Using Network Load Generator with Solo

Using Network Load Generator with Solo

The Network Load Generator (NLG) is a benchmarking tool that stress tests Hiero networks by generating configurable transaction loads. Use it to validate the performance and stability of your Solo network before deploying to production or running integration tests.

Prerequisites

Before proceeding, ensure you have completed the following:

• System Readiness — your local environment meets all hardware and software requirements.
• Quickstart — you have a running Solo network and are familiar with the basic Solo workflow.

Step 1: Start a Load Test

Use the rapid-fire load start command to install the NLG Helm chart and begin a load test against your deployment.

   npx @hashgraph/solo@latest rapid-fire load start \
 --deployment <deployment-name> \
 --args '"-c 3 -a 10 -t 60"' \
 --test CryptoTransferLoadTest

Replace <deployment-name> with your deployment name. You can find it by running:

cat ~/.solo/cache/last-one-shot-deployment.txt

The --args flag passes arguments directly to the NLG. In this example:

• -c 3 — 3 concurrent threads
• -a 10 — 10 accounts
• -t 60 — run for 60 seconds

Step 2: Run Multiple Load Tests (Optional)

You can run additional load tests in parallel from a separate terminal. Each test runs independently against the same deployment:

    npx @hashgraph/solo@latest rapid-fire load start \
  --deployment <deployment-name> \
  --args '"-c 3 -a 10 -t 60"' \
  --test NftTransferLoadTest

Step 3: Stop a Specific Load Test

To stop a single running load test before it completes, use the stop command:

    npx @hashgraph/solo@latest rapid-fire load stop \
  --deployment <deployment-name> \
  --test CryptoTransferLoadTest

Step 4: Tear Down All Load Tests

To stop all running load tests and uninstall the NLG Helm chart:

    npx @hashgraph/solo@latest rapid-fire destroy all \
  --deployment <deployment-name>

Complete Example

For an end-to-end walkthrough with a full configuration, see the examples/rapid-fire.

Available Tests and Arguments

A full list of all available rapid-fire commands can be found in Solo CLI Reference.