Systems and methods for recording and replaying client-server transactions
on selected clients in order to gauge the performance of the
client-server system from the perspective of the client. In one
embodiment, a method comprises playing back a set of recorded
transactions on a client, monitoring selected performance-related
parameters at the client, and transmitting monitored data to the server
for analysis or for viewing by a system administrator. The set of
transactions is recorded on a first client by replacing a standard
Internet transaction driver (e.g., WinInet.DLL) with a modified driver
that is configured to intercept function calls. The function calls and
corresponding parameters are recorded in a file which is later
transmitted to a client, where the recorded transaction information is
used to reproduce the transactions on the client. As the transactions are
played back, performance data may be monitored and forwarded to a
management server for analysis, display, etc.