Post-deployment monitoring of server performance
First Claim
1. A method for monitoring the performance of a deployed transactional server, comprising the steps of:
- (a) programming a plurality of computers to execute transactions on the deployed transactional server as simulated users while monitoring performance of the transactional server;
(b) assigning attributes to the plurality of computers such that at least some of the computers have different attributes than others;
(c) receiving and storing performance data generated by the plurality of computers as a result of step (a), the performance data indicating at least one parameter of the performance of the transactional server; and
(d) displaying the performance data separately for each of multiple attributes assigned in step (b).
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A monitoring system allows users to monitor the post-deployment performance of a web-based or other transactional server. The system includes an agent component (“agent”) which can be installed on computers (“agent computers”) that have access to the transactional server, including computers of actual users of the transactional server. The agent simulates the actions of actual users of the transactional server while monitoring the server'"'"'s performance. The specific transactions to be performed by the agent computers are specified by testcases that are dispatched to the agent computers using a controller component (“controller”). As each agent computer executes a testcase, it reports the execution results (performance data) in real-time to a web-based reports server which stores the results in a centralized database. The performance data may include, for example, server response times, screen display sequences for failed transactions, measured segment delays along network paths, and identifiers of “broken” web site links. Authorized personnel can access the reports server using a standard web browser to view the collected performance data via a series of customizable reports. Using the controller, the user can also assign testcase execution schedules to the agent computers, including periodic schedules that provide for continuous or near-continuous monitoring of the transactional server. In addition, the user can specify alert conditions which cause personnel to be immediately notified (e.g., by pager) of problems. The controller and the reports server also provide functions for allowing the user to monitor the operation of the transactional server according to the attributes of the agent computers, such as the locations, organizations, and ISPs of such computers.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring the performance of a deployed transactional server, comprising the steps of:
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(a) programming a plurality of computers to execute transactions on the deployed transactional server as simulated users while monitoring performance of the transactional server;
(b) assigning attributes to the plurality of computers such that at least some of the computers have different attributes than others;
(c) receiving and storing performance data generated by the plurality of computers as a result of step (a), the performance data indicating at least one parameter of the performance of the transactional server; and
(d) displaying the performance data separately for each of multiple attributes assigned in step (b). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer-readable medium having a controller program stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, provides functions for at least:
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selecting a plurality of computers to include within a monitoring session for monitoring the post-deployment operation of a transactional server;
assigning transactions to the plurality of computers for exercising and monitoring the transactional server; and
assigning attributes to specific computers of the plurality of computers to permit monitoring of the transactional server separately for each of a plurality of attributes. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A method for monitoring a deployed transactional server, comprising:
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remotely programming a group of computers to access the deployed transactional server as simulated users while monitoring performance of the transactional server such that the transactional server is monitored substantially continuously by the group;
monitoring performance data generated by the group substantially in real-time to check for an alert condition; and
generating an alert notification message in response to detection of the alert condition. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of monitoring the operation of a transactional server, comprising:
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installing an agent component on a plurality of computers, including computers of end users of the transactional server, wherein the agent component is adapted to execute transactions as simulated users of the transactional server while monitoring performance of the transactional server; and
remotely assigning to the plurality of computers the transactions to be executed by the agent components installed thereon. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method of monitoring operation of a transactional server, comprising, on each of a plurality of computers that are programmed to monitor the transactional server as simulated users:
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executing a transaction as a simulated user of the transactional server;
during transaction execution, storing a sequence of screens displays returned by the transactional server;
determining whether the transaction completed successfully; and
if the transaction did not complete successfully, forwarding the sequence of screen displays to a server for subsequent viewing.
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Specification