About Scenarios
Load tests contain scenarios, which contain Web tests or unit tests. A scenario is the container within a load test where you specify load pattern, test mix, browser mix, and network mix. Scenarios are important because they provide you with flexibility in configuring test characteristics that allow for simulation of complex, realistic work loads.
For example, you might be testing an e-commerce site that has an Internet front-end used by hundreds of simultaneous customers coming in over many connection speeds and using different browsers. The same site might also have an administration function that is used by internal employees for updating of products and for viewing statistics. These internal users would typically access the site using the same browser and a high-speed LAN connection. You would want to encapsulate the properties of these two different groups of users in different scenarios. Each scenario can contain a virtual user type. In this example, a load test scenario can be made to represent virtual customers and another scenario to represent virtual internal users of a Web site. In this example, a virtual user represents a single user browsing the Web site. A virtual user can also be a consumer of Web services.
Scenario Setting
Scenarios contain the following components:
Term |
Definition |
Browser Mix |
Simulates that virtual users examine a Web site through a variety of Web browsers, in addition to Internet Explorer. |
Network Mix |
Simulates that virtual users examine a Web site through a variety of network connections. The Network Mix offers options that include LAN, Cable modem, and others. |
Load Pattern |
Specifies the number of virtual users active during a load test and the rate at which new users are started. For example: step, constant, and goal-based. |
Test Mix |
Specifies the probability of a virtual user running a given test in a load test scenario. For example: 20% chance to run TestA and 80% chance to run TestB. |
Creating and Changing a Scenario
When you create a load test using the Load Test Wizard, a scenario is added for you in the load test. For more information, see How to: Specify Scenarios.
After you create your load test, you can add more scenarios by using the Load Test Editor. For more information, see How to: Add Scenarios to a Load Test.
Additional Settings
Scenarios contain two additional properties that you set initially in the Load Test Wizard and can later change in the Load Test Editor: Think Profile and Seconds Between Test Iterations.
Think Profile is a property that identifies whether think times are used or ignored in load tests. The Think Profile applies to an entire scenario in a load test. For more information, see About Think Times. Think Time Between Test Iterations is a property that allows some time to elapse between the end of one test and the beginning of another.
There are two additional properties not set using the Load Test Wizard. The IP Switching and Percent New Users properties are changed in the Load Test Editor.
Note
IP switching is available only with Team Test Load Agent. For more information, see Controllers, Agents, and Rigs.
See Also
Tasks
How to: Add Scenarios to a Load Test