Install Rational Performance Tester v8.5
- Overview
- Install with your Eclipse instance
- Increasing the number of file handles on Linux workstations
- Install RPT
- Install RPT Agent
- Install RPT Agent on AIX
- Manage licenses
- Enable licenses
- Enable runtime licenses for testing
- Purchase licenses
- View license information for installed packages
- IBM RPT v8.5.1 Release Notes
Overview
We install two products:
- Rational Performance Tester
- Rational Performance Tester Agent
RPT Agent consists of...
Load Generation Agent Generate load for the application under test by using the virtual users. Rational Agent Controller Gather data for the Response Time Breakdown feature. Controls web service stubs in the SOA protocol. Before installing...
The default installation directory is...
C:\installation_directory\product\inst.file
The default log location...
C:\log_file_dir\log.txt
We use IBM Installation Manager to install, update, and modify RPT packages.
To install, you must be either an Administrator (Windows) or roo (UNIX)
During installation, you specify a package group into which to install a product. A package group represents a directory in which products share resources. When you install multiple products at the same time, all products are installed into the same package group.
The shared resources directory is where product resources are installed so that they can be used by multiple product package groups.
Install with your Eclipse instance
RPT comes with a version of Eclipse. If you already have Eclipse installed on your workstation, you can add your product package directly to that Eclipse installation. Your current Eclipse IDE must be the same version as the Eclipse that the product you are installing uses. Installation Manager checks that the Eclipse instance that you specify meets the requirements for the installation package and helps you install the latest updates from eclipse.org, if required.
Increase the number of file handles on Linux workstations
For best product performance, increase the number of file handles above the default of 1024 handles.
- Log in as root.
- cd /etc
If you decide to increase the number of file handles in the next step, do not leave an empty initscript file on your computer. If you do so, your computer will not start up the next time that you turn it on or restart.
- Use the vi editor to edit the initscript file in the etc directory. If this file does not exist, type vi initscript to create it.
- On the first line, type...
ulimit -n 30000
On the second line, type...
eval exec "$4"
Restrict the number of handles available to users or groups by modifying...
etc/security/limits.conf
Both SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) Version 9 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux Version 4.0 have this file by default. If you do not have this file, consider using a smaller number in step 4 in the previous procedure (for example, 2048). Do this so that most users have a reasonably low limit on the number of open files that are allowed per process. If you use a relatively low number in step 4, it is less important to do this. However, if you set a high number in step 4 earlier and you do not establish limits in the limits.conf file, computer performance can be significantly reduced.
The following sample limits.conf file restricts all users, and then sets different limits for others afterwards. This sample assumes that you set handles to 8192 in step 4 earlier.
* soft nofile 1024 * hard nofile 2048 root soft nofile 4096 root hard nofile 8192 user1 soft nofile 2048 user1 hard nofile 2048The splat (*) sets the limits for all users first. These limits are lower than the limits that follow. The root user has a higher number of allowable handles open, while the number that is available to user1 is between the two.
Install RPT or RPT Agent on Windows or Linux
The Setup disk includes the launchpad program, which provides you with a single location to start the installation process.
For products that are installed by IBM Installation Manager, starting the installation process from the launchpad program causes Installation Manager to be automatically installed if it is not already on your computer. The installation process is already configured with the location of the repository containing the installation package. If you install Installation Manager separately, you must configure the repository preferences manually.
To install RPT as a non-administrator, you cannot use launchpad. Instead, run the userinst program.
On the Prerequisite page, if a supported version of IBM Rational License Key Administrator is not installed, a warning message is displayed. A supported version of Rational License Key Administrator comes with the product. If you use the launchpad program to install the product, Rational License Key Administrator is listed on the Install Packages page. Add the repository for Rational License Key Administrator to install it at the same time as the product. Click Next to continue.
On the Location page, type the path for the shared resources directory in the Shared Resources Directory field, or accept the default path.
c:\IBM\IBMIMShared
You can specify the shared resources directory only the first time that you install a package. Use your largest disk for this to help ensure adequate space for the shared resources of future packages. You cannot change the directory location unless you uninstall all packages.
