IBM Rational Performance Tester - Release Notes

For Rational Performance Tester, Version 6.1.2

To view the latest version of this file, see the release notes at http://www3.software.ibm.com/ibmdl/pub/software/rationalsdp/rpt/61/html/612/readme_612.html.

1.0 About this release
   1.1 Testing with the Siebel protocol
   1.2 Testing with the SAP protocol
   1.3 Exporting reports to HTML
   1.4 Extending test execution with custom code
   1.5 Running a schedule from the command line
   1.6 Using the IBM Performance Optimization Toolkit with IBM Rational Performance Tester
   1.7 Improved scalability and robustness of large tests, schedules, and workloads
   1.8 Rational Performance Tester 6.1.2 Protocol Extensibility SDK
2.0 Installation information
   2.1 Hardware requirements
   2.2 Software requirements
     2.2.1 Siebel requirements
     2.2.2 z/OS requirements
   2.3 Using Performance Tester for z/OS
   2.4 Licensing
   2.5 Installing the refresh pack
   2.6 Installing the refresh pack on remote agent computers
   2.7 Local installations
   2.8 Creating a local mirror of the update server
     2.8.1 Downloading and extracting updates
     2.8.2 Creating and updating site.xml files
     2.8.3 Creating a policy.xml file
     2.8.4 Installing updates from the local mirror of the update server
   2.9 Uninstalling and reinstalling IBM Rational Performance Tester
3.0 Fixes in this release
4.0 Problems and workarounds
5.0 Contacting customer support
6.0 Notices and trademarks

1.0 About this release

This release of IBM^® Rational^® Performance Tester supports Siebel and SAP protocol testing.

Note: If you currently have IBM Performance Optimization Toolkit installed, refer to the notice in 1.6 Using the IBM Performance Optimization Toolkit with IBM Rational Performance Tester before installing IBM Rational Performance Tester.

Additional improvements include:

The ability to export reports to HTML
Greater flexibility in extending tests with custom code
The ability to run a schedule from the command line
Numerous enhancements that improve scalability and robustness of large tests and schedules and large scale workloads that require many agent computers
The ability to use the IBM Performance Optimization Toolkit with IBM Rational Performance Tester
The Rational Performance Tester Protocol Extensibility SDK, that allows you to create extensions to support new protocols without having to modify the core product code

These features are explained in the on-line help. To access the help, click Help > Contents and enter the name of the help topic in the search field, as described in the following sections.

1.1 Testing with the Siebel protocol

To obtain information about Siebel protocol testing, see the help topics under "Testing Siebel applications." Rational Performance Tester supports Siebel versions 7.7 and 7.8. The IBM Rational Performance Tester Extension for Siebel Test Automation requires a separate license fee that must be paid prior to use, as well as the purchase, from Siebel, of the Siebel Test Automation library. To purchase this extension, log in to Passport Advantage^® Online at http://www-306.ibm.com/software/howtobuy/passportadvantage/pao_customers.htm. This extension can run only on the Windows^® variants supported by IBM Rational Performance Tester; this extension does not run on Linux^® or z/OS^®. This applies to recording and playback.

1.2 Testing with the SAP protocol

To obtain information about SAP protocol testing, start with the help topic "SAP performance testing overview." SAP protocol testing requires the separate purchase of the IBM Rational Performance Tester Extension for SAP. To purchase this extension, log in to Passport Advantage^® Online at http://www-306.ibm.com/software/howtobuy/passportadvantage/pao_customers.htm. Rational Performance Tester supports SAP GUI version 6.20 with patch level 44 or higher, and SAP GUI 6.40 with patch level 13 or higher. SAP runs on Windows XP SP1 and SP2 for recording, and Windows XP SP1 or SP2, Windows Server 2000 SP3 or SP4, and Windows Server 2003 for test execution. This extension does not run on Linux or z/OS.

1.3 Exporting reports to HTML

To obtain information on exporting reports to HTML, see the help topic "Exporting results to HTML format."

1.4 Extending test execution with custom code

To obtain information about extending test execution with custom code, see the help topics under "Extending test execution with custom code" and the Javadoc in "API documentation for TestExecutionServices." The ITestExecutionServices interface replaces the IKLog interface. All the methods that were available in IKLog are contained in ITestExecutionServices, along with several newly exposed objects and interfaces.

To edit a class in existing custom code so that it can call the new TestExecutionServices methods, type cast the IKlog argument in the existing custom code to the ITestExecutionServices interface.

1.5 Running a schedule from the command line

To obtain information about running a schedule from the command line, see the help topic "Running a schedule from the command line."

