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Running load tests

Run load test scripts to perform load tests on web applications. During playback, the application runs under a simulated load of users to determine how it behaves.

Note: Load tests must run on the computer that hosts the virtual users. You can use a maximum of 250 virtual users on each computer per load test. To run tests with more virtual users, add additional QA Wizard Pro licenses to other remote computers and distribute virtual users between them when setting up the test.

1. Choose Script > Run Load Test.

The Run Load Test dialog box opens. The settings from the most recent load test are displayed.

2. Enter the Total number of virtual users to simulate for the load test. This number cannot exceed the number of virtual users available on the computer running the test.

3. Select the Scripts to run.

You can include multiple scripts in a load test and divide the total number of virtual users between the scripts. For example, you can test how an application handles 500 users: 200 who use search functionality at the same time and the other 300 who use shopping cart and check out functionality.

Click Add to add a script to the load test. The Select Scripts dialog box opens. Select the scripts to include in the test and click Select.
Enter the number of Virtual Users or Percent of total virtual users to simulate for each script. The sum of these values must match the total number of virtual users for the test.
Click Remove to remove a script from the test.

4. Select the Computers to host virtual users. You can use a maximum of 250 virtual users on each computer per load test.

Click Add to add a remote computer to host virtual users. The Select Remote Computers dialog box opens. Select the remote computers to use and click Select. You can also configure remote computers to use for the test. Each remote computer must have QA Wizard Pro installed, QAWRemote.exe running, and a valid license. See Configuring remote computers.
Enter the number of Virtual Users or Percent of total virtual users to host on each computer. The sum of these values must match the total number of virtual users for the test.
Click Remove to remove a computer from the test.

5. Select the Browsers to use.

Click Add to add a browser. The Add Browser dialog box opens. Select the browser or enter the user agent to use in the test and click Select. The user agent string is sent to the application to provide specific information about the browser. If you select a browser, the user agent is automatically provided.
Enter the number of Virtual Users or Percent of the total virtual users to simulate using each browser. The sum of these values must match the total number of virtual users for the test.
Click Remove to remove a browser from the test.

6. Optionally enter the number of seconds for the load test to spend loading users in the Scale startup to reach 100% load field.

Use this option if you want to gradually apply load to the application, which provides a more realistic testing scenario than loading all virtual users instantly.

7. Select a test Duration.

Run each virtual user until the script completes stops the test when all scripts are complete.
Run the load test for a specified amount of time stops the test when the specified time limit is reached. If scripts stop before time expires, they restart and continue to run for the duration of the specified time.

8. Click Run.

You may be prompted to name the playback session before the test starts. Enter a session name and click Set Name and Run or click Run Without Name to run the session without a name. If you do not want to be prompted to enter a session name, disable it in the server options. See Setting server connection options.

A progress indicator opens and displays the run time, current load, and the number of errors and warnings returned during the test. When the test is complete, a load test report is generated. See Viewing load test results reports.

If email notifications are configured, the results may be sent to specified recipients. See Setting email notification options.

Note: Load tests do not stop when scripts return errors or warnings. The load test run report includes details about the errors and warnings.

If errors are reported after posting data from a file during a load test, you may need to modify the postdata file. Select the file in the workspace and choose File > Open. Only modify these files if you are familiar with the content type and data.