just looking at jmeter, from what I can I see it is a desktop application, so is it safe to say I can use it to benchmark a windows server running asp.net?
any other rec
I use JMeter to stress test our ASP.NET MVC website. It's easy as pie, once u've tried it once and know how to use the application.
For example, i have a CSV file which I use as dynamic search data. I then created an HttpRequest thingy in Jmeter and pass in my csv data. (this is simulating me hitting that url for the data i tell to use).
I have a Jmeter Gaussian Timer to similate ebbs and flows (randomises) the hits to the url.
i then finally say ..
C:\Temp\jakarta-jmeter-2.3.4\bin\jmeter -n -t "C:\Users\Administrator\Desktop\JMeter Test Files\my_jmeter_config_file.jmx" -Dthreads=50 -Dloops=10 -Drampup=5
which means ... loop 10 time. each single loop will contain 50 threads ... and it builds up to 50 threads in 5 secs.
So yeah, i use it. it's good!