1.6 Using the IBM Performance Optimization Toolkit with IBM Rational Performance Tester

You can use the IBM Performance Optimization Toolkit with IBM Rational Performance Tester. The IBM Performance Optimization Toolkit provides testers with application monitoring capabilities of J2EE applications during load testing with Rational Performance Tester. The toolkit enables the performance tester to collect, analyze, isolate and document performance trace data down to the root cause of the performance problem on the application level. This new functionality enables the tester to share the collected trace and log data results with the developer, thus reducing the time to resolution between the tester and the developer.

Important: If you are using the optional free download IBM Performance Optimization Toolkit with IBM Rational Performance Tester, you must maintain version compatibility between the two products. Version 6.1.2 of Rational Performance Tester is not compatible with versions of IBM Performance Optimization Toolkit prior to version 6.1.2. Version 6.1.2 of the IBM Performance Optimization Toolkit can only be used with IBM Rational Performance Tester version 6.1.2. If you wish to upgrade Rational Performance Tester to version 6.1.2, you must also update the IBM Performance Optimization Toolkit (and optional Data Collection Infrastructure, if installed).

IBM Performance Optimization Toolkit version 6.1.2 will be available soon. You can download the IBM Performance Optimization Toolkit from: http://www-306.ibm.com/software/info/developer/toolkit/ipo_toolkit.jsp.

1.7 Improved scalability and robustness of large tests, schedules, and workloads

Numerous enhancements that improve scalability and robustness of large tests, schedules, and large-scale workloads that require many agent computers have been made to IBM Rational Performance Tester. Large improvements in the execution engine's memory footprint have been made for tests containing hundreds of HTTP requests.

Note: There are many factors that affect sizing hardware requirements for large workloads. We highly recommend that you contact IBM Technical Support to obtain the IBM Rational Performance Tester 6.1.2 Sizing Guide.

1.8 Rational Performance Tester 6.1.2 Protocol Extensibility SDK

The IBM Rational Performance Tester Protocol Extensibility SDK allows users to create extensions to support new protocols without having to modify the core product code. You can create an extension that provides functionality on par with the HTTP protocol support that is supplied by the product.

The goal of the Extensibility SDK is to provide a framework within which support for various protocols can be developed and plugged into IBM Rational Performance Tester.

When full support for a protocol has been added to IBM Rational Performance Tester, it should be possible to do the following:

Record the protocol
Generate a test from the recording
Play back the test
Generate test results
Analyze the test results.

To obtain the SDK help, Javadoc, and an annotated sample, contact IBM® Support at 1-800-IBM-SERV.

2.0 Installation information

This document describes how to install IBM Rational Performance Tester Refresh Pack 6.1.2 by using IBM Rational Product Updater. This refresh pack is provided as an update. You should use Rational Product Updater to install this refresh pack directly from the IBM update server; however, you can also download a ZIP file that contains this refresh pack and then use Rational Product Updater to perform local installations.

2.1 Hardware requirements

No additional hardware is necessary to install this refresh pack.

2.2 Software requirements

Before you can install this refresh pack, you must install either IBM Rational Performance Tester 6.1 or IBM Rational Performance Tester Refresh Pack 6.1.1. If you change the default update site preferences by clicking Preferences > Update Sites, you must restore the default settings before you can install the refresh pack.

If you disabled any product features by modifying the feature.xml files or by clicking Help > Software Updates > Manage Configuration, you must enable them before you install this refresh pack

If you are performing a silent install, you must first install IBM Rational Product Updater 6.0.1 (if it is not already installed). If you do not, you are likely to corrupt Rational Performance Tester. You can check the current version of the Rational Product Updater by clicking Help>About IBM Rational Product Updater. The current version is the last entry in the list. You can obtain Rational Product Updater 6.0.1 from http://www3.software.ibm.com/ibmdl/pub/software/rationalsdp/updater/60/update/. Note that if you are performing a regular install using the graphical user interface, Rational Product Updater is automatically updated.

When you update a workbench, you must also update all remote agent computers that are used with that workbench. You update all remote agent computers using the Rational Product Updater.

2.2.1 Siebel requirements

The Siebel testing features require the Siebel-supplied data correlation library, ssdtcorr.dll (this file is provided in the Siebel Test Automation (STA) framework). You must obtain this library from Siebel and manually copy it on the local computer (where Rational Performance Tester 6.1 has been installed), in this path: ...\SDP\6.0\rpt_prod\external_files\deployable\siebel\.

The correlation library must be present on every computer that runs a Siebel test. However, you do not need to copy it to remote computers because after you install the correlation library on the local computer, it is automatically copied as needed to any remote computer on which you deploy a Siebel test.

The Siebel-supplied correlation library depends on the Microsoft^® C++ runtime library, which is implemented by the file msvcr70.dll. The Windows computer on which you want to run a Siebel test might contain no C++ runtime library or may contain a different version. In this case, you must obtain msvcr70.dll from the Microsoft Web site and copy it into the siebel folder. The siebel folder with the msvcr70.dllfile will be automatically copied as needed to any remote computer on which you deploy a Siebel test. Although this procedure is not necessary in some installations, putting a copy of msvcr70.dll into the siebel folder ensures that you will not have to worry about it being missing if you add an additional remote computer in the future.

