How we did it
 
|
|||
 | |||
|
|
|
|||
| |||
|
We conducted testing using the Apache 1.3.12 open-source Web server (available from the Apache Software Foundation).
The Mercury Interactive LoadRunner test tool (www.merc-int.com), Version 6.5, simulated HTTP connections, get requests and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) user connections to the Web server. It received statistics regarding response time, the number of connections in use and measurements of CPU and memory usage on the server. The LoadRunner ran test scripts that were configured to download Web pages from the Web server and the SA 725. We ran a jolt2 denial-of-service attack from a Dell laptop running Linux Red Hat 6.2.
We ran two sets of tests to determine Web server CPU utilization, transactions per second and transaction-response times. In the first set of tests, five "users" requested one object via SSL directly against the Apache Web server. In this test, the LoadRunner showed that Web server CPU utilization was 90.6%, and we observed 13.35 transactions per second and a 0.37085-second transaction-response time.
Next, we ran the same test against the SA 725. Results showed that CPU utilization on the Apache Web server was 0% (because objects are stored in the SA 725 cache and SSL processing is handled there instead of the Apache server).
We observed 105.10 hits per second - an eight-fold increase over the previous test - and a 0.04654-second transaction-response time, reflecting about an eight-fold decrease over the previous test.
RELATED LINKS
Yocom is senior editor, Bilger is senior lab test engineer and Brown is lab test engineer at Miercom, an independent testing lab in Princeton Junction, N.J. They can be reached at byocom@mier.com, ubilger@mier.com and kbrown@mier.com.
Miercom is also a member of the Network World Global Test Alliance, a cooperative of the premier reviewers in the network industry, each bringing to bear years of practical experience on every review. For more Test Alliance information, including what it takes to become a member, go to www.nwfusion.com/alliance.
CacheFlow devices aim at reducing WAN costs
Network World, 10/09/00.
CacheFlow devices boost Web, e-commerce site performance
Network World, 09/25/00.
