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The amount of traffic on a Web server at any given time is called the load. The percentage load is a measure of that Web server’s utilization.
So, you are ready to launch your Web site. Before launching any Web application that you anticipate will generate moderate to large amounts of traffic, you should perform a structured server-load test. This is basically a calculated simulation of anticipated site traffic during a given period. The load test will assess the optimal performance of your Web site and help you define the maximum load it can handle. Ascertaining the maximum load a Web site or service will handle before crashing is called stress testing.