Web Site Testing and Configuration tools
I have been coding using Microsoft technologies for a long while. Recently I was given the chance to do a little bit of web mastering. Due to my system admin background I was most definitely game for this.
Learning IIS 6.0 was not a huge leap as I had done a lot of development using IIS5.1(Windows XP Professional); however I had not as yet used Host headers in IIS (IIS 5.1 only allows for one site. I will post about that later.). This was a learning experience (Don’t even get me started on the issue of multiple SSL sites or web gardens).
I was doing some trail blazing while coming up with a build document to track my progress and to double check all my configurations. I highly recommend this process due to it has saved my bacon multiple times.
Uploaded all the sites and got the host headers configured correctly and moved the SSL (Secure Socket Layer)certifications over to the virgin IIS server when I noticed that not all my sites were happily working. Rendering was slow and some were just crashing. Crap time to take out the build document and rehearse my steps.
Getting through all the steps and all seemed fine. I could not find a reason my sites were acting all sorts of funky and the server processes were pegged out (running at 100%). I stressed and then went to my friend Google for some answers. I found some interesting little applications to monitor and test your sites.
IISReporter Cool little app to see how many people are logged in as well as a log viewer.
IISTrafficMonitor Another great application for watching real time traffic as well as a log viewer *may add extra cpu cycles*
IIS Web Application Stress Tool Just like the name implies it stresses your web applications
LoadRunner Add web traffic load to see what you Server(IIS) can handle. Before it all comes crashing down.
Web Application Stress Tool Another great Stress tool.
The rest are Microsoft utilities for your disposal.
Windows Server 2003 Resource Kit Tools
Creating Stress Tests for Web Applications
WCat Web Capacity Analysis Tool
These tools are guaranteed to help you in testing your server as well as your applications.
