A method of measuring performance of a transaction over a network. The transaction includes requesting information from an information source connected to the network and interacting with the information source. The method includes connecting a data acquisition agent to the network, sending a request for information from the data acquisition agent to the information source, and loading data responsive to the request for information onto the data acquisition agent. The transaction is executed and performance measurements for the transactions are collected and sent to a storage device. A system for measuring performance of a transaction over a network is also disclosed.