We currently have a need for external web site/application uptime and availability monitoring. In Order for a web application to effectively support business and client needs it must be available to its users. If it becomes unavailable the systems’ administrators must be notified promptly so that they can take appropriate actions. In addition, we have a responsibility to our customers and associates to ensure that the Service Level Agreements pertaining to availability provided by 3rd party vendors are being upheld.
This can be accomplished through the use of a Web Site Monitoring Service (webmonitor). Webmonitors test the availability of web sites from locations around the world at set intervals. Webmonitors can also perform transactions such as logins to help ensure that services are up and running as expected. If a web site becomes unavailable administrators can be notified by email or cell-phone via SMS. Webmonitors can also accumulate statistics for further analysis.
There are many webmoniter providers to choose from.
The "Best Buy" of the group has to be host-tracker, which has the most test nodes but is more bare bones in terms of functionality and reporting.Next we have AlertBot, which has great support and is very easy to use but also lacks some of the more advanced test scripting and reporting features. What they lack in features they make up for in price and service.
AlertSite is the first that I would consider to be enterprise quality. They offer robust reporting I would feel comfortable handing off to upper management. The most interesting feature however, is a firefox extension called DejaClick, that records and then uploads and replays your actions at given intervals. This is a really great feature that allows you to do tests that you just can't with some of the competitors. Unfortunately, it does still have some bugs and is best used only in the hands of the advanced user.
Last but not least is WebMetrics which offers the most attractive and usable interface by far. The reporting is extremely robust and includes output to pdf. They also develop and maintain test scripts on behalf of clients at no charge. In addition, they offer other enterprise services like load balancing and RIA monitoring.
I'm in the process of getting proposals from these companies and will put together a comparison matrix including pricing when i get them.