2.2.2 z/OS requirements

You must have the following software installed on your z/OS system:

IBM Java SDK for z/OS v1.4.2, available at http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/eserver/zseries/software/java/newj14pcont.html
XML C++ Parser 1.4 for z/OS, available at
http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/eserver/zseries/software/xml/download/cparser_download.html

2.3 Using Performance Tester for z/OS

The following sections explain how to use Performance Tester for z/OS. You must:

Configure your environment.
Install Performance Tester for z/OS.
Start the z/OS RAC (before you run a test).

z/OS environment configuration

Have the system programmer set ASSIZEMAX to 2147483647.

Place the following export commands in the .profile of the user ID who will be starting Performance Tester for z/OS:

Set the RASERVER_HOME environment variable to point to the directory where Performance Tester for z/OS was installed. The server uses this environment variable to locate the configuration file.

export RASERVER_HOME=install_dir/IBM/AgentController

Set the LIBPATH environment variable to point to Performance Tester for z/OS libraries, JVM libraries, and XML parser libraries

export LIBPATH=$LIBPATH:install_dir/IBM/AgentController/lib:java_install_dir/bin:java_install_dir/bin/classic:xml_parser_dir/lib

Set the PATH environment variable to point to the bin directory of the z/OS RAC:

export PATH=$PATH:install_dirIBM/AgentController/bin

Set the _BPX_SHAREAS environment variable to NO:

export _BPX_SHAREAS="NO"

Installing Performance Tester for z/OS

Note: Only the IBM Rational Performance Tester Agent Controller is supported on z/OS. To execute performance tests on z/OS, you must install IBM Rational Performance Tester workbench on a Windows or Linux system.

Install Rational Performance Tester 6.1.0 or 6.1.1 on your local computer, if you have not done so.

Insert the Performance Tester CD in the CD-ROM drive.
On Windows, the launchpad application starts if Autorun is enabled.
On Linux, you must start the launchpad.bin file from the root directory of the CD-ROM.
On the launchpad, click Install IBM Rational Performance Tester. You can take all the installation defaults.

Use the Rational Product Updater to update your local computer to the 6.1.2 release.

Click Start > Programs > IBM Rational > Rational Product Updater. The Updater displays a list of the Rational products you have installed.
On the Installed Products page, select IBM Rational Performance Tester 6.1.0 or 6.1.1.
Click the Updates tab. The updates are listed below the product name.
Select IBM Rational Performance Tester 6.1.2.
Click Install Updates.

Download the z/OS RAC to your remote computer from http://www3.software.ibm.com/ibmdl/pub/software/rationalsdp/common/rac/601/zips/ibmrac.os390.zip
Unzip the z/OS RAC and extract the contents.
Use ftp to transfer the following install images in binary format to the install directory:

ibmrac.os390.pax tptpdc.os390.pax

Change to the install directory and issue the following command to extract the z/OS RAC:

pax -ppx -rf ibmrac.os390.pax

Change to the install_dir/IBM/AgentController directory, and issue the following command:

pax -ppx -rf ../../tptpdc.os390.pax

Make the shared object files program-controlled by issuing the following command in a UNIX^® System Services shell:

extattr +p install_dir/IBM/AgentController/lib/*.so

Change to the install_dir/IBM/AgentController/bin directory and issue the following command, which enables the z/OS RAC to allow nonlocal hosts:

./SetConfig.sh -s ALLOW=ALL

The z/OS RAC must be started before you run a test. To start it, change to install_dir/IBM/AgentController/bin and issue the following command:

./RAStart.sh.

Stopping Performance Tester for z/OS

To stop the z/OS RAC, issue the following command:

install_dir/IBM/AgentController/bin/RAStop.sh

2.4 Licensing

Windows and Linux licensing

IBM Rational Performance Tester lets you run up to five concurrent virtual users on Windows, Linux, or both. To run more users, however, virtual tester pack licenses are required. For example, you can run IBM Rational Performance Tester with up to five virtual users without a license, but to run ten virtual users, you must purchase a license for a virtual tester pack supporting five or more additional virtual users. Licenses come in sizes of 5, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000, 2500, 5000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, and 100,000 virtual testers.

A virtual tester pack license is not divisible; only one user can use a particular virtual tester pack at any given time. For example, user A and user B cannot split a 50 virtual tester pack to each run a 25-user test. Rather, the 50 virtual tester pack license lets single user run a test emulating up to 50 virtual users.