On the Location page, create a package group to install the product package into or if this is an update, use the existing package group. A package group represents a directory in which packages share resources with other packages in the same group. To create a package group click create a new package group and type the path for the installation directory for the package group.
C:\IBM\SDP
Optional: On the next Location page, you can choose to extend an existing Eclipse IDE that is installed on your computer, which adds the functions in the packages that you are installing. You must have Eclipse Version 3.6 with the latest updates from eclipse.org to select this option. Click Next to continue.
RPT does not support extending an existing Eclipse IDE.
On the Features page, select the package features to install. Select or clear features in the packages. Installation Manager automatically enforces any dependencies with other features and displays updated download sizes and disk space requirements for the installation.
To use Processor Value Unit (PVU) licensing capability, click IBM Rational Test Workbench Processor Value Unit (PVU) support checkbox.
On the common licensing configuration page, type the TCP/IP port number and host name of the license servers to use to configure licensing on the workbench computer. Separate the port number and host name with the at sign (@). Separate the port-host pairs with semicolons (;). To use the default port, omit the port number. If you do not know the port numbers and names of license servers to use, you can configure the license servers after installation by using Rational License Key Administrator. For example, to configure three license servers that are named license1, license2, and license3 to use port 27000, the default port, and port 1765 respectively, enter...
27000@license1;@license2;1765@license3
Install RPT Agent
Run the launchpad program.By default, the Load Generation Agent check box is selected. The Load Generation Agent is used to generate a load on the system under test. The Rational Agent Controller feature is used to gather data for the Response Time Breakdown feature by installing IBM Data Collection Infrastructure and to support the startup and control of web services stubs in the SOA protocol.
The Rational Agent Controller feature is not available for RPT Agent on System z for Red Hat Linux.
IBM Installation Manager automatically enforces any dependencies with other features and displays updated download sizes and disk space requirements for the installation.
For Load Generation Agent, type the workbench host name. Default port is use 7080.
For Rational Agent Controller, select either a Typical installation or a Custom installation. If you select Custom installation, you can define an access list and enable security:
- Access List: You can limit access to the computer where the agent controller is installed or to a list of specific computers.
- Security: You can enable encrypted communication and limit access to a specified set of user IDs.
Install RPT Agent on AIX
To install Rational Performance Tester Agent on AIX see IBM Technote 7036126
Manage licenses
Product activation kits are imported using the Manage Licenses wizard in the IBM Installation Manager. Alternatively, you can enable floating licenses from a license server. See the Rational licensing support page
License types include...
- Authorized User license
Authorizes an individual to use a Rational software product. Purchasers obtain an Authorized User license for each individual user who accesses the product in any manner. An Authorized User license cannot be reassigned unless the purchaser replaces the original assignee on a long-term or permanent basis.
- Authorized User Fixed Term License
Authorizes an individual to use a Rational software product for a specific length of time. Purchasers obtain an Authorized User FTL for each individual user who accesses the product in any manner. An Authorized User FTL cannot be reassigned unless the purchaser replaces the original assignee on a long-term or permanent basis.
- Floating license
License for a single software product that can be shared among multiple team members. The total number of concurrent users cannot exceed the number of floating licenses purchased. To use, obtain floating license keys and install them on a Rational License Server. The server responds to user requests for access to the license keys; the server grants access to the number of concurrent users that equals the number of licenses the organization purchased.
Enable licenses
Licenses for RPT are enabled in two ways:
- Import a product activation kit
The Product Activation Kit CD contains the permanent license key. Use IBM Installation Manager to import the activation kit.
- Enable Rational Common Licensing to obtain access to floating license keys
Obtain floating license keys, install IBM Rational License Server, and enable floating license enforcement.
Some 7.0 and later versions of Rational products require an upgraded version of the Rational License Server
Enable runtime licenses for testing
IBM Rational Performance Tester requires two types of licenses:
- Product activation
Managed using Installation Manager. Can also be checked out from a Rational License Server.
- Runtime licenses
Managed using IBM Rational License Key Administrator. Contain protocol keys and virtual tester license key packs.
