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This is the first in the series of articles about performance monitoring under load and how to use the LoadRunner Analysis tool effectively. In my experience, about 60% to 70% of new LoadRunner users never consider all the monitoring capabilities within the product. They only focus on the end user experience – or Transaction Timings as we call them. An important part of performance test execution is to monitor the vital metrics of the infrastructure hosting the application while under load. How else will you know why the end user Read Entire Entry

Assumptions:

1. You are on a windows platform.
2. You have Windows Scripting (WSH) enabled.
3. You have no security issues running VBS scripts.

The following code will pull up several system files in notepad all in one place. Save this code into a text file and then rename the extension to .vbs for it to become executable. Modify it to take out or add more by changing what is in the array. For example, taking out everything except the hosts file from the array will mean only the hosts file will be opened in notepad:
Set Sh Read Entire Entry

This simple script is something I use to create initial folders for my load testing projects. It save a little bit of time and ensures I always create the same folder structure. You need VBScript (vbs) files to be allowed to execute or it may not work properly for you. Install Windows Scripting Host if you do not already have the ability to do it on your machine. I have tested it on X pand Windows 7 and it seems to run fine. Paste this into a text file and then rename it to a .vbs extension. Then execute it. There should be a prompt Read Entire Entry

This may help you if you have to run a batch file and save off file with a unique name every time. I find the easiest thing is to save based on the exact time. For this file, I wanted to gather all of the processes in task manager and save them into a spreadsheet. I did this at the beginning of a load test, and the ending of a load test. I then compared the two files to determine memory utilization of each process. In XP there is a command line executable build in called “tasklist.exe” and it allows you to save your data in csv Read Entire Entry

I came across this article today about adding HEAP counters in Perfmon by turning on a registry key:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=290639

The heap performance-monitoring counter is a new feature in Microsoft Windows XP. This feature is included in Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, and Windows Server 2008. Performance Logs and Alerts (Perfmon.exe) can display about 20 heap-related counters. These counters are not enabled by default; you must enable them.
See the article for a complete listing of the counters it ad Read Entire Entry

I had a strange issue on my machine today. I opened up Perfmon and there were no counters available to add for my localhost machine, or my machine by name. After some research on the topic I found this web site:

http://www.technologyquestions.com/technology/windows-xp/150094-advanced-no-performance-counters-listed.html

In short, I was missing two files called perfc009.dat and perfh009.dat. I had to restore the two files from the XP install CD and place them into my %Systemroot%\System32\ directory. I launched Perfmon and everythi Read Entire Entry