In some scenarios you can speed up initializing your load test by compressing the data files prior to transferring them to
the agent computers. To compress data files, click
in the
Silk Performer menu, click the
Control tab, and enable the check boxes
Compress data files for LAN/WAN agents and
Compress data files for cloud agents.
Compression of data files for cloud agents is enabled by default.
Compressing data files can be especially useful ...
- when you are using network connections with a small bandwidth. When your agents reside in a local area network (LAN), compressing
data files is not as useful, because local area networks are usually fast. If, however, your agents reside in a wide area
network (WAN), deploying compressed data files can save a lot of time.
- when you are using many agents for your load test. Compressing data files is done only once (on the controller), decompressing
data files is done once on each agent. The decompression process is done in parallel, so it does not necessarily slow down
initializing your load test. Nevertheless: the more agents you use, the more likely it is that you save time with compressed
data files.
- when you are using data files that are well compressible. Text files or .csv files are examples for well compressible files.
These can be shrinked considerably and compressing such files is done rapidly.
Whether compressing data files is useful, depends on your very specific environment and load test. As a general rule: If compressing,
transferring the smaller data files, and decompressing files takes less time than just transferring the uncompressed files,
then data file compression is useful.