Method of load testing web applications based on performance goal

Claim 1

A computer based method for load testing a web application to determine the web application's full capacity, comprising the steps of: (a) selecting at least one load generator from a plurality of load generators to generate a load on said web application; (b) measuring transactions per second (TPS) in real-time by said at least one load generator and application response time (ART) in real-time by a probing client; (c) controlling said at least one load generator to dynamically increase said load on said web application; (d) measuring said TPS and said ART in real-time by said at least one load generator and said probing client, respectively, to determine if said TPS and/or said ART increased with said load increase; (e) selecting another load generator from said plurality of load generators to dynamically increase said load on said web application by a pre-determined amount if it is determined that said TPS and said ART did not increase with said load increase, thereby indicating that said at least one load generator is at full capacity and unable to dynamically increase said load by said pre-determined amount; (f) repeating steps (b) to (e) if it is determined that said TPS and said ART increased with said load increase; and (g) terminating said load testing if it is determined that said ART increased but not said TPS with said load increase, thereby determining said full capacity of said web application.