Tuesday 31 December 2013

Top 7 Java Performance Software Testing Tools

Producing robust as well as reliable software has become one of the major software development concerns in present era. Testing is a process that helps in assuring software quality through the collection of useful information about the software. Tests can enhance software reliability and latest tools. But, they are typically inflexible having high over heads. Hence, current technology or innovation in the respective field makes testing large software performance quite challenging.

Here in this article, a comprehensive set of top 7 licensed as well as open source software application testing tools are discussed in a new flexible and scalable framework, for Java programs with an innovative path based approach to coverage testing.

Best 7 Java Performance Test Applications
1. Apache Jmeter: It is an original Java desktop application designed for the purpose of measuring performance as well as loading test functional behavior. This was purely designed to test Web Applications. It has also expanded to various other test functions. Apache JMeter can be used for evaluating performance both on dynamic as well as static resources (Servlets, files, Perl scripts, Queries and Data Bases, FTP Servers, Java Objects etc.). It is often utilized to simulate a heavy load on a server, object or network to analyze its strength or to test the overall action under contrasting load types. You can also use for making a graphical analysis of performance or testing your script/object/server behavior under heavy concurrent load. Requirements of this application include Windows (2000, 98, NT), JDK1.4 (or higher), Solaris, Linux. It works under Windows OS and Unix.

2. NeoLoad: It is a load testing software. This tool is used to measure and analyze the website performance. The performance along with the end result can be tested by using this tool. It helps you improve or optimize your web application performance by increasing the traffic to the website. The performance can be determined under heavy load. You may understand the testing capacity along with the number of users it can handle simultaneously. This tool was written in JAVA and is available in English and French languages. NeoLoad System requirements include Microsoft windows, Solaris as well as Linux.

3. CLIF: It is a load testing platform. CLIF is a flexible as well as modular distributed load injection framework. It can address any target function that is accessible from a Java program (DNS, HTTP, TCP/IP). This application provides 3 user interfaces (Eclipse GUI, Swing or command line) for deploying, controlling or monitoring a set of resource consumption probes along with distributed load injectors. An Eclipse wizard ensures programming support for new set of protocols. Its requirements include Java 1.5 or higher, with enhanced support for Windows XP, Linux, MacOSX/PPC.

4. ContiPerf: It is a lightweight test utility that enables the user to easily provide JUnit 4 test cases as performance application for consistent performance testing. It is inspired by easy test configuration of JUnit 4 with annotations and by the idea of Unit test wrapping of JunitPerf for application testing, but easier and more powerful to use. Its requirements include Windows, Linux, Mac OSX, Solaris along with every other platform that supports Java 5.

5. LoadRunner: It is an HP software that can be used as a performance test tool. It has a number of advantages in determining or understanding the system's execution and outcome when there is actual load. One of the major attractive features of this application is that, it can concurrently handle or create thousands of users. This tool provides you with all the required information regarding its function based on the infrastructure. The LoadRunner consists of different tools including Controller, Virtual User Generator, Load Generator and Analysis.

6. LoadUI: It is an open source stress as well as load testing application used to measure the performance of the web applications. It works efficiently when it is integrated with the utility testing tool soapUI. It is the most flexible and interactive test tool that enables you to configure, create and update your analysis while the software is being tested. It also offers a visual Aid with a drag and drop experience for the user. The report generating and advanced analysis features allow you to analyze the actual performance by integrating new data even when the software is being tested. It is automatically updated in the interface.

7. WebLOAD: It is a stress and load testing tool for the web application. It can be used for testing load in any internet application such as Adobe Flex, Ajax, Oracle Forms and many more. Through this performance software, you can measure the working performance along with its response to the users. This application is widely used in the platform where maximum load testing is highly in demand. This tool provides you a clear information on actual capacity and functionality of the web applications.

These are the best and most widely used Java performance testing tools for measuring web application performance as well as load stress capacity. A load test tool is meant to ensure the performance of your application in peak traffic or extreme stress conditions. These test functions have free trial version so that it can provide you with the chance to work actively before deciding which tool best suits your needs.

Outsourcing PHP Developments - Advantages and Apprehensions

While the World Wide Web is not usually graced by trends that are sustainable, the PHP programming platform has emerged to be one such technology that has comfortably perched itself as the leader in web development technologies, refusing to budge out. Thereby, for a business operating in the web development domain, it would an opportunity lost if you don't go for PHP development services for your business.

