TCP/IP socket-based applications

Overview

Use the TCP/IP socket-based extension to test client-server applications.

Socket tests simulate multiple clients connecting to one or several servers. Peer-to-peer networks, are not supported.

Set the number of virtual users on a given computer to appropriate level. If too many virtual users run on a single computer, the results will reflect more the load of the test computer than the load of the server.

On a computer with 1 GHz processor and 1 GB of RAM, do not exceed 1000 concurrent virtual users.

For long performance tests

• In the schedule editor, reduce the test log level to None.

• In the schedule editor, set the Statistics sample interval to approximately 1/60 of the run time, for example 12 minutes for an estimated 12-hour session.

• When possible, use loops inside test suites rather than loops in the schedule. Using loops inside test suites avoids connection problems that might occur over long duration tests and emphasizes measurement of the send and receive activity rather than connection and close activity.

SSL/TLS Authentication

Socket tests support simple or strong SSL or Transport Layer Security (TLS) authentication mechanisms, also called server authentication and client authentication.

For server authentication, the client must determine whether the server can be trusted. When you are recording or running a socket test with a proxy recorder, the proxy recorder sits between the server and the client. Therefore, you must "trick" the client application into behaving as though the proxy recorder is the certified server by performing either one of the following actions:

• Configure the SSL or TLS settings of the recorder proxy to authenticate itself as the actual server to the client and as the client to the service. This means that supply the recording proxy with the adequate certificates.

• Configure a managed client (an external client application) to accept the proxy recorder as though it were the certified server. The recording wizard provides a link to download and import an IBM Rational Performance Testercertificate into the client application.

For client authentication, the server must authenticate the test client according to its root authority. Therefore, provide the client certificate expected by the server to authenticate the proxy recorder or the test agent as a certified client.

See Digital certificates overview for more information about managing digital certificates.

Related:
Socket API performance testing overview
Socket API test editor overview
Record socket tests

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