Review By: Thomas Burke CSTE
07/29/2003This is a must-read book for anyone involved in performance and load testing Web systems. The book comprehensively discusses capacity planning, scalability, and Web performance. All aspects of performance involving the Web client server environment are equally and thoroughly covered.

The contents include separate chapters on client software, client operating system, client hardware, network hardware, network protocols, server hardware, server operation system, server software, Web content, CGI programs, Java, and databases. Valuable performance tips are included in each of these chapters, but the most important chapter is Capacity Planning. The author rightfully points out that planning is the most important step. A list of questions are included that should be addressed before any capacity planning, scalability analysis or performance testing is done. These include "How many HTTP operations per unit time do you expect?" and "What is the purpose of the Web site?" and "How much bandwidth do you need?" Not only does the author ask the questions but he helps you answer them. He includes technical explanations that help you formulate an answer for each question asked.

There is another good chapter that has case studies that deal with real live performance issues. The best thing about this chapter is that the case studies include useful solutions to the most common performance-related problems . Some common issues the case studies deal with are "Not enough Memory on Server" and "Network Connection Too Slow.” The author discusses official benchmark and performance measurements, and correctly surmises that there should be little attention paid to them. You will need to set your own requirements and measurements for your Web site, and that is what will drive your performance tests.

The book gives us a complete look into the world of Web performance tuning. This isn't your garden variety theory book, but a real-world book with real solutions.

This is a must-read book for anyone involved in performance and load testing Web systems. The author has a comprehensive book that covers capacity planning, scalability, and Web performance. All aspects of performance involving the Web client server environment are equally and completely covered. The style is not overly fancy but more down to earth, like its subject matter. It is easily read and what is most important is that the author gets his point across.

The book assumes that the reader has a basic knowledge of networks and how Web sites are put together. The greater your knowledge of these subjects the more you will reap from this book. You should have an intermediate level knowledge of networks and a basic knowledge of Web site design. This book teaches you a lot about capacity and scalability planning. You also learn a lot about performance and load testing. One of the major values of this book is that you will be more knowledgeable in how Web sites and networks work together.

For those who have a good understanding of Web performance, they can go right to chapter five, "Principles and Patterns," where they will receive good advice on the principles of performance tuning and learn how to improve performance. The readers that work directly with either Netscape Enterprise Server, Apache Web Server, or Solaris will benefit greatly from the appendixes that cover each topic in detail. They include performance tuning and logging tips.

This book was initially written in October 1998. Since technology moves at such a rapid pace some elements of the book are outdated. A revised edition would be welcome at this point. The author does not have as much experience in Windows NT-based Web solutions as with Unix-based ones. I would recommend an appendix on the IIS Web server. There could also be some information on some of the current performance/load testing applications on the market such as Mercury Interactive Load Runner and RSW E-tester.

I am currently working on performance and load testing a Web site using Load Runner. I find myself constantly going back to this book for help on planning the performance tests and what results to look for. I recommend this book to anyone who takes quality assurance and performance testing seriously.