SQUID 1.1.1 Readme – March
10, 2013
For the most current version of
the Readme, click here.
This file provides the following
information about SQUID 1.1.1:
For more information, please go to
www.solutionmaniacs.com/squid.
SQUID - Simple Queues of
Independent Data
- Alternative to the VTS (virtual table server) from
Mercury/HP.
- Think of SQUID as a multi-user spreadsheet, allowing virtual
users to talk to one another.
- Data can be added, removed or just queried.
- Excellent mechanism to accommodate data that needs to
be unique across all virtual users and scripts.
Features
- Free.
- Storage and manipulation of data in dynamic queues.
- SQUID is a WCF application. Any application that
can call web service endpoints can use SQUID.
- Utilized for data loading.
- Used in load testing to permit virtual users to
communicate; promotes modular scripts (the entire business flow does not
need to be in one script).
- Ability to create a script critical section (only have
1 virtual user at a time execute a particular set of steps).
- Power to set up unique parameters without worrying
about unused, blocked data usage; contains a built in type of data
burn-down.
- Employed as an output mechanism; provides status on
good, bad and/or incomplete type operations.
- Allows unique data to be used across virtual users,
scripts and scenario groups.
- GUI is written in WPF; the communication is handled
through WCF.
- Can run multiple SQUIDs; each responding to a
different endpoint address.
- LoadRunner can communicate with
SQUID through either a SOAP or REST interface.
Solution Maniacs, LLC
www.solutionmaniacs.com
P.O. Box 47479
Tampa, FL 33646
USA
Phone: 813.230.0776
Fax: 813.200.2323
Email: info@solutionmaniacs.com
Prerequisite Software
Specific software needs to be installed before you can
install SQUID. When you run the SQUID installation wizard, if the
prerequisite software is not already installed on your computer, the wizard
detects which software is missing and provides the option to install it.
The following prerequisite software needs to be installed:
- Microsoft .NET Framework 4
- Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable Package (x86
or x64)
System Requirements
The following table describes the system requirements for
installing SQUID on a Windows machine. Note that these requirements are
similar for a Load Generator in LoadRunner 11.0.
|
Processor
|
CPU Type: Intel Core, Pentium, Xeon, AMD or
compatible
Speed: 1 GHz minimum
|
|
Operating System
|
Windows XP Professional SP3 32-bit and above
|
|
Memory (RAM)
|
Minimum: 1 GB
Note: Memory depends on the amount of data loaded into SQUID
|
|
Disk Space
|
2 MB
|
|
Screen Resolution
|
Minimum: 1024 x 768
|
Installation Steps
- Go to www.solutionmaniacs.com/squid
and click the Download SQUID link.
- Fill out the download form by providing your name,
company, email and where you heard about SQUID.
- Click Submit and download SQUID. SQUID will download as a zip file
(SQUID.zip).
- Extract the zip to any location. The zip file will contain:
- readme_squid.htm – This file.
- cab1.cab – Library of compressed SQUID
files.
- SQUID.msi – Installation program to run.
- Run the SQUID.msi file.
SQUID uninstallation can be done:
- Using the Control Panel, open the Programs and
Features and uninstall SQUID.
Starting SQUID
The installation
placed a shortcut to the SQUID installation directory on the desktop.
- Start SQUID.exe.
- Enter an address of http://localhost:8888
and click Start.
- If successful, the Start button will change to a Stop
button. SQUID is now listening on
the given endpoint.
- Multiple SQUIDs can be started, each with a different endpoint
address.
Run SQUID Examples
SQUID examples
can be downloaded from www.solutionmaniacs.com/squid-examples. The examples are no longer included with the
install of SQUID. This was done to
enable updating and adding of new examples without deploying a new version of
SQUID.
Using
SQUID in Your Own Scripts
- Running SQUID.exe will be exactly as described
above. SQUID should be installed
and run on a load generator by itself (not used for virtual users).
- The SQUID-REST.dll or SQUID-SOAP file should be copied
into your LoadRunner script directory structure.
- I normally create a libraries directory
and place the SQUID-REST.dll and SQUID-SOAP in there.
- Every script must be able to access this
directory.
- Note the path to the dll. This is the path you will use in your
script for the lr_load_dll call.
- When running a scenario, the load generators must have
access to the SQUID-REST.dll or SQUID-SOAP.
- Add the libraries directory to the files downloaded
to the load generators.
- Copy SQUID-REST.dll and SQUID-SOAP to the
load generators before running the test.
- Place SQUID-REST.dll and SQUID-SOAP on a
network share, accessible by all generators.
- SQUID 1.1.1 – March
10, 2013
- Added list box for queue names. Easier to manage large number of
columns/parameters (tabs). Now
only 1 tab is displayed in the TabControl. Previously a large number of tabs would
wrap onto multiple rows and reduce the data area.
