Search results matching tag 'wcat'

WCAT 6.3 issue: cookies are not appearing in request headers (Apache & IIS)

DirkTester — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:20:52 GMT

Greetings,

I've found that WCAT does not handle cookies in a predictable manner. For example, when a WCAT client is pointed at either an IIS (.net) or Apache (.php) environment I've found that each request is often treated as a unique session since the expected cookies are not appearing in the request headers (verified using a network monitoring application).

In comparison, manual requests to the same environments using a browser (such as IE or Firefox) result in cookies being included as expected. Also, other load/stress testing tools, such as the legacy Microsoft Web Application Stress Tool (WAST), JMeter, etc... correctly handle the cookies for the same target sites as expected. Again, these findings were verified using a network monitoring tool to inspect the request headers.

In addition, I tested the cookie issue against a few third party sites (and kept the load level very low out of consideration). Same type of issues occurred.

So far, cookie handling by WCAT has been successful on only one of our test environments. Given this, I suspect that there is something about the way WCAT makes a request that prevents a server from issuing a cookie....or WCAT fails to set cookies issued by environments with certain configurations.

Either way, it limits the usefulness of the WCAT tool, since a persistent session is often required for many stress test scenarios (such as those involving a login/logout).

Initially, I thought this was only an issue with Apache, but I have since reproduced the problem on IIS 6 environments as well. That's why I'm posting in this section now.

My complete notes, including WCAT client script, can be found at the following (original) post:

http://forums.iis.net/p/1162115/1922515.aspx#1922515

...Dirk

WCAT 6.3 is not setting or adding cookies to header when server is Apache

DirkTester — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:18:48 GMT

Greetings,

[NOTE: I now realize that I mis-categorized this post - probably should have placed it under the "General" performance or tool troubleshooting sections.]

One of our environments is configured to run an instance of Drupal (.php) on an Apache web server.

When using WCAT (Web Capacity Analysis Tool) to execute requests, I've noticed that each request to the web server (even multiple requests in the same transaction) are treated as a unique session. Using Microsoft Network Monitor, I've verified that non of the requests include the expected Cookie in the header.

When I use a browser (IE) to manually execute requests against the same environment, the network monitor confirms that Cookies are included in all requests after the initial request is made.

I've successfully used WCAT against another of our environments, which runs IIS 6 (.net based site): cookies are set and included in request headers.

The WCAT 6.3.1 User's Guide contains the following text: "...The web server software can be any version of IIS, Apache, etc… as long as it is an HTTP compliant web server..."

Do you have any idea why WCAT may not be setting cookies properly when the web server is Apache (which is consistent with the WCAT Users's Guide)? Could it be somehow related to the page being .php?

...Dirk

WCAT script that uses website input

Victor75 — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:03:20 GMT

I'm using WCat 6.3.1 on WinXP to test a ASP application running on IIS 6.0.

The application is owned by a third party, so I have no means of adjusting it. To complete a transaction you need to submit a form. The problem is a hidden input field, that changes every time.

Is there anyway of capturing (part of the) data that comes from the webserver and re-use that in the script?

If a solution was already posted somewhere else, please tell me where, as I could not find anything any where.

Using WCAT with Parameterized POST data

wcat12 — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 20:39:55 GMT

Hi,

Is it possible to parameterize the POST data using WCAT ?

Need to load test with hundreds of users, each with a unique token sent in POST data (in XML format).

How do we set up the test using WCAT?

using WCAT for testing POST request over 32k

IvanT — Mon, 04 May 2009 23:30:22 GMT

(cross posted to IIS 6.0 -> my apologies)

I have been using WCAT successfully to load test our IIS 7.0 WCF applications. Unfortunately it seems to have a limit on the size of the post data that can be sent in a request. In the scenario file the setting Post=<filename> would always cause an error. Putting data as an inline string works for short strings. I created a wcat dll extension to post data and ran into what appears to be a limit on the about of post data accepted by the WCAT client. I believe it was a 32k limit before the client would crash.

Does anyone have any experience with testing large post uploads with WCAT (ie 1MB). Is this a known problem. Any solutions, suggestions, alternatives is appreciated.

using WCAT for testing POST request over 32k

IvanT — Mon, 04 May 2009 23:19:35 GMT

Does anyone have any experience with testing large post uploads with WCAT (ie 1MB). Is this a known problem. Any solutions, suggestions, alternatives is appreciated.

standalone webserver, standalone database performance problem

stonoha — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:57:58 GMT

Hi, Im using wcat to stress test my webserver + database. I find the results a little bit confusing.

At first I used the configuration: webserver + database on 1 PC:

I was able to gain 70 requests per 1 second. 1 % of them returned with error status 500 - time out (no problem).

Then I tried configuration: webserver: 1 PC, database: another PC:

I was able to make 80 requests per second, but 3% of them returned with error status 500. Also "Average Time to First Byte" was 2x bigger than in first case.

Both computers are members of company's lan network (100 Mb\sec) so bandwidth is not the issue, as long as network transfer during my tests did not exceed 10 Mb\sec (and i practically used to send data with 50 Mb \sec speed on this lan).

Does anybody know what might be the problem? I allways believed that configuration with standalone database should perform better. Thanks for any advice. --Martin

Re: WCAT - URL issue

esac — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:13:38 GMT

Hi Sundar,

WCAT does not support the port and server name as part of the URL. You need to specify these via the 'port' and 'server' options:

url = "/default2.aspx";

port = 80;

server = "192.168.1.1";

Hope this helps.

WCAT- Server and Client location?

Radnus — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 09:58:13 GMT

Hi,

I am having my webserver in another location. Not on Local Area Network. Can i load test my webserver using WCAT tool?

Currently i am specifying ip address for server name in Settings file. Just want to know if there is any way to load test a webserver which is in remote location?

Regards,

Sundar

WCAT - URL issue

Radnus — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 09:44:47 GMT

Hi,

I specified the following URL in scenarios file.

url = http://<ip address for my webserver>:port#/default2.aspx

When I run WCAT, i got the responses as 404 not found error. If i specify only the root URL (url = http://<ip address for my webserver>:port#/) i am able to get 200 ok result.

FYI... i am able to access the URL via IE and FF browsers.

Also the following URL is asp.net authenticated form.

url = http://<ip address for my webserver>:port#/default2.aspx

Can i use the same the same (Basic/NTLM) code for this purpose? I presume (Basic/NTLM) code is for resolving windows authentication. Please clarify

Can any one help me to get out of this trouble?

Thanks!

Regards,

Sundar