[FX.php List] Handling heavy loads

[Greg Lane]

Hi Jonathan,

It sounds like you need to do some testing to determine how many  
users the current system can handle with acceptable performance. Then  
you can determine whether changes in your application might be  
sufficient to meet the expected demand without needing to throw  
additional hardware at the problem.

I've used a program called Web Application Stress Tool for this kind  
of testing. It will simulate any number of users and, if the test is  
set up correctly, show you at what level the performance is  
unacceptable.

	http://support.microsoft.com/kb/231282

If your system requires a login, you may need to set up some test  
pages which simulate the various processes of the system without  
needing to be logged in. I don't believe WAST will send POST requests  
or maintain cookies.

Greg


On Oct 9, 2006, at 7:12 PM, Jonathan Schwartz wrote:

> Ultimately, I'd like to ask what path to take to improve my  
> systems. The heavy load situation has never happened before,  
> although this is the first project involving an email blast with an  
> invitation to login and use the system.