Approach for load testing
Input
The following are useful inputs for load-testing a Web application:
·
Performance-critical usage scenarios
·
Workload models
·
Performance acceptance criteria
·
Performance metrics associated with the acceptance criteria
·
Interview feedback from the designer or developer of the Web application
·
Interview feedback from end users of the application
·
Interview feedback from the operations personnel who will maintain and manage the
application
Output
The main outcomes that load testing helps you to accomplish are:
·
Updated test plans and test designs for load and performance testing
·
Various performance measures such as throughput, response time, and resource
utilization
·
Potential bottlenecks that need to be analyzed in the white-box testing phase
·
The behavior of the application at various load levels
Approach for Load Testing
The following steps are involved in load-testing a Web application:
1.
Step 1 - Identify performance acceptance criteria
2.
Step 2 - Identify key scenarios
3.
Step 3 - Create a workload model
4.
Step 4 - Identify the target load levels
5.
Step 5 - Identify metrics
6.
Step 6 - Design specific tests
7.
Step 7 - Run tests
8.
Step 8 - Analyze the results
These steps are graphically represented below. The sections that follow discuss each step
in detail.
