Neotys NeoLoad Alternatives:
On-demand, Cloud-based Load Testing with LoadView

Script and execute load tests in minutes with LoadView.  No hardware to provision or cloud accounts to manage. 

Looking to switch from Neotys NeoLoad?  LoadView is a cloud-based load and stress testing solution that removes the hassle and costs of implementing an on-premises cloud testing solution. No more worrying about high license fees, additional infrastructure, or ongoing maintenance efforts. The cloud-based LoadView platform allows you to easily create scripts and execute your load tests in just a matter of minutes.

NeoLoad vs. LoadView – A Quick Comparison

Neotys NeoLoad is a very comprehensive tool, allowing users to create automated tests for DevOps environments and Continuous Delivery platforms. In fact, NeoLoad was the first on the market to support HTTP/2 and WebSockets. However, there are some caveats to working with NeoLoad that this article will set out to explore and why using a cloud-based platform like LoadView is a more cost-effective option.

First, when working with an on-premises solution like NeoLoad, there are many hardware and software requirements that have to be met. Factors such as disk space, CPU, and memory all need to be considered because, in the case for NeoLoad, the license you purchase is linked to a physical machine/workstation. That workstation must be able to execute the number of request or transactions during the test.

NeoLoad supports the following operating systems:

Neotys recommends having 500MB of disk space available, however, if you’re planning only install a load generator or monitoring agent, you only need to have 300MB available. A minimum of 1024MB of disk space is recommended, however hardware requirements differ for every load test. If at any point during a test, the CPU or memory usage exceeds 90 percent, you must reduce the number of users or increase the think time/delay between pages. An additional option is to increase the number of load generators.

With LoadView, you don’t need to concern yourself with all these prerequisites. All you essentially need to get started with LoadView is an Internet connection and a browser. LoadView removes the more time-consuming tasks of setting up and running an on-premises performance testing tool like NeoLoad, such as managing internal load generators and global agents. With the LoadView platform, there’s no need for any additional infrastructure or software. Just create your scripts and execute your tests from multiple locations around the world, with as many virtual users as you need, without worry about exceeding your system’s capacity. With LoadView, performance engineers and development teams have more time to plan, execute, and analyze their tests. Additionally, LoadView provides users with multiple simulation types and load test scenarios.

Installing and Deploying Neotys NeoLoad

There are three recommended ways to deploy NeoLoad, but there are a few items to note regarding the controller. The controller is used to design test scenarios (via the GUI), manage the load generators during the test and collect and analyze test results. Additionally, each controller has a load generator built in, in addition to a built-in monitoring agent.

• All-in-One Deployment

Using this method allows users to have access to all the components that make up the software – the Controller, Load Generator, and Monitoring Agent. However, Neotys recommends using this deployment for evaluation projects, not production environments.

• Install a Load Generator Agent

This method allows for an additional load generator for an additional test machine. Users can install as many load generators as necessary to increase load capacity, but using this method opens up a separate list of requirements and steps.

• Install a Monitoring Agent

This method is useful when your test machines sit in a number of sub-networks. Users can spread the monitoring load across other networks or install agents on other machines to monitor other networks.

An additional feature that can be installed with NeoLoad is the WAN emulation. This can be useful when testing for varying network conditions. For that functionality, Neotys has a separate WAN emulation driver that controls the traffic crated by the load generator, simulating latency and packet loss. One specific item to call out is that the WAN driver has to be installed on the NIC (Network Interface Card) of the machine.

Creating and Executing Load Tests: NeoLoad vs. LoadView

Similar to LoadView, the NeoLoad load testing process essentially consists of the following four steps:

• Script/record user traffic
• Define test parameters
• Executing the test
• Analyze results

However, there are some major differences between the platforms when it comes to scripting, defining, and executing load tests.

NeoLoad scripts are created through the GUI, which allows users the ability to include conditions, loops, and other programming structures. Users that are knowledgeable with JavaScript are also able to insert code for more advance uses for specific user paths or actions. The NeoLoad recorder is “seen” as a proxy by the browser and records each HTTP request/response from the client and server. If you have an application that is not configured to use a proxy, native mobile applications, for example, users must use a method called tunnel mode, which requires additional admin rights to use and can be more difficult to set up.