A virtual tester pack license is additive; a single user can combine multiple virtual tester pack licenses to run a test supported by the combination of those licenses. For example, a single user can use two 50 virtual tester pack licenses to run a test simulating up to 100 virtual users.

z/OS licensing

Running virtual users on the z/OS operating system requires a license for IBM Rational Performance Tester for z/OS. IBM Rational Performance Tester for z/OS lets you run an unlimited number of virtual users on the z/OS hosts for which your have purchased this license. Additionally, this license lets you run up to five concurrent virtual users on Windows and Linux for the purposes of test asset development.

2.5 Installing the Rational Performance Tester refresh pack

Install the refresh pack with the same user account that installed the product. On Windows operating systems, you must use an account with Administrator privileges. On Linux operating systems, you must log in as root.

To install the refresh pack directly from the IBM update server, complete the following steps:

Close Rational Performance Tester if it is open.
Start Rational Product Updater:
- On Windows operating systems, click Start > Programs > IBM Rational > Rational Product Updater.
- On Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.0 (GNOME desktop environment), open the main menu and click Programming > Rational Product Updater.
- On SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 9.0 (K Desktop Environment), open the main menu and click IBM Rational > Rational Product Updater.

Note: On Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.0 and SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 9.0, if you use a desktop environment other than the default, the product shortcuts might not appear in the default location. In this case, start Rational Product Updater by running install_dir/updater/eclipse/rpu.

Click Find Updates.

By default, all available updates are selected. Ensure that you select Refresh Pack 6.1.2.
Click Install Updates.
Review and accept the license agreement and continue the installation by clicking OK.

Close Rational Product Updater.

Note: If a Linux or z/OS Rational Agent Controller process is running during the update, the process must be restarted for the update to take effect.

2.6 Installing the Rational Performance Tester refresh pack on remote agent computers

Install the refresh pack on each remote agent computer with the same user account that installed the product. On Windows operating systems, you must use an account with Administrator privileges. On Linux operating systems, you must log in as root.

To install the refresh pack directly from the IBM update server, complete the following steps:

Start Rational Product Updater:
- On Windows operating systems, click Start > Programs > IBM Rational > Rational Product Updater.
- On Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.0 (GNOME desktop environment), open the main menu and click Programming > Rational Product Updater.
- On SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 9.0 (K Desktop Environment), open the main menu and click IBM Rational > Rational Product Updater.

Click Find Updates.

By default, all available updates are selected. Ensure that you select Refresh Pack 6.1.2.
Click Install Updates.
Review and accept the license agreement and continue the installation by clicking OK.

Close Rational Product Updater.

Note: If a Linux or z/OS Rational Agent Controller process is running during the update, the process must be restarted for the update to take effect.

2.7 Local installations

You can install the refresh pack directly from the IBM update server; however, it is also available for download. You might want to download and install the refresh pack in the following situations:

You have a slow or unstable Internet connection and want to use a download manager that can resume the download.
You have difficulty accessing the live IBM update servers from behind a firewall.
You prefer to download the refresh pack and install it at a later date.

To download the refresh pack, complete the following steps:

Download the refresh pack from ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/software/rationalsdp/rpt/61/zips/rpt61_refreshpack612.zip.
Extract the refresh pack to a temporary directory. On Windows, C:\temp is recommended.

To install the refresh pack, complete the following steps:

Close Rational Performance Tester if it is open.
Log on to your system with the same user account that installed Rational Performance Tester. On Windows operating systems, you must use an account with Administrator privileges. On Linux operating systems, you must use the root user account.
Start the Rational Product Updater:
- On Windows operating systems, click Start > Programs > IBM Rational > Rational Product Updater.
- On Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.0 (GNOME desktop environment), open the main menu and click Programming > Rational Product Updater.
- On SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 9.0 (K Desktop Environment), open the main menu and click IBM Rational > Rational Product Updater.
Note: On Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.0 and SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 9.0, if you use a desktop environment other than the default, the product shortcuts might not appear in the default location. In this case, start Rational Product Updater by running install_dir/updater/eclipse/rpu.
Click Preferences > Update Sites.
Navigate to temp_dir\rpt\policy_612.xml, where temp_dir is the location of the extracted refresh pack. If a temp_dir location other than C:\temp was chosen, the policy_612.xml file must first be edited to contain the correct absolute path name of the site.xml file based on the selected value for temp.dir. For Linux, you must edit the policy file by entering the path to the update and discovery site.xml files (as appropriate) with the location of the site where the local update site is unzipped.
Click OK.
Click Find Updates.
If your computer does not have Internet access, or cannot connect to the live IBM update server, a warning appears in the Rational Product Updater that states that other update sites are not available. You can ignore this warning if you installed IBM Rational Product Updater 6.0.1 or later.
If your computer has Internet access and can connect to the live IBM update server, and if the Rational Product Updater requires an update, you are prompted to install it before you can continue. Click OK. The Rational Product Updater installs the update, restarts, and retrieves a list of available updates.
Select IBM Rational Performance Tester Refresh Pack 6.1.2.
Click Install Updates.
To accept the license agreement and continue the installation, click OK.
Depending on the speed of your computer processor and the amount of RAM in your computer, the update might take an extended period of time to install.
After the installation is complete, the Rational Product Updater lists the installed updates on the Installed Products page.
Close the Rational Product Updater.
Note: An active Linux or z/OS Rational Agent Controller process will not be updated. The Linux or z/OS RAC must be restarted to ensure the updates are available.

