Donald H Randall

US Patent:

61857017, Feb 6, 2001

Filed:

Nov 21, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/976263

Inventors:

Frank Robert Marullo - Georgetown TX
Donald Husted Randall - Austin TX

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 1100

US Classification:

714 38

Abstract:

A get request employing TCPIP sockets is issued which obtains requested HTML pages associated with the application from the web server. A search is executed extracting all links on the page automatically. The links are optionally sorted as designated in an input file or command line in random order so as to generate a typical access paths through the web server application during testing and verification thereof. The retrieved and extracted data is formatted and output in a common format employable in an input file by multiple test application tools which request, capture, store, verify data returned from, and stress the web servers and associated applications. In a preferred embodiment, server port, and server name specified by host name or address, may be designated either in the input file or command line.

US Patent:

61579408, Dec 5, 2000

Filed:

Nov 21, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/976264

Inventors:

Frank Robert Marullo - Georgetown TX
Donald Husted Randall - Austin TX

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 1338
G06F 1517

US Classification:

709 22

Abstract:

A computerized subsystem starts multiple user-defined threads, each of which is a virtual browser for a web site server application under test and executing on a web server. Each individual virtual browser requests and posts data to the server and corresponding server application under test at a rapid rate. Actual returned data is not saved but time of transaction and whether page is found and returned is logged. The server and port to test are user-specified in an input data file or can alternatively, by command line option. A repeat option causes the subsystem to loop through the input file a specified number of times, hours, and an indefinite repeat. User-specified sleep values slow down requests to simulate actual users. A wait option creates a semaphore causing all threads to wait for the semaphore which appear only after all threads are created, whereupon such threads begin execution simultaneously to maximize stress on the server and application. The wait option may be user-disabled whereby threads begin execution as soon as created for a staggered stressing of the web site and application.

US Patent:

60443987, Mar 28, 2000

Filed:

Nov 21, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/975839

Inventors:

Frank Robert Marullo - Georgetown TX
Donald Husted Randall - Austin TX

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 1300

US Classification:

709219

Abstract:

An Internet website virtual browser application automatically exercises and verifies web server applications and scripts by simulating a web browser to request, capture, store, and verify data returned from web servers, discarding data not critical to testing, and saving and reusing retained data for subsequent transactions. Input and links are accepted from a GUI edit field or input data file, with posts and gets supported to return pages and other requested data, saved in user-specified files for verification. GUI edit field options may override server/port definitions without changing input data files and provides for user-specified termination after a specified number of errors, specifying number of retries and level-setting of messaging for log files and screens. A log file stores the request and byte count total bytes transferred, time of transaction, throughput or transfer time, and result of compares. The verify option automatically compares previously received and current request data.