- SQUID upper left message is now a button
that opens: http://www.solutionmaniacs.com/squid.
- Minor UI tweaks.
- SQUID 1.1.0 –
February 23, 2013
- Breaking Change: Renamed SQUID.dll to
SQUID-SOAP.dll.
- Breaking Change: Added delimiter
parameter to SquidQueryColumn.
- Created SQUID-REST.dll. Same functionality as SQUID-SOAP.dll,
but implemented through a REST interface.
SQUID-REST.dll has improved performance over SQUID-SOAP.dll.
- The addition of REST support now requires
the full Microsoft .NET 4.0 Framework.
Previous versions only required Microsoft .NET 4.0 Client Profile.
- Added command line parameters to SQUID.
- Specify address: /a http://squidserver:8888
- Start listening: /s
- Import data (multiple entries): /i c:\data\users.dat
- New functions: SquidBatch,
SquidClearAllColumns, SquidIsDirty,
SquidNoOperation, SquidPause,
SquidRefresh, SquidRenameColumn,
SquidResume.
- SquidPause, SquidResume,
SquidRefresh have a limited performance impact
in LoadRunner (due to the dll
using interop to communicate). The biggest impact will be seen using
Visual Studio.
- SquidBatch can greatly improve
the performance of a large number of SQUID function calls.
- Changed SquidGetLastError
to use its own buffer. Before this
change calling SquidGetLastError would
overwrite the value returned from a previous SQUID function.
- SquidRetrieveData, SquidQueryData,
SquidQueryColumn were updated to set data to an
empty string where applicable.
- Separate out examples from the SQUID
deployment package. The examples
are now on a page by themselves, allowing for frequent updates/additions.
- SQUID UI changes
- Fixed defect to allow column name to be
‘Help’.
- Added hot keys for the Start/Stop and
Execute buttons.
- Set the Start/Stop button as default
when Address gets the focus. When
Address loses focus, sets the default to the Execute button. This makes it easier to enter lots of
data without having to click the Execute button (just click Enter after
you enter the data).
- Improved selection handling.
- Cleaned up textboxes. If the textbox is disabled, empty its
contents. If the textbox is
enabled and the label has changed, empty its contents.
- Expanded the ‘Return Value’ and ‘SquidGetLastError’ textboxes.
- Added SQUID icons for sizes: 16, 32, 48,
128, 256.
- Added SQUID icon/image and bolded the
SQUID line in the Help tab.
- Added ‘…’ button for SquidExportData
and SquidImportData. This will display a SaveFileDialog/OpenFileDialog. Other commands will have the ‘…’
button disabled.
- Changed background color read-only
textboxes.
- SQUID 1.0.6 - July
13, 2012
- New Readme file. Added to install
directory, linked on website and displayed at the end of the
installation.
- Added iSquid
parameter to the displayed command in SQUID.
- SQUID 1.0.5 - July
7, 2012
- Fixed SQUID URL link on Help tab.
- Added a notification label when a new
version of SQUID is available.
- Created an installation program that will
check for system requirements and display the licensing agreement.
Once installed, SQUID will no longer require acceptance of the license
agreement every time it is run.
- SQUID 1.0.4 - June
22, 2012
- Removed hardcoded links to Hyperlink_RequestNavigate.
- Added a requirements window to check that
VC++ 2010 Redistributable Package (x86) has been installed (links are
provided). If not, SQUID will not load properly in a LoadRunner script.
- Added a short readme.txt in the
downloaded zip file.
- SQUID 1.0.3 - May
23, 2012
- Fixed display of text boxes and labels.
- Cleaned up control layout.
- Fixed/updated the tab order of the
controls.
- SQUID 1.0.2 - April
4, 2012
- Fixed SquidExportData.
The iOption parameter was defaulting to 1.
- Added extra SquidExportData
alls to example script lr_squid_functions.
Now all iOption values are being tested.
- Fixed SquidExportData
when no file extension is given.
- Fixed gsoap_dll.cpp to handle data values
larger than 100 bytes. Added large data value test to lr_squid_functions script.
- Fixed gsoap_dll.cpp. SQUID methods
that return integer values were not working correctly.
- Improved error handling logic/consistency
in code.
- Changed mouse to an hour glass when
starting the service.
- Added error checking calls to lr_squid_functions script.
- SQUID 1.0.1 - April
3, 2012
- Changed target framework from .NET
Framework 4.0 to .NET Framework 4.0 Client Profile.
- Changed requestedExecutionLevel
level from asInvoker to requireAdministrator.
- Cleaned up internal comments.
- SQUID 1.0.0 - March
24, 2012
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