2.8 Creating a local mirror of the update server

To create a local mirror of the update server, you perform the following steps.

Download an extract updates.
Create and update site.xml files.
Create a policy.xml file.
Install updates from the local mirror of the update server.

2.8.1 Downloading and extracting updates

To create a local mirror of the IBM Rational Performance Tester update server:

Remove outdated feature files from your local mirror of the update server. This includes all updates for Rational Performance Tester prior to the 6.1.2 refresh pack update.
Download the updates from ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/software/rationalsdp/rpt/61/zips/rpt61_refreshpack612.zip.
Extract the files to a target directory that will stage your local mirror of the update server. You can extract all the updates to the same target directory. The updates do not overwrite each other.

2.8.2 Creating and updating site.xml files

Generally, an update site and a discovery site exist for each product. The update site contains product fixes, such as interim fixes and fix packs, and the discovery site contains optional features.

Note: There is no discovery site for the Rational Product Updater or Rational Performance Tester 6.1.2.

Each downloaded product fix contains a site_identifier.xml file in the product\612\<update_install_location>\ directory, and each downloaded feature contains a site_identifier.xml file in the product\612\<discovery_install_location>\ directory, where identifier identifies the product fix or feature and product identifies the product. The site_identifier.xml files for updates to the Rational Product Updater are located in the <update_install_location>\60\update\ directory.

The update site and the discovery site each require a separate site.xml file. To create each site.xml file, you must combine the <feature/> information from the appropriate site_identifier.xml files.

To create or update a site.xml file, complete the following steps:

Open a site_identifier.xml file in a text editor. For example, open site_612.xml.
Save the file as site.xml in the same directory. If the directory already contains a file named site.xml, copy the <feature/> information from site_612.xml into the <site></site> section of site.xml.
Copy the <feature/> information from each site_identifier.xml file into site.xml.
Your rpt\612\update\site.xml will look similar to the following:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?> <site> <feature patch="true" id="com.ibm.rational.performance.tester.612" version="1.0.0" url="features/com.ibm.rational.performance.tester.612_1.0.0.jar"/> <feature id="updater.rpt.common.plugins.612" version="1.0.0" url="features/updater.rpt.common.plugins.612_1.0.0.jar"/> <feature id="updater.rpt.common.wb.plugins.612" version="1.0.0" url="features/updater.rpt.common.wb.plugins.612_1.0.0.jar"/> <feature id="updater.rpt.common.nl.plugins.612" version="1.0.0" url="features/updater.rpt.common.nl.plugins.612_1.0.0.jar"/> <feature id="updater.rpt.common.doc.plugins.612" version="1.0.0" url="features/updater.rpt.common.doc.plugins.612_1.0.0.jar"/> </site>

2.8.3 Creating a policy.xml file

Each downloaded product fix and feature contains a product\policy_identifier.xml file that references its site_identifier.xml file. You must combine all of the policy_identifier.xml files into a single policy.xml file and edit the URL maps. After you create this file, you can use it for all product updates and reference the site.xml file that you created in the previous section.

To create the policy.xml file, complete the following steps:

Open a product\policy_identifier.xml file with a text editor. For example, open policy_612.xml.
In the main directory of your mirror site, save the file as policy.xml.
Edit the URL map to point to site.xml instead of site_identifier.xml. Ensure that you specify a universally accessible absolute path to site.xml. For example, if your mirror site is on a Web server named server1, your policy.xml file will be similar to the following example:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?> <update-policy> <url-map pattern="com.ibm.rational.performance.tester.update" url="http://server1/rational_updates/rpt/612/update/site.xml/"> </update-policy>
Add the URL map information from all other product\policy_identifier.xml files, such as rsa\policy_wbi_6001.xml.
For each product that you can update from your local mirror of the update server, you should have one URL map for the update site and another URL map for the discovery site. Additional URL maps are required for feature discovery sites. The patterns are provided in each product\policy_identifier.xml file.
Edit each URL map to point to site.xml instead of site_identifier.xml. Your file will be similar to the following example:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?> <update-policy> <url-map pattern="com.ibm.rational.performance.tester.update" url="http://server1/rational_updates/rpt/612/update/site.xml/"> <url-map pattern="com.ibm.rational.software.architect.discovery" url="http://server1/rational_updates/rsa/60/discovery/site.xml/"> <url-map pattern="com.ibm.rational.wbi.rsa" url="http://server1/rational_updates/rsa/60/discovery/site.xml/"> </update-policy>
Create a URL map for the updates to the Rational Product Updater by typing a universally accessible absolute path to its site.xml file.

