

Do not confuse this proxy with NeoLoad's internal recording proxy. During the recording, the browser sends the requests to the NeoLoad recording proxy; NeoLoad then redirects these requests to the server, either directly or via a proxy, depending on the above settings.

For further details, see the section called “Recording a Test Scenario”

NeoLoad can monitor system information servers without having to install any agents. The protocols used are: JMX for Java application servers, Telnet/SSH for Unix systems, Perfmon for Windows servers etc.

Here is a non-exhaustive list of available monitors:

For further details, see Chapter 7, Monitors

NeoLoad "scripts" can only be designed via the GUI, which provides conditions, loops and other programming structures. JavaScript may be inserted for more advanced uses, such as password encryption.