LoadView utilizes the web-based EveryStep Web Recorder to record user transactions and activites, like, clicks, selecting items, form submission, etc.  Scripts can be recorded utilizing over 40 popular desktop/mobile browsers and devices.  LoadView, like NeoLoad, supports popular web application frameworks and technologies. However, not all protocols are available or supported in every NeoLoad plan. NeoLoad can also record mobile applications and they offer several different methods for doing that, either directly from the device itself, from an emulator, or from a desktop web browser. With LoadView, you only need to use the EveryStep Web Recorder and specify which device to emulate. No additional steps or devices necessary.

Using the EveryStep Web Recorder, you can navigate through your application or site like your customer would. There’s no need to stop, start, and name every action like you would with the NeoLoad recorder.

LoadView can run multiple user simulation types: HTTP/S and real browser-based tests. Here are some key points to consider in order to understand which method is best for your needs:

• HTTP/S-Based Load Simulation
  • No client-side rendering
  • Impact on load injection machines is low

• Real Browser-Based Load Simulation
  • Real user simulation
  • Customizable scripts
  • High impact on load injection machines

LoadView also offers various load curve types to choose from – Load Step, Goal-based, and Dynamic Adjustable – that allows you to run the test that best fits your scenario or testing requirements.

Load Generators: NeoLoad vs. LoadView

Once you’ve defined your simulation and load test scenario, users can then distribute virtual users between multiple points around the world. For example, if a large portion of your customer base is located in a certain country/region, you can set up your test to include those areas.  LoadView users can select from 15+ global load injector locations across the United States, Canada, APAC, South America, and Europe.

NeoLoad also gives users multiple options when it comes to selecting load generators. You can use local generators within your network or cloud generators, however, if you want to run a large load test (anything between 10,000 – 30,000+ users), it’s advisable to use their cloud load generators, which is an additional pay-per-use fee on top of your existing license.

 LoadView Pricing and Professional Services

LoadView has subscription-based plans, starting at $199 per month.  With our subscription-based plans, unused virtual user minutes and load injector hours roll over from one month to the next as long as your plan remains valid.

Alternatively, you can also select from a pay-as-you-go plan. Pricing is calculated and displayed before you begin new test, so you know exactly what you will pay for. If your specific needs require more than what is listed above, please contact us for a customized plan.

We also offer Professional Services to assist you in any part of the testing process, you just let us know what elements you need our performance engineers to engage in.

NeoLoad Pricing and Licensing

Neotys offers a free plan for developers for small load tests (up to 50 Virtual Users), but if you’re looking to run large-scale load tests, you can choose from the following four additional plans, each with their individual licensing requirements. You must contact Neotys directly for pricing.

Standard –

• Includes HTTP/S, HTTP/2, and SOAP protocols (others are optional)
• 50-1,000,000+ virtual users
• Unlimited tests
• Pay-per-use cloud platform
• Network virtualization
• Continuous Integration Plugins
• Infrastructure Monitoring (optional)
• Regular/per seat license. This license is linked to one machine (permanent or temporary) and this machine runs the controller.

Professional – Includes everything in the Standard plan, plus the following:

• 50 – 1,000,000 SAP Virtual Users
• Infrastructure Monitoring
• Collaboration
• NeoLoad Web
• Integrations and Advanced Usage – APM/third-party tools (optional)
• Regular/per seat license. This license is linked to one machine (permanent or temporary) and this machine runs the controller.

Enterprise – Includes everything in the Professional plan, plus the following:

• Integrations and Advanced Usage (APM/third-party tools) – included
• Shared license. The shared license allows users to distribute virtual users between multiple machines. When distributing the Virtual Users capacity, the controller can be used on several machines simultaneously.

VUH – Includes everything in the Enterprise plan, plus the following:

• All protocols
• Unlimited virtual users
• Cloud platform included
• VUH licensing. Allows users to perform load testing from the cloud for the duration of your testing campaigns without having to purchase a license.