<url-map pattern="com.ibm.orca.product.updater" url="http://server1/rational_updates/updater/60/update/site.xml"/>
Save the policy.xml file.

2.8.4 Installing updates from the local mirror of the update server

After the local mirror of the update server is available, users can install updates by completing the following instructions.

Close Rational Performance Tester if it is open.
Log on to your system with the same user account that installed Rational Performance Tester. On Windows operating systems, you must use an account with Administrator privileges. On Linux operating systems, you must use the root user account.
Start the Rational Product Updater:
- On Windows operating systems, click Start > Programs > IBM Rational > Rational Product Updater.
- On Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.0 (GNOME desktop environment), open the main menu and click Programming > Rational Product Updater.
- On SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 9.0 (K Desktop Environment), open the main menu and click IBM Rational > Rational Product Updater.
Note: On Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.0 and SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 9.0, if you use a desktop environment other than the default, the product shortcuts might not appear in the default location. In this case, start Rational Product Updater by running install_dir/updater/eclipse/rpu.
Click Preferences > Update Sites.
Type the path to the policy.xml file that is in the main directory of the local mirror of the update server.
Click OK.
Click Find Updates or Find Optional Features.
If the Rational Product Updater requires an update, you are prompted to install it before you can continue. Click OK. The Rational Product Updater installs the update, restarts, and retrieves a list of available updates.
Select the update that you want to install. To view the description for an update, click the update. The description is displayed in the Detailed information pane.
Click Install Updates or Install Optional Features.
To accept the license agreement and continue the installation, click OK. Depending on the speed of your computer processor and the amount of RAM in your computer, the update might take an extended period of time to install.
After the installation is complete, the Rational Product Updater lists the installed updates on the Installed Products page.
Close the Rational Product Updater.

2.9 Uninstalling and reinstalling IBM Rational Performance Tester

IBM Rational Performance Tester version 6.1.2 cannot be rolled back to a previous version. When IBM Rational Performance Tester is updated to version 6.1.2 and you want to install a prior version, or reinstall version 6.1.2, you must uninstall IBM Rational Performance Tester and then install the desired version.

Restrictions

On Windows operating systems, you must use an account with Administrator privileges. On Linux operating systems, you must use the root user account.

Uninstalling on Windows

To uninstall Rational Performance Tester on a Windows system:

Click File > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs.
Select the application you want to uninstall from the list and click Change/Remove.
Follow the instructions in the uninstall wizard.

Uninstalling on Linux

To uninstall Rational Performance Tester on a Linux system:

Log in as root.
Change directory to install_dir/rpt_prod/_unist.
Run uninstall.bin.

3.0 Fixes in this release

This refresh pack fixes the following problems. If a problem has an APAR number, this number is listed.

(PK06933) Deleting a request or response header does not remove references or substitutes that were created on the header, and relationships to other elements are not cleaned up.
(PK07067) Values in multi-part POST content are not recognized as datapool candidates.
(PK08806) Excessive amounts of memory are used when running the WebSphere^® Trade application.
(PK10562) Playback under German Windows OS does not display run-time statistics.
(PK10817) The script generator fails for HTTP/1.0 traffic with no Host request header field.
(PK11047) Multiple virtual user license packs are not checked out.
(PK11505) Establishing the first SSL connection takes an extra two seconds.
(PK11721) The playback engine memory allocation during a test or schedule run exceeds expected values, for example, 10MB/user for a simple schedule.
(PK12382) There is no data to display when running a schedule.
(PK12864) The recorded basic authorization is incorrectly used instead of the dynamic value based on a datapool.
(PK14633) Set-Cookie is mishandled during playback if it arrives during NTLM or basic authentication.
(IC47598) Rational Performance Tester does not handle NTLM negotiations that span more than one connection.

4.0 Problems and workarounds

This section lists the workarounds for problems in this refresh pack.

Incorrect information in 6.1 installation manual - installing license keys on a Linux client

In the 6.1 installation manual, Installing IBM Rational Performance Tester, the section "Installing license keys on Linux" is incorrect. This section should read:

To install license keys on a Linux client, create the file $HOME/.flexlmrc, containing a line with the computer name or the IP address of the Rational license server. For example, add the lines RATIONAL_LICENSE_FILE=@server-name.com or RATIONAL_LICENSE_FILE=@ip-address to the .flexlmrc file. The .flexlmrc file must be created in the home directory of every user on the target system who will run more than five virtual testers.

MOZILLA_FIVE_HOME environment variable must be set

If you are running Performance Tester on Red Hat Linux, you must set the MOZILLA_FIVE_HOME environment variable.

