Will the agent machine generate sufficient load to test the database server? (4326901)

The agent machine can be a bottleneck if it is unable to support the virtual users needed to run the load test of a database server. 

Hardware limitation on the agent machine.

One way to monitor if the agent machine is becoming a bottleneck is to check the CPU % while the test is running.  This can be seen in % CPU column in the agents section of the console. When high % of CPU is recorded, the agent machine may be able to generate sufficient load.

Running the agent on multiple machines is a good solution to this issue. To do so:

1. Identify one of the machines as a central agent machine. Take note of the IP address of this central agent machine.

2. Then set up Benchmark Factory agents on the other machines, by running the Benchmark Factory installation.

3. On each agent machine, and point the agent back to the IP address of the central agent machine. To do so:

• Launch the Benchmark Factory Agent dialog, go to Windows Start | All Programs | Quest Software | Benchmark Factory | Agent
• Go to menu Options | Settings | General, and enter the IP address of the central agent machine.

4. The result is consolidated automatically with this configuration.

However it is not recommended that the agent  be set up to run on the test database server (or the production db server), since this will add additional load to the server processes and will skew the test statistics from the server.