IBM has an interesting case study on using Rational Performance Tester to test the US Open web servers. For the performance test only just two standard PCs running Windows XP were needed in order to generate almost 25,000 hits per minute to a single node.

I have experience using Rational Performance Tester on web projects and I agree with the case study that it is easy to record browsing scenarios and add the recorded scenarios to a test schedule that generates work loads on a web site.

I read the case study via a link from The Rational Tester blog which is run by Brian Bryson from IBM Rational Quality Management. So if you are interested in Rational test tools, keep an eye on Brians blog.

And by the way: there is a draft Redbook on “Using Rational Performance Tester Version 7” with a planned publish date of January 31, 2008.