WHAT ARE LOAD / PERFORMANCE TESTING TOOLS?
These are the tools used to automate the performance testing process. They are used to simulate users and system generated workloads as well as to collate server monitored data.
When using performance testing tools to build a performance test pack, it becomes possible to:
- Observe the impact the backend has on user experience such as response times and the rate of errors returned to users.
- Observe the impact the workload has on the backend in terms of its ability to respond to requests in a timely and error free manner.
- Understand the performance risks to your application.
These tools typically provide transaction response times correlated to the server and network monitored statistics collected during test executions.
Two of the market leading tools are Micro Focus’s SilkPerformer and LoadRunner, with a variety of options such as Loadrunner Cloud, and Loadrunner Enterprise. Loadrunner also comes with a free to use Community Edition which allows a user to create performance test scripts and execute them with up to 50 virtual users.
The use of these tools and the results they produce should be controlled and measured through a Test Strategy. The test strategy should detail the tests to be executed and should be measured back against the Non Functional Testing Requirements, SLAs and Volumetric requirements.
Performance Test Tools require a specialised skill set to select the right one for the project and implement.
OUR SERVICES
Testing Performance Ltd offers services in Load / Performance Testing Tools. We are authorised resellers of Loadrunner and Silk Performer.
We also can offer a 'man and tool' service, which is a fixed rate software and service solution for smaller scale engagements.
Read more about our Performance Testing Services.