PHP can really enliven your online business, whether you are running an eCommerce portal or a service-oriented website. Thus, if you do not have the access to professionals who can deliver the best quality services, you can very well opt to Outsource PHP. Outsource your project to an offshore company that specializes in technology and you can see your business grow by leaps, as it is now backed by superlative technology (of course, finding the right partner is the key).

Reduced Cost, Improved Technology, and Greater Satisfaction
There is an arguably overwhelming set of advantages to outsourcing, and it begins with cost saving. Outsourcing PHP development to a country where development companies charge at a considerably lesser price is good for the health of your budget. So, while it enables you to trim down the expenditures of your company, it also gives you a freedom to eye for more advanced services and inject some high-end features that you may have not got if you had offered the same price to a local service provider.

When it comes to leveraging futuristic tools and technologies, you do not have to worry about spending big on buying them. Once you outsource tour work, the development company you have chosen after a methodical and an extensive research will take care of this aspect. Being a service provider to IT firms, it might as well be housing latest equipments to build software projects. This not only ensures you make huge savings on your budget, but it also makes way for project development that stands greater chance of being injected with high-end features and innovation.

You have a greater competitive edge once you have a product that is unique and boasts of advanced capabilities. It goes without saying that you must also have a team of technology experts who can evaluate the delivered solutions based on their quality and long-term feasibility. The cost that you saved on hiring new developers and designers can very well be channelized on folks who can give you a greater sense of assurance about the services you spent a huge chunk of money on.

Proceeding with Caution
So, while you have decided to contract out your PHP development project, you can't just start a random hunt. Your research has to be painstaking, and it would be good to take references from people have been there, done that. there is no dearth of companies that offer you highest quality services for first few months, and then the quality plummets vertically when they realize they have won your trust. Beware of such associations, something which brings us back to taking references.

When you are hiring a service provider to outsource PHP development, make sure you perform a detailed background check of the enterprise. Study their portfolio carefully and talk to their previous client regarding their experiences.

The competition is rising hard, and it's rising fast. But it's not just you who's feeling the heat. Even the company that you signed up for creating your PHP project is being given a hard time by the alike service providers. And this happens to be one of the elementary reasons why they offer you low-cost services and not make compromises on quality.

Tips to Help Increase uTorrent Downloading Speed

Are you getting bored at home and want to download some of your favorite audio and video content using uTorrent? Do you use uTorrent very often for downloading various interesting videos, audios, and game files available on the web? If yes, then you might be engaged in searching for some quick tips and tricks, which can help you boost the downloading speed of uTorrent. Some of the major reasons including a poor Internet connection, improper management of uTorrent, an inefficient BitTorrent client or many others can affect the downloadable speed of uTorrent.

In this article, you will read about the general tips and tricks that can make your downloading experience faster on uTorrent.

1. Check upload and download speed
The first and foremost thing is to check the maximum download and upload speed allowed by your ISP on your Internet connection. Generally, all the ISP's have pre-defined bandwidths, mentioned in their Internet plans, for both uploads and downloads. It is very obvious that your Torrent download speed cannot cross the limit, which has already been set by your ISP. Hence, before making any regret for your time-consuming download or writing negative reviews on the Torrent sites, you should always check the upload and download speed provided in your Internet plan.

To know about the upload and download speed, you can easily conduct an Internet speed test on your PC. These tests will display the results of the fastest upload and download from your end location to the defined test server location. It is recommended to choose closer test server while performing Internet speed test, as the TCP/IP degrades over distance. Speedtest.net, iWEBTOOL.com, Pingdom Tools, WebPagetest and many other speed testing websites are available for free over the Internet.

2. Choose a reputed Torrent search engineAlways choose a Torrent from a reputed search engine to ensure that it is clean, real and healthy. You can look for your desired content on reputed search engines by directly going to their websites rather than following a general search result on Google, which bring millions of trusted or fake links. One of the prime reasons behind trusting a well-known and reputed torrent site is that its library will have torrents of relevant content with reduced or negligible malware threats.

You can easily get torrents for movies, music, games and other files are available on the Internet under public (free and registration is not required) and private (paid and registration is required) search sites. While downloading these from the Internet, always be very sure not to click or download lucrative ads, scam links and toolbar downloads as they may contain viruses, which can infect your PC to an irreparable extent. BitSnoop, KATProxy, ThePirateBay, Torlock, isoHunt and ExtraTorrent are some of the reputed torrent search engines that carry a huge database of real and clean files.

