System requirements
Here you'll find hardware and software requirements for all Tricentis NeoLoad components, including specialized testing features such as RealBrowser, Citrix, and SAP GUI.
NeoLoad is written in Java and runs on any platform that supports Java 21.
Hardware requirements
Requirements vary based on your role and the scale of your tests. Test designers need fewer resources than Controllers running large-scale tests, while Load Generators need the most resources to simulate thousands of virtual users.
Test development
For creating and editing test scripts on a typical laptop or workstation:
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 2 cores | 4 cores |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| Hard disk | 50 GB free space | 200 GB SSD |
Controller
For test execution and results processing:
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 4 cores | 8 cores |
| RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB |
| Hard disk | 200 GB | 250 GB SSD |
Load Generator
Baseline requirements for generating load:
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 4 cores | 8+ cores |
| RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB |
| Hard disk | 100 GB | 200 GB SSD |
Sizing examples
The actual capacity of a Load Generator varies based on protocol type, script complexity, think times, and response sizes. Use these examples for capacity planning:
| Protocol type | VUs per LG (4 cores, 32 GB) | VUs per LG (8 cores, 64 GB) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| HTTP/HTTPS (simple) | 500 - 1,000 | 1,000 - 2,000 | Basic web requests with minimal processing. |
| HTTP/HTTPS (complex) | 200 - 500 | 500 - 1,000 | Scripts with correlations, validations, and large responses. |
| RealBrowser | 5 - 10 | 10 - 20 | Browser-based, CPU-intensive. |
| Citrix | 5 - 15 | 15 - 30 | Client/UI-driven, requires unique usernames per VU. |
| SAP GUI | 10 - 30 | 30 - 50 | GUI-based protocol, graphically intensive. |
These are approximate values for planning purposes. Always perform a sizing test with your actual scripts to determine optimal capacity. Monitor CPU and memory usage during test runs. If usage regularly exceeds 90%, reduce virtual users, increase think times, or add more Load Generators.
Operating systems
Tricentis NeoLoad runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS:
| Platform | Supported versions |
|---|---|
| Windows | Windows 10 through Windows Server 2025 |
| Linux | Kernel versions up to 6.18 |
| macOS | macOS 10.4 through 15.7 |
Linux distributions
Compatibility is largely determined by the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) embedded within NeoLoad. We use the Liberica JDK 11 from BellSoft for broad support and stability.
We officially support the following x86 64-bit Linux distributions:
-
Ubuntu: Versions 22.04 and 24.04
-
CentOS: Versions 9.x and 10.x
-
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL): Versions 8 and 9
-
Fedora: Version 43
-
Rocky Linux: Versions 8, 9, and 10
For detailed information on supported configurations, see the Supported Configurations page on BellSoft's website.
RealBrowser requirements
RealBrowser uses actual browser instances. CPU availability directly impacts parallel virtual user capacity. See RealBrowser system requirements for full details.
Supported operating systems
Browser support by operating system:
| Operating system | Chromium | Firefox | WebKit | Chrome | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 10+ (64-bit) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ubuntu 22.04, 24.04 (64-bit) | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Docker (Ubuntu 22.04) | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| macOS | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Antivirus software can significantly impact CPU usage during RealBrowser tests. If you experience performance issues, check your antivirus settings on Windows machines.
Citrix testing requirements
Citrix testing is supported on Windows only. You need a compatible Windows operating system and Citrix Workspace client. See Citrix actions for full details.
Supported Windows versions
-
Windows 10
-
Windows 11
-
Windows Server 2016, 2019, 2022, and 2025
Citrix Workspace compatibility
Citrix Workspace compatibility by Tricentis NeoLoad version:
| Citrix Workspace | 9.2.1 - 2024.3 | 2025.1 | 2025.3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1907 - 2109.1 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2112.1 | No | No | No |
| 2202 - 2207 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2209 - 2210 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2212, 2302, 2303, 2305, 2307, 2405 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2405.10, 2409 | No | Yes | Yes |
| 2508, 2508.10 | No | No | Yes |
Additional Citrix requirements
-
Use the 32-bit Tricentis NeoLoad distribution for Citrix testing.
-
Start the Load Generator Agent in normal execution mode (service mode is not supported).
-
Install the Citrix client from the official Citrix website or server. Windows Store installations are not supported on Windows 10.
-
Disable automatic Citrix client updates. If the client updates, run the registry script in
tools\citrix\nl_citrix_for_xxbits.regto restore compatibility.
SAP GUI testing requirements
SAP GUI testing requires a Windows operating system with the SAP GUI client installed. See SAP GUI testing for prerequisites.
Supported configurations
-
Operating system: Windows 10, Windows 11, or Windows Server 2016/2019/2022/2025.
-
SAP GUI: SAP GUI for Windows 7.60 or later.
Screen resolution
Minimum resolution: 1024x768 pixels. For high-DPI displays (4K), adjust Windows scaling:
-
Go to the Tricentis NeoLoad installation directory and locate
NeoLoadGUI.exein the bin folder. -
Right-click the file and select Properties.
-
Go to the Compatibility tab and click Change High DPI Settings.
-
Check Override high DPI scaling behavior and select System (Enhanced).
What's next
Now that you know the requirements, get started:
-
Install NeoLoad and set up your testing environment.
-
Review best practices for effective performance testing.
-
Learn about RealBrowser for browser-based testing.