Manage the Load Generator Agent

The Load Generator Agent manages Load Generator sessions to stress a server. Starting a Load Generator Agent only is useful to make the best of the capacity of a machine dedicated to run Virtual Users.

Load Generator Agents are managed in the NeoLoad Controller. When on the same network, the NeoLoad Controller automatically detects the Load Generator Agents available. When automatic detection is impaired (firewalls, routers, and so on), the Agents must be specified in the Controller. For more information, see Zones and Load Generator hosts.

The Agent must be previously installed, within a Controller installation or as a a standalone installation. For more information, see Install the Controller and Install a Load Generator Agent respectively.

Warning: Installing the NeoLoad Controller includes an embedded Load Generator Agent and a standalone Load Generator Agent. To avoid conflicts between both Agents, the standalone Agent can be started only when the Controller is stopped. Conversely, to launch the Controller, the standalone Agent must be stopped before.

Start the Load Generator Agent

The Load Generator Agent can be launched:

on Windows:
- with the Start Load Generator Agent shortcut in the Start > Programs menu, or
- with the NeoLoad 6.6\bin\LoadGeneratorAgent.exe executable, or
- as a service in the Windows services control panel for a Load Generator Agent installation only.
on Unix:
- with the command NeoLoad 6.6/bin/LoadGeneratorAgentService start, or
- with the command NeoLoad 6.6/bin/LoadGeneratorAgent, or
- when installed using the root account, with the service LoadGeneratorAgentService start command using the root account.

To start the Load Generator Agent on Windows

In Start > Programs,click Start Load Generator Agent, or
Run NeoLoad 6.6\bin\LoadGeneratorAgent.exe, or
Start the Load Generator Agent service for a Agent-ony installation.

To start the Load Generator Agent on Unix

Run NeoLoad 6.6/bin/LoadGeneratorAgent, or
Run NeoLoad 6.6/bin/LoadGeneratorAgentService start, or
Run service LoadGeneratorAgentService start with the root account.

Start additional Load Generator Agents

Additional Load Generator Agents can be started by specifying a port number at launch time.

To add a Load generator Agent, open a command prompt and enter the following line:

6.6/bin/LoadGeneratorAgent -port <port number> start

Tip: To add an additional Load Generator Agent, you can also set the following environment variable:

On Unix: export AGENT_PORT_SERVER=<port number>
On Windows: set AGENT_PORT_SERVER=<port number>

Start the Load Generator agent in Terminal Services mode

If the NeoLoad Terminal Services feature cannot be used for any reason and a custom script is required, here is the command to start a Load Generator Agent in Terminal Services mode:

NeoLoad 6.7\bin\LoadGeneratorAgent.exe -terminalServices

The Load Generator then uses a unique working folder and picks an available port dynamically. Add the Load Generator to NeoLoad by using the Bind action from the Terminal Services feature. For more information, see Terminal Services.

Stop the Load Generator Agent

According to the installation mode (standalone Agent or Controller), the Load Generator Agent can be stopped:

on Windows:
- with the Shutdown Load Generator Agent shortcut in the Start > Programs menu, or
- as a service in the Windows service control panel for a Load Generator Agent installation only, or
- with the command line NeoLoad 6.6\bin\LoadGeneratorAgent.exe -stop, or
- with the NeoLoad icon of the system tray.
on Unix:
- with NeoLoad 6.6/bin/LoadGeneratorAgentService stop when the Agent has been started with NeoLoad 6.6/bin/LoadGeneratorAgentService start, or
- with NeoLoad 6.6/bin/LoadGeneratorAgent -stop, or
- with service LoadGeneratorAgentService stop when the Agent has been started with service LoadGeneratorAgentService start, or
- with the NeoLoad icon of the system tray, when available.

To stop the Load Generator Agent on Windows

In Start > Programs, click Shutdown Load Generator Agent, or
For a Agent-only installation, stop the Windows service for the Load Generator Agent, or
Run NeoLoad 6.6\bin\LoadGeneratorAgent.exe -stop, or
Exit the Agent from the systray.

To stop the Load Generator Agent on Unix

Run NeoLoad 6.6/bin/LoadGeneratorAgentService stop when started with NeoLoad 6.6/bin/LoadGeneratorAgentService start, or
Run NeoLoad 6.6/bin/LoadGeneratorAgent -stop, or
Run service LoadGeneratorAgentService stop when started with service LoadGeneratorAgentService start, or
Exit the Agent from the systray, when available.