3. Pick torrent with good trackers, seeds and peers
A good understating of the concept of trackers, seeds and peers will make the difficult task of picking a good torrent files an easier one. A simple principle about trackers, seeds and peers claim that a weak file paired up with less seeds and peers will get you a slow downloading speed while a file being paired up with more seeds and peers will bring a noticeable change in downloading speed.

Mostly, all popular torrent search engines display the number of seeds and peers attached to a particular file, just next to the actual size of the downloadable file. It is recommended to avoid downloading a file with zero (0) seeds as it may not have the content you are looking for or it is an infected one carrying higher malware threats.

On the other hand, the tracker plays an important role in getting the peers or seeds for your desired torrent file. A basic principle claims that having a good tracker allows you to utilize the full downloading speed irrespective of the client that you're using. Trackers are default downloads during downloading of the desired file in the target client, but it can be easily updated later for better results in downloading.

4. Limit your upload rate
Many of you share a lot of files online and overburden the upload rate available on your Internet connection, thus resulting in slower download rate. This setting is adjusted to an unlimited upload rate by default, so set it according to your needs as it is hitting your download rate too. Conduct a speed test, find out your maximum upload speed and then set Global Upload Rate in uTorrent according to your upload usage.

A considerable value would be setting the upload rate to about 80% of your maximum upload speed, as determined by the speed test. To get better results, you can also try a combination in upload speeds i.e. keep it high during the initial stage and then gradually decreasing it towards the middle of the download.

5. Pause or postpone all download running in background

It is recommended to either pause or postpone the downloading of the other files that are running in the background. As you know that these background downloads may consume a larger portion of your bandwidth resulting in slower downloading at uTorrent.

Always keep this in mind that if an Internet connection is only dedicated to your download, then the download process will finish faster. Ensure that no active download is running in the background and remember to close YouTube and other download managers, when uTorrent download is in process. Even if you have paused your uTorrent download for a while due to some reason, check that your computer is not downloading any automatic update or other downloads, when you resume your uTorrent download.

6. Increase the value of Max Half Open TCP connections
A Max Half Open TCP connection clearly specifies the number of connections a particular torrent client should attempt to establish at any given period of time. In most of the popular operating systems including Windows XP, Windows 7 and others, this limit is pre-set to 10. In order to increase the speed of uTorrent, you need to have a large number of simultaneous connections. You can easily change this figure by modifying the TCPIP.sys file in Windows and set it to a higher number.

After making the desired changes in TCPIP.sys file, also change the uTorrent's settings by using the following path:

options ->Preferences ->Advanced - >net.max_halfopen

Choose any number ranging from 50 to 100 and set it as a default number to get optimal downloading speed in uTorrent.

Above mentioned are some of the basic tips and tricks that can help you get faster downloading experience on uTorrent. Apart from this, upgrading your Internet plan, changing the position of router and adapters, connecting the computer directly to the modem or router instead of using Wi-Fi, changing your ISP, upgrading to the latest version of uTorrent and many other things can help you increase downloading speed of uTorrent. It is recommended to choose an Internet plan with no limitation on bandwidth to get effective results while downloading a large or heavy file using uTorrent.

How To Set Up A Free Proxy Server on you PC (windows)

You can find the best proxy server on the Internet. There are a lot of proxy providers that you can find easily. Proxy server is very useful to hide your original IP address. It can also be used to get access to some blocked websites. This product is highly recommended for all users who want to browse on the Internet securely and safely. You should learn how to install free proxy server on your PC or windows.

It is important to find the best proxy server that is suitable for your needs and preferences. There are many benefits that you can get by installing this server on your PC or Windows. This article can show you some useful tips that you may use to set up a free proxy server on your Personal Computer. These tips can be followed easily by many people who want to install this proxy server on their laptops. It is recommended to install this software properly, in order to get maximum benefits from this application. Here are some useful tips for all people who want to install this proxy server on their PC.

1. Choose the right proxy server.
This is the first step that you have to do in order to find the best proxy server. There are several proxy server providers that are available on the Internet. It means that you should choose the best one that can bring many benefits and features for you as the customers. You should know some important factors that you should consider when comparing some proxy servers that are available on the Internet, for example stability, connection speed, provider's reputation, and many other important things.

2. Download the application.Most proxy servers usually come with the application that you can download easily. The application is usually available from the official website. If you want to setup a free proxy server on your PC or Windows, you should download the official app to your computer. Please be aware because there are some fake applications that are available on the Internet. Therefore, you have to choose the right one that can connect to your favorite proxy servers easily.

3. Double click the application.
You can simply double click the application to start the installation process. The installation process does not take too long. You may only need to wait for about 10-30 minutes before you can use your proxy server. Make sure that your PC is connected to the Internet before installing this app. Your Internet connection should be stable enough to maximize the function of your proxy server.