For floating product licenses, the license server administrator logs on to the Rational License Center to download a floating license key and import it to the Rational License Server. Use the version of Rational License Server that comes with Rational Performance Tester v8.5.
In addition to product activation, RPT also checks for runtime licensing when you run a performance schedule. You must have a protocol key to run performance tests with any protocol other than HTTP. You must have a virtual tester license key pack to run tests with more than five virtual users. You can check out these keys from the same Rational License Server used for floating license product activation.
To check out protocol and virtual tester license keys in Windows, use the IBM Rational License Key Administrator program installed with RPT. Click...
Start | Programs | IBM Rational | License Key Administrator 8.2.1
Type the name or IP address of your Rational License Server. Protocol and virtual tester license keys are available from the Rational License Key Center in the form of .upd files. If you double-click a .upd file in Windows, the License Key Administrator program starts automatically and imports the license keys. To learn more about IBM Rational License Key Administrator, click...
Help | Contents and Index
There is no Linux version of the IBM Rational License Key Administrator. To check out protocol and virtual tester license keys in Linux, create and edit the .flexlmrc file. Create the file .flexlmrc in the home directory of every user who runs more than five virtual testers, uses a protocol other than HTTP, or uses the floating license product activation. Edit the .flexlmrc file, adding a line with the computer name or the IP address of the Rational License Server. For example, add the line...
RATIONAL_LICENSE_FILE=@license-server-name.com
...or...
RATIONAL_LICENSE_FILE=@license-server-ip-address
Runtime license examples
The trial licensing key permits you to run Rational Performance Tester for 30 days from the initial installation. After 30 days from the first time you install the product, the trial license expires. The trial license permits you to run HTTP performance tests with up to 5 virtual users. For other protocols except for SOA, the trial license permits you to run tests with a single user. The trial license for RPT does not permit you to run tests by using the SOA protocol.
Protocol Trial Protocol key 500-user virtual tester key pack and protocol key HTTP 5 n/a 505 Siebel 1 5 505 SAP 1 5 505 MySAP 1 5 505 Citrix 1 5 505 Socket 5 n/a 505 SOA 0 5 505
Purchase licenses
You can purchase new licenses if your current product license is about to expire or to acquire additional product licenses for team members. Purchase the product license.
Use the Proof of Entitlement that you receive and complete one of these steps to enable RPT...
- If you purchase Authorized User licenses, go to Passport Advantage, and follow the instructions there for downloading your product activation kit. After you have downloaded the activation kit, import the product activation .jar file by using IBM Installation Manager. Back up the product activation .jar file. If you uninstall the product and then install the product again, you might need to use the product activation .jar file to license the product again.
- If you purchase floating licenses, go to the IBM Rational Licensing and Download Center, and then click the link to connect to the IBM Rational License Key Center. There you can use your Proof of Entitlement to obtain floating license keys for your license server.
Optionally, you can go to IBM Passport Advantage to download the activation kit. After importing the activation kit, you can switch from a floating to a permanent license type if you use your computer offline for long periods.
To import the activation kit or enable floating license support, use the Manage Licenses wizard in IBM Installation Manager.
View license information for installed packages
You can review license information for your installed packages, including license types and expiration dates, from IBM Installation Manager.
- Start IBM Installation Manager.
- On the main page, click Manage Licenses.
The package vendor, current license types, and expiration dates are displayed for each installed package.
IBM RPT v8.5.1 Release Notes
What's new in version 8.5.1
- Support for GraniteDS and BlazeDS data transformation.
- Support automatic correlation for XML Encoded fields in SAPWeb test generation (for SAP's ABAP Webdynpro framework).
- Support for WAS 8.5.5.
- Support for SAP GUI 7.3.0.
- Support for the execution of compound tests from a performance schedule.
- Support for generating sequential number for all the users in a test.
- Support to control the automated generation of the service reports.
- Support to control the length of input data to avoid scalability issues for service tests.
Known Limitations for version 8.5.1
- View known problems for RPT Version 8.1.1 or later
- View all technotes for RPT
- View known problems for RPT Version 8.5 or later
Contacting IBM Rational Software Support