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Rational® Performance Tester
Getting Started
This guide provides an overview and describes the task flows to get you to start with Rational® Performance Tester. This guide is intended for new users.
Task flows for performance testing
The task flows are designed to help you understand the end-to-end process of some of the capabilities of performance testing. For some of the technologies, there are specific task flows that you can follow to gain a clear understanding of the process.
Task flow: HTTP record
The diagram shows the task flow of HTTP recording to test the performance of an application using IBM® Rational® Performance Tester.

Rational® Performance Tester
- Release Notes
  This document contains information about what's new, installation instructions, known issues in IBM® Rational® Performance Tester and contact information of IBM Customer Support.
- System Requirements
  This document includes information about hardware and software requirements for IBM® Rational® Performance Tester.
- Getting Started
  This guide provides an overview and describes the task flows to get you to start with Rational® Performance Tester. This guide is intended for new users.
  - Task flows for performance testing
    The task flows are designed to help you understand the end-to-end process of some of the capabilities of performance testing. For some of the technologies, there are specific task flows that you can follow to gain a clear understanding of the process.
    - Task flow: HTTP record
      The diagram shows the task flow of HTTP recording to test the performance of an application using IBM® Rational® Performance Tester.
    - Task flow: Generating workload
      The diagram shows the task flow of generating workload by creating user groups and dividing the load across different remote agents.
    - Task flow: Recording a SAP test
      The task flow shows the recording of interactions with the SAP GUI client to generate a SAP test.
    - Task flow: Recording a service test to test an SOA application
      The task flow shows the testing services in an SOA environment. You can record a test session by invoking service calls by using a generic service client or an existing client.
    - Task flow: Recording a SAP batch input test
      The task flow shows the recording of certain SAP transaction sessions from SAP GUI with SAP batch input tests recording wizard. When you record a session, the recording wizard automatically starts a SAP GUI interface and records the transaction that you specified. Typically, you use batch input tests in a schedule mixed with normal SAP performance tests to increase the load on the server.
    - Task flow Integrating Rational® Performance Tester and Rational® Integration Tester
      You can execute integration tests in Rational® Performance Tester by using Rational Performance Tester Extension for Rational Integration Tester. In Rational Performance Tester, you can create a compound test to run the integration tests by using agents.
    - Task flow: Response time breakdown
      To collect Response Time Breakdown data, you must follow a workflow that includes installing and configuring Data Collection Infrastructure, enabling Response Time Breakdown for a schedule, running a schedule, and viewing Response Time Breakdown reports.
    - Task flow: Rate Scheduler
      The task flow shows running a rate scheduler to monitor the workload at the desired rate (transactions per second).
  - Product overview
    You can gain the conceptual understanding of the product and its test extensions with these topics.
  - Streamlined Eclipse and full Eclipse overview
    When you work in the streamlined Eclipse mode, only those functions that are directly related to the product are enabled in the workbench. When you install the product, by default, the check box to use the streamlined Eclipse mode is selected. With the full Eclipse mode, you have access to all Eclipse functions.
- Tutorials
  This section contains the tutorials which explains the main features of Rational® Performance Tester.
- Samples
  This section describes about the sample project which can be used with Rational® Performance Tester to test the functionality of an application.
- Administrator Guide
  This guide describes how to install Rational® Performance Tester. After you install the product, you can perform administration tasks such as license configuration and integration with other products. This guide is intended for administrators.
- Test Author Guide
  This guide describes how to create test scripts in Rational® Performance Tester and enhances tests by applying different test elements such as dataset, variables, and verification points. This guide is intended for testers.
- Test Execution Specialist Guide
  This guide describes tasks that you can perform on schedules, test execution with custom code, and Extending Rational® Performance Tester to support other protocols. This guide is intended for testers or test execution specialists.
- Test Manager Guide
  This guide describes how to keep track of the performance of the application by evaluating the test results. This guide is intended for test managers.
- Troubleshooting Guide
  This guide describes how to analyze and resolve some of the common problems that you might encounter while you work with Rational® Performance Tester.
- Reference Guide
  This guide describes, additional topics to gain more knowledge about Rational® Performance Tester.
- All Guides (PDFs)
  You can find the link to view or download the content of the release notes, system requirements, and persona guides of Rational® Performance Tester as a PDF file.
- Security Considerations
  You can take certain actions to ensure that your installation is secure, customize your security settings, and set up user access controls.
- Notices
  This document provides information about copyright, trademarks, terms and conditions for the product documentation.

Task flow: HTTP record

The diagram shows the task flow of HTTP recording to test the performance of an application using IBM® Rational® Performance Tester.

To test the performance of an application, you must first record the HTTP traffic that traverses between the client and the server.

Once you complete the basic HTTP recording, play it back and fix the errors, if any. You can then customize your test by adding other elements such as datasets, loops, and transaction.