Load test load modeling based on rates of user operations

• US 20080172581A1
• Filed: 01/11/2007
• Published: 07/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Glas, Ed, Barnett, Bill
• Granted Patent: US 7,516,042 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/38
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3409 for performance assessment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3414 Workload generation, e.g. scripts, playback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3433 for load management allocation of a server based on load conditions G06F9/505; load rebalancing G06F9/5083; redistributing the load in a network by a load balancer H04L67/1029
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3688 for test execution, e.g. scheduling of test suites

Abstract

Various technologies and techniques are disclosed for performing load tests based upon user pace. A load test application is provided. Load test settings are received from a user that includes a test mix based upon user pace. A test start interval is calculated using the text mix. A load test is performed based upon the text mix. For example, the tests are executed at a pace that is based upon the test start interval for the particular user profile that the test is contained within.

Claims

1. A method for performing a load test based upon user pace comprising the steps of:

providing a load testing application;

receiving a plurality of load test settings, at least a portion of the load test settings comprising a test mix based upon user pace; and

performing a load test with the load testing application using the text mix.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the test mix based upon user pace comprises a test identifier and a test frequency for each of a plurality of tests in the test mix.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the test identifier is a test name.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the test frequency is a frequency to perform a particular test per user profile for a particular time period.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the particular time period is one hour.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the test mix is received from a user of the load testing application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the test mix is received from automatically generating the test mix based upon usage patterns gathered from production log data.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the test mix is used to determine a test start interval at which to start a plurality of tests to be executed in the load test.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the test start interval at which to start the tests is calculated based upon a total frequency at which to execute the tests during the particular time period.

10. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the steps recited in claim 1.

11. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform steps comprising:

receive a plurality of load test settings from a user, at least a portion of the load test settings comprising a test mix based on user pace for at least one user profile during a particular time period;

use the test mix at least in part to aid in determining a pace at which to execute a series of tests in a load test; and

execute the series of tests in the load test based upon the determined pace.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the test mix comprises a test identifier and a test frequency for each test in the user profile for the particular time period.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, further having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform steps comprising:

monitor an average test duration for the series of tests so an error can be raised if the average test duration exceeds a test start interval calculated using the test mix.

14. A method for scheduling load tests using a pacing test mix comprising the steps of:

retrieving a test mix specified by a user of a load testing application, the test mix comprising a test identifier and a test frequency for each of a plurality of tests to be executed for a particular time period for a particular user profile;

calculating a test start interval using the text mix;

executing the plurality of tests for the particular user profile at a pace based at least in part upon the test start interval; and

repeating the retrieving, calculating, and executing stages for each of a plurality of user profiles so multiple user profiles can be load tested simultaneously.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a start time for a first test for each of the plurality of user profiles is determined by choosing a random number between zero and the test start interval.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein subsequent tests for each of the plurality of user profiles are started based at least in part upon the test frequency for the particular time period.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein an average test duration for the tests in each of the plurality of user profiles is monitored so an error can be raised if the average test duration exceeds the test start interval.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein once a particular number of tests have been completed for the plurality of user profiles, an average test duration is compared with the test start interval for the respective user profile, and if the average test duration is larger than the test start interval for the respective user profile, an error is reported.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the test identifier is a test name.

20. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the steps recited in claim 14.