4. Choose the right server.
Once you install the application, you are able to choose the right server for your needs. There are many servers that are available on the app. Try to look at the server that does not have a lot of users. A good proxy server provider usually has a great system that can detect crowded servers. If you want to have stable and quick connection, you should choose the right server. Try to choose a server that is located close to your location. By doing so, you can improve the connection of your proxy server.

Those are several useful tips that you can use to install a free proxy server on your PC or Windows. After installing this server, you are able to browse on the Internet safely. You do not have to worry about exposing your personal information to other people. It is important to keep your information secret when browsing on the Internet. You should do this to avoid any privacy problems in the future. Proxy server is an important tool that you should have when you want to browse on the Internet safely.

Things Can Do to Prevent Windows 8 PC Crashes

Are you fed up of constant Windows crashes that force you to perform improper system shutdown to initiate the restart, which usually cause data loss? Not to mention about the frustration and constant disturbance that Windows crash brings along.

If your PC crashes consistently, that means something is seriously wrong with your computer. It is not probably a Windows 8 problem, because windows 8 runs stable on other computers.
Following are some of the quick tips that can help you in preventing the unexpected Windows 8 PC Crashes:

Check for Hardware conflicts: Many blue screen errors are a result of hardware and installation conflicts. All of your system's components consume IRQs (interrupt request channels) when installed, and every device requires its own channel to function properly. When two devices share the same channel and are used simultaneously, a crash may occur.

Go through your Device Manager, and look for any devices marked with a yellow exclamation point. These are the ones with issues, and can usually be fixed with a driver update. Just search your device manufacturer's website for the latest driver software, or, in a pinch, reinstall the offending hardware itself.

Does Your PC Has Bad RAM? Bad memory is many times the reason of blue screens and failed system boots. Fortunately, however, your RAM modules are some of the easiest components to check and replace.

First, use the software utility Memtest86+ to ensure if really your RAM is the cause of the problem. If errors arise, you next need to determine exactly which memory stick is to blame. To do this, remove all the sticks from your system-save one inserted in the primary memory slot. If the system boots fine and no errors are detected in Memtest86+, continue testing in the same fashion-one stick at a time, inserted in the primary slot-until the system fails to boot or Memtest86+ indicates problems.

Eventually, you'll nail down exactly which memory module is causing trouble, and then you can replace it with a fresh, clean stick (just make it fully compatible with your motherboard and other sticks of RAM).

Avoid Heating of the System: Computers usually get hot if used for longer hours. We know this from the loud fans bolted inside our desktops, and the alarming burning sensation we feel on our legs after using a laptop for too long. Everything inside a PC generates heat, and heat can cause components to become unstable and crash your PC. Indeed, computers are designed to crash as a last-ditch effort to protect their own internal components from permanent heat damage.

If you suspect your PC isn't effectively dispersing heat adequately, first check to make sure all your fans are spinning properly. If one isn't moving, or appears to be spinning abnormally slow, check its connections to make sure it's properly powered. If all appears fine, but the fan still isn't doing its job, it's best to replace it. Next, make sure that all of your PC's vents, grates, and filters are unhindered by dust, pet hair, and other gross materials that prevent proper airflow.

Run the Disk Defragmenter: Your hard drive can become a bit more fragmented-and unstable-every time you save a file, install a program, or delete something. Not only it slows down the hard drive, but it can also give trouble to your OS when trying to find necessary files to function. So your system will eventually give up and crashes eventually. Defragmenting your PC is as easy as pushing a button. Run the Disk Defragmenter in your System Tools every week or so to keep your files straightened out.

Check for Viruses: Malware and viruses are significant causes of blue screens. But, luckily, the solution is simple. Start up your trusted antivirus program, make sure it's up-to-date, and give your system the most robust scan available.

Starting in safe mode (press F8 while the computer is starting) is an easy way to go behind a virus' back to destroy it.

If the virus has disabled your ability to start up your antivirus software, then try restarting the PC in 'Safe Mode' by pressing 'F8' before the Windows logo appears. Safe Mode will disable any extraneous programs and drivers from launching, and allows just the core operating system to load. Once in 'Safe Mode,' you should be able to run your antivirus program, and complete a thorough scan from there.

If you take care of the aforementioned things, then you can actually avoid the crashes in Windows 8, blue screens, failed boots or frozen system. All you need is to be bit alert and protective towards your Windows 8 to run it smoothly.