To set this environment variable, add the following lines to shortcut_rpu and to shortcut_rpt (in the install directory, /opt/IBM/Rational/SPD/6.0 by default):

MOZILLA_FIVE_HOME=path to libxpcom.so (usually /usr/lib/mozilla-1.4.3)
export MOZILLA_FIVE_HOME

If you do not set this variable, the Rational Product Updater will not display the detailed information correctly, Performance Tester will not display the online help correctly, execution details will not be displayed in the Protocol Data view, and you will encounter other problems.

Editing a test suite using the IBM Rational Performance Tester Extension for SAP Solutions

When you edit a test suite using the IBM Rational Performance Tester Extension for SAP Solutions, and you select View Object Data, a window displays that does not have a scroll bar on the right, which causes the bottom of the window to be obscured. To resolve this issue, enlarge the window.

Effects of firewalls on performance testing

A firewall on the local computer might prevent the return of execution history and statistTP requests and responses.

IBM Rational Performance Tester uses network ports to pass data between its components. Network firewalls can disrupt this operation and cause errors during a run. If you cannot see the execution history after the run has completed, this might indicate a firewall issue.

Most network firewalls let you create an exception list for applications that should not be blocked from network access. To ensure that communication between the components of Performance Tester is uninterrupted, add the following applications to your exception list. If the network firewall is installed only on the agent controller, then only the second application listed for each operating system needs to be added to the list.

For Windows:

RPT_install_path\IBM\Rational\SDP\6.0\eclipse\jre\bin\javaw.exe
RPT_install_path\IBM\Rational\SDP\6.0\IBM_Agent_Controller\bin\RAService.exe

For Linux:

RPT_install_path\IBM\Rational\SDP\6.0\eclipse\jre\bin\javaw
RPT_install_path\IBM\Rational\SDP\6.0\IBM_Agent_Controller\bin\RAServer

Note: Microsoft Windows XP SP2 installs a restrictive firewall. It must be disabled or adjusted as indicated above to allow proper communication between the components of Performance Tester.

Internet Explorer options must be changed when recording with a proxy server

When you use a proxy server for performance testing, you must:

Clear the Bypass proxy server for local addresses check box when you record a performance test script.
Select the Bypass proxy server for local addresses check box when you reference online Help or a cheat sheet.

To locate this box, open Internet Explorer and click Tools > Internet Options > Connections > LAN Settings.

Using Test Execution Services custom code with the IKlog interface

The IKlog interface has been replaced with the ITestExecutionServices interface. To use existing custom code that contains the IKlog interface, type cast the IKlog argument in the custom code to the ITestExecutionServices interface.

Exporting a report to HTML

After you export a report to HTML, you can print it from your browser. However, Explorer 6.x might print the report incorrectly. The right side might not display in the printout. (Firefox 1.x and Internet Explorer 7.x do not have this problem.) Solutions and add-ons exist, both commercial and free, to correct this problem. For further information, search the Web for Internet Explorer Fitted-Width Printing.

Backward and forward compatibility of Rational Performance Tester assets

There are two types of Rational Performance Tester assets:

Renewable assets (generated test code, .java files, and test projects)
Non-renewable assets (recordings such as .rec and .recmodel files, tests, schedules, .testsuite fields, custom code, locations, datapools, execution history files, statistical results, and reports)

Renewable assets are automatically recreated if they are used across versions 6.1.0, 6.1.1 and 6.1.2 (with caveats such as moving them across machines requiring updating the class path).

Rational Performance Tester is backward-compatible: you can use non-renewable assets from versions 6.1.0 and 6.1.1 in version 6.1.2.

However, Rational Performance Tester is not forward-compatible: you cannot use assets from 6.1.2 in version 6.1.0 or 6.1.1.

Backward and forward compatibility of Rational Agent Controller

The Rational Agent Controller is backward compatible: the latest version supports settings that were created in former versions. However, it is not forward compatible: settings that are created in later versions are not supported in earlier versions.

Rational Performance Tester 6.1.2 Workbench Memory Optimization

Do not use Performance Tester on a system with less than 768 MB physical memory. If you do, be aware that you might experience poor performance, application crashes due to insufficient memory, or both, and that such a configuration is not supported.

After you have updated Performance Tester, adjust the JVM heap size for your system.

To do this on Windows:

Start Performance Tester.
Click Window > Preferences.
Expand the Test tree, and click Performance Test Workbench.

The recommended JVM heap size is displayed. Type this number into the Java Virtual Machine heap size field, then click OK.

After setting the JVM heap size, it is possible that Performance Tester could fail to start the next time it is launched. This is caused by a low memory or severely fragmented memory condition. Closing some active programs or stopping some services can free up enough memory to allow Performance Tester to start.

