Internet server system test and measurement

Abstract

A software product for monitoring the performance of an e-commerce business by reading log files from a plurality of tiers, making queries to a database, and interacting with an e-commerce infrastructure. Resulting information is presented as measurements varying over time, where the measurements are business and financial measures.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for monitoring an e-commerce installation, said comprising a plurality of tiers and said tiers generating log files and databases, wherein said method comprises: 
 reading the log files and querying the databases to obtain information stored therein, said information comprising performance measurements of the installation; and    graphically presenting said measurements.    
     
     
         2 . The method of    claim 1   , wherein said plurality of tiers comprises a web serverstier, a session servers tier, a transaction servers tier and a database servers tier.  
     
     
         3 . The method of    claim 2   , wherein; 
 said web servers tier comprises a plurality of web servers with each of said plurality of web servers generating log files, said log files comprising hit rate data, hosts served data, data volume data, error rates data, log file size monitor data, system load data and generic data,    said session servers tier comprises a plurality of session servers with each of said plurality of session servers generating a plurality of log files, said plurality of log files comprising users served data, restarts data, IM status data, IM load data, database connectivity data, error rates data and system load data,    said transaction servers tier comprises a plurality of transaction servers with each of said plurality of transaction servers generating a plurality of log files and a plurality of databases, said log files comprising open and discarded cart rates data, shoppers in store data, authorized, cancelled, declined data, payment service errors data, inventory status data, system load data and said databases comprising sales per hour data, items sold per hour data, new order rates data, processed order rates data, fulfilled order rates data shipping network connectivity data, orders awaiting authorization data and orders awaiting shipment data; and    said database servers tier comprises a plurality of database servers with each of said plurality of database servers generating a plurality of databases, said plurality of databases comprising database access performance data, database size monitor data, database connectivity error rate data and system load data.    
     
     
         4 . The method of    claim 3   , wherein said user site is a fully functional web-based business application or e-commerce monitoring solution.  
     
     
         5 . A software product for testing and monitoring a web-based business application or e-commerce installation comprising at least one web server, at least one session server, at least one transaction server, and at least one database server, the software product comprising: 
 test instructions configured to direct a processor to configure and execute user transaction tests and report user transaction test results;    system performance instructions configured to direct the processor to measure system performance data for each of the web server, the session server, the transaction server, and the database server; business performance instructions configured to direct the processor to measure    business performance data comprising monetary volume transacted by the e-commerce installation during a time period; and    a first storage media configured to store the user test instructions, the system performance instructions, and the business performance instructions.    
     
     
         6 . The software product of    claim 5   , wherein the business performance data further comprises new orders transacted by the e-commerce installation during a time period.  
     
     
         7 . The software product of    claim 5   , wherein the business performance data further comprises sales volume transacted by the e-commerce installation during a time period.  
     
     
         8 . The software product of    claim 5   , wherein the business performance dta further comprises lost sales due to system errors during a time period.  
     
     
         9 . The software product of    claim 5   , wherein the business performance data further comprises abandoned shopping carts during a time period.  
     
     
         10 . A method of operating a computer system to test and monitor an Internet server system comprising a web server, session server, transaction server, and database server, the method comprising: 
 configuring and executing user transaction tests and reporting user transaction test results;    measuring system performance data for each of the web server, the session server, the transaction server, and the database server; and    measuring business performance data comprising monetary volume transacted by the e-commerce installation during a time period.    
     
     
         11 . The method of    claim 10   , wherein the business performance data further comprises financial data transacted by the e-commerce installation during a time period.  
     
     
         12 . The method of    claim 10   , further comprising: 
 processing the system performance data to generate system graphics illustrating system performance measured against system performance baselines and system performance thresholds; and    processing the business performance data to generate business graphics illustrating billing performance measured against business performance baselines and business performance thresholds.    
     
     
         13 . The method of    claim 10   , further comprising: 
 collecting the system performance data and the business performance data from the e-commerce installation; and    transferring the system performance data and the business performance data to the computer system.