Install the Controller

With the NeoLoad Controller you can perform the following actions:

  • Design scenarios using the GUI.

  • Manage the Load Generators during the test.

  • Collect test data.

  • Analyze the test results.

To start, download the installation files from the Tricentis Support Hub. Then, follow the instructions depending on your operating system:

Installing the Controller requires the administration rights.

When installing a Controller, you are prompted to decide if you want to also install Terminal Services for SAPGUI. Additionally, you can decide if you want to install the WAN Emulation driver.

From NeoLoad 9.1, Services are installed without administration rights. To install services with administration rights, use the account Local System.

To install the Controller with the GUI installer, follow this step:

  • Run neoload_2025.3_windows<bitness>.exe, and select the Controller installation option.

To install the Controller in console mode, follow this step:

  • Run the command line start /wait neoload_2025.3_windows_<bitness>.exe -c

To install the Controller in silent mode, follow these steps: 

  • Create a "response.varfile" file including the following content:

    Copy 
    # install4j response file for NeoLoad Controller
    executeLauncherAction$Boolean=false
    installService$Boolean=false
    startOnBootUp$Boolean=false
    sys.adminRights$Boolean=false
    sys.component.Common$Boolean=true
    sys.component.Controller$Boolean=true
    sys.component.Controller\ Agent$Boolean=false
    sys.component.Load\ Generator$Boolean=false
    sys.component.Monitor\ Agent$Boolean=false
    sys.installationTypeId=Controller
    sys.languageId=en
    sys.programGroupDisabled$Boolean=true
    wanem.installation$Boolean=true

  • Run the command line neoload_2025.3_windows_<bitness>.exe -q -c -dir <installdir> -varfile response.varfile

The "windivert32.sys" (or 64) WAN emulation driver can be detected as a malware on windows depending on the antivirus configuration. It is not mandatory if you don't want to use the WAN emulation. If you want to use WAN emulation, whitelist "windivert64.sys" or "windivert32.sys" depending on your system (32 or 64 bits).

To install the Controller with the GUI installer, follow these steps: 

  1. Open neoload2025.3_osx.dmg.

  2. Run NeoLoad Installer.app.

  3. Select the Controller option.

To install the Controller with the GUI, follow these steps: 

  1. Open the terminal and type the command:

    sudo sh neoload2025.3_linux_<bitness>.sh

  2. Select the Controller installation option.

Note that before installing and executing NeoLoad on a headless Linux, the following libraries must be installed, depending on the package manager (RPM, DPKG ,APT, YUM…):

  • for a 32bit installer: "fontconfig" or "fontconfig:386" or "fontconfig.i686"

  • for a 64bit installer: "fontconfig" or "fontconfig.x86_64"

  • "urw-fonts" or "fonts-urw-base35"

For Debian 64bits: "sudo apt-get install fontconfig fonts-urw-base35"

For RedHat 64bits: "yum install fontconfig.x86_64 urw-fonts"

To install the Controller in console mode, follow these steps: 

  1. Open the terminal and type the command: sudo sh neoload2025.3_linux_<bitness>.sh -c

  2. Select the Controller installation option.

To install the Controller in silent mode, follow these steps: 

Create a "response.varfile" file including the following content:

Copy 
# install4j response file for NeoLoad Controller
executeLauncherAction$Boolean=false
installService$Boolean=false
startOnBootUp$Boolean=false
sys.adminRights$Boolean=false
sys.component.Common$Boolean=true
sys.component.Controller$Boolean=true
sys.component.Controller\ Agent$Boolean=false
sys.component.Load\ Generator$Boolean=false
sys.component.Monitor\ Agent$Boolean=false
sys.installationTypeId=Controller
sys.languageId=en
sys.programGroupDisabled$Boolean=true

Open the terminal and type the command: sudo sh neoload8.1_linux_<bitness>.sh -q -c -dir <installdir> -varfile response.varfile

If you intend to use WAN Emulation in your tests, you need to be part of the sudo group. Also, the WAN Emulation driver must be installed manually, as described here.

The root account is required to install the Controller.

To install the Controller on an unsupported Unix platform, follow these steps: 

  1. Download the JVM BellSoft development kit for the required platform at least as recent as update 21.

  2. Set the JAVA_HOME environment variable that points to the JRE of the Java SE Development Kit (JDK) previously downloaded (<jdkinstalldir>/jre).

  3. Install NeoLoad either using the GUI or the command line interface.

  4. Copy the JRE for the Java SE Development Kit (JDK) previously downloaded (<jdkinstalldir>/jre) into the NeoLoad installation directory.

The Controller has a Load Generator and a Monitoring Agent built in. By default, all communication between them is secured. To learn more about the security measures and how to change them if you need to, take a look at how to customize your connection security.