If this is not sufficient, reset the JVM heap size by editing the configuration file. This file, rationalsdp.ini, is located in the product install directory (by default, C:\Program Files\IBM\Rational\SDP\6.0 on Windows and /opt/IBM/Rational/SDP/6.0 on Linux). Open the file in a text editor (such as Notepad) and look for a line that begins with VMArgs=-Xmx, followed by a number, followed by m. The number should be what you entered for the Java Virtual Machine heap size field on the Preferences page. Removing the line from the configuration file allows Performance Tester to start.

For up-to-date information on how to increase memory allocation on your workbench, and best practices on how to reduce memory consumption, consult IBM technote 1221972, Rational Performance Tester 6.1.2 Workbench Memory Optimization. To locate this technote, click Help > IBM Support Assistant, and then click Show Options. Select IBM Software Support Documents and Rational Performance Tester, and then search for "Workbench Memory Optimization."

Using Mozilla browser on SuSE Linux

This issue applies specifically to SuSE Linux. Installing Mozilla from an Internet download does not create the appropriate configuration files. The appropriate configuration files are created only if the Mozilla browser is installed from the SuSE install disks using the install tools available on SuSE. This allows the Mozilla browser to be recognized as a browser adapter and to be able to be embedded as a control in applications. The Mozilla installation on SuSE has been customized for the operating system. Installing Mozilla from an Internet download does not create the appropriate configuration files.

Windows fatal error on agent computers

If you experience a Windows fatal error on your agent computers, you must uninstall the Symantec Internet Email Tools components. For instructions, see Symantec Document ID: 2004091012165348.

Problem with using Test Search to search in Requests

In the Search window (accessed by clicking Search on the toolbar and then clicking the Test Search tab), when you have chosen to search for HTTP requests, if both Secure and Regular are selected, then when you click Search, nothing is found. You must clear one of the check boxes for the search function to work correctly.

To search requests only on secure (SSL) connections, select the Secure check box. To search only for non-SSL connection requests, select the Regular check box. To search for both SSL and non-SSL connection requests, clear both the Secure and Regular check boxes.

Canceling an installation might not clean up all artifacts

If you cancel an installation of IBM Rational Performance Tester or the IBM Rational Performance Tester Agent Controller before it has completed, installation artifacts might not be cleaned up. Delete these artifacts before you attempt to install these products again.

5.0 Contacting customer support

The product home page for Rational Performance Tester is www.ibm.com/software/awdtools/tester/performance/index.html. For FAQs, lists of known problems and fixes, and other support information, visit the Support page on the product home page.

6.0 Notices and trademarks

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This information was developed for products and services offered in the U.S.A. IBM may not offer the products, services, or features discussed in this documentation in other countries. Consult your local IBM representative for information on the products and services currently available in your area. Any reference to an IBM product, program, or service is not intended to state or imply that only that IBM product, program, or service may be used. Any functionally equivalent product, program, or service that does not infringe any IBM intellectual property right may be used instead. However, it is the user's responsibility to evaluate and verify the operation of any non-IBM product, program, or service.

IBM may have patents or pending patent applications covering subject matter described in this documentation. The furnishing of this documentation does not give you any license to these patents. You can send license inquiries, in writing, to:

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For license inquiries regarding double-byte (DBCS) information, contact the IBM Intellectual Property Department in your country or send inquiries, in writing, to:

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This information could include technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. Changes are periodically made to the information herein; these changes will be incorporated in new editions of the publication. IBM may make improvements and/or changes in the product(s) and/or the program(s) described in this publication at any time without notice.

Any references in this information to non-IBM Web sites are provided for convenience only and do not in any manner serve as an endorsement of those Web sites. The materials at those Web sites are not part of the materials for this IBM product and use of those Web sites is at your own risk.

IBM may use or distribute any of the information you supply in any way it believes appropriate without incurring any obligation to you.

Licensees of this program who wish to have information about it for the purpose of enabling: (i) the exchange of information between independently created programs and other programs (including this one) and (ii) the mutual use of the information which has been exchanged, should contact:

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Such information may be available, subject to appropriate terms and conditions, including in some cases, payment of a fee.

The licensed program described in this documentation and all licensed material available for it are provided by IBM under terms of the IBM Customer Agreement, IBM International Program License Agreement or any equivalent agreement between us.

Any performance data contained herein was determined in a controlled environment. Therefore, the results obtained in other operating environments may vary significantly. Some measurements may have been made on development-level systems and there is no guarantee that these measurements will be the same on generally available systems. Furthermore, some measurements may have been estimated through extrapolation. Actual results may vary. Users of this document should verify the applicable data for their specific environment.

Information concerning non-IBM products was obtained from the suppliers of those products, their published announcements or other publicly available sources. IBM has not tested those products and cannot confirm the accuracy of performance, compatibility or any other claims related to non-IBM products. Questions on the capabilities of non-IBM products should be addressed to the suppliers of those products.

All statements regarding IBM's future direction or intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice, and represent goals and objectives only.

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Warning: Do not use this diagnosis, modification, and tuning information as a programming interface because it is subject to change.

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