IBM Support

Load tests using IBM RPT with three types of Agent Configuration

White Papers


Abstract

This white paper describes the various license models offered for using IBM Rational Performance Tester (RPT) in emulating your load tests.

Content


Author: Anu Chalu Parambil




Table of Contents:




I. Introduction

You will want to know the various license models offered for using Rational Performance Tester in emulating your load tests. There are various license types offered when you purchase RPT. This white paper intends to help you differentiate and guide you to configure the licenses available in your offering for your performance test. This white paper excludes the offering details for service virtualization for your performance test.

Let’s now have the overview from the deployment perspective of various components involving RPT as a load testing environment.








II. Software involved


Rational Performance Tester

IBM Rational Performance Tester (RPT) is a scripting-free environment for automating load and scalability testing of web, ERP, and server-based software applications. Rational Performance Tester provides rich and customizable reporting to help you identify the presence and cause of system bottlenecks.



Rational Performance Tester captures the network traffic that is rendered when the application under test interacts with a server. This network traffic is then emulated on multiple virtual users while playing back the test.

RPT is available as a stand-alone product and also included with Rational Test Workbench Suite (a suite offering which serves a complete Testing solution with collection of quality management products packaged together (RFT, RPT, RIT, RTPS, RTVS and RTW-Mobile). Read here Rational Test Workbench overview.

Rational Performance Tester (RPT)
Rational Functional Tester (RFT)
Rational Integration Tester (RIT)
Rational Test Workbench Mobile (RTW Mobile)
Rational Performance Test Server (RTPS)
Rational Test Virtualization Server (RTVS)

A typical set up of Rational Performance Tester workbench, Rational Performance Tester agents, and the system under test is shown here:

Note: The Rational Performance Tester workbench and Agent products are separate offerings and must be installed separately.



1) RPT Workbench

You use the Rational Performance Tester workbench to distribute the user load. The Rational Performance Tester workbench automatically deploys test assets required for execution to participating agents.



2) RPT Agent

If you have a big user load or workload to test, typically a single computer might not be able to process the load efficiently. You need to distribute the load across multiple computers, also called Rational Performance Tester agents. The agents are installed on computers to generate the load on the application.

You use the Rational Performance Tester workbench to distribute the user load. When you distribute the load among agent computers, you should remember the load each agent computer can take efficiently. For information about capacity planning, see the Capacity planning topic.






III. RPT agent configuration

Now let me explain to you the various Installation modes for Rational Performance Tester Agent.

Here, take a look at the option’s provided for RPT Agent configuration with regard to each progressive release:

Workbench ComponentAgent ComponentLICENSE Component
Major ReleaseFix ReleasesLoad TestResponse Time BreakdownLicense Offering for Load Test
Rational Performance Tester 8.0.08.0.0.0Agent ControllerAgent ControllerVT Packs
Rational Performance Tester 8.1.08.1.0.0Agent ControllerAgent ControllerVT Packs
8.1.0.3Agent ControllerAgent ControllerVT Packs
8.1.1.0Agent ControllerAgent ControllerVT Packs
8.1.1.1Agent ControllerAgent ControllerVT Packs
8.1.1.2Agent ControllerAgent ControllerVT Packs
Rational Performance Tester 8.2.08.2.0.0Agent ControllerAgent ControllerVT Packs
8.2.0.1Agent ControllerAgent ControllerVT Packs
8.2.0.2Agent ControllerAgent ControllerVT Packs
8.2.0.3Agent ControllerAgent ControllerVT Packs
8.2.0.4Agent ControllerAgent ControllerVT Packs
8.2.0.5Agent ControllerAgent ControllerVT Packs
8.2.0.6Agent ControllerAgent ControllerVT Packs
Rational Performance Tester 8.2.18.2.1.0Agent ControllerAgent ControllerVT Packs
8.2.1.1Agent ControllerAgent ControllerVT Packs
8.2.1.2Agent ControllerAgent ControllerVT Packs
8.2.1.3Agent ControllerAgent ControllerVT Packs
8.2.1.4Agent ControllerAgent ControllerVT Packs / PVU Mode
8.2.1.5Agent ControllerAgent ControllerVT Packs / PVU Mode
Rational Performance Tester 8.3.08.3.0.0Majordomo ServiceAgent ControllerVT Packs / PVU Mode
8.3.0.1Majordomo ServiceAgent ControllerVT Packs / PVU Mode
8.3.0.2Majordomo ServiceAgent ControllerVT Packs / PVU Mode
8.3.0.3Majordomo ServiceAgent ControllerVT Packs / PVU Mode
Rational Performance Tester 8.5.08.5.0.0Majordomo ServiceAgent ControllerVT Packs / PVU Mode
8.5.0.1Majordomo ServiceAgent ControllerVT Packs / PVU Mode
8.5.0.2Majordomo ServiceAgent ControllerVT Packs / PVU Mode / Agent Mode
Rational Performance Tester 8.5.18.5.1.0Majordomo ServiceAgent ControllerVT Packs / PVU Mode / Agent Mode
8.5.1.1Majordomo ServiceAgent ControllerVT Packs / PVU Mode / Agent Mode
8.5.1.2Majordomo ServiceAgent ControllerVT Packs / PVU Mode / Agent Mode
8.5.1.3Majordomo ServiceAgent ControllerVT Packs / PVU Mode / Agent Mode
Rational Performance Tester 8.6.08.6.0.0Majordomo ServiceAgent ControllerVT Packs / PVU Mode / Agent Mode
8.6.0.1Majordomo ServiceAgent ControllerVT Packs / PVU Mode / Agent Mode
8.6.0.2Majordomo ServiceAgent ControllerVT Packs / PVU Mode / Agent Mode
Rational Performance Tester 8.7.08.7.0.0Majordomo ServiceAgent ControllerVT Packs / PVU Mode / Agent Mode
8.7.0.1Majordomo ServiceAgent ControllerVT Packs / PVU Mode / Agent Mode
8.7.0.2Majordomo ServiceAgent ControllerVT Packs / PVU Mode / Agent Mode
Rational Performance Tester 8.7.18.7.1.0Majordomo ServiceAgent ControllerVT Packs / PVU Mode / Agent Mode
8.7.1.1Majordomo ServiceAgent ControllerVT Packs / PVU Mode / Agent Mode

Major Changes

From the 8.2.1.4 release: Introduction to PVU license model

Executing more than 5 users during virtual testing from Rational Performance Tester 8.2.1.4 results in “No License keys available for this 10 user run” error

From the 8.3.0 release: Introduction with Majordomo Service by splitting the functionality of RPT agents into ‘Load Generation’ and ‘Agent Controller’ separately for gathering data for response time breakdown

What's new in Rational Performance Tester 8.3

Refer to ‘Enhancements to Rational Performance Tester Agent’

From RPT 8.2.1.4 till RPT 8.5.0.1 releases, you can find the following Configuration for RPT Agent installation

With the release of 8.5.0.2 and later, you can find the following five modes of Agent mode testing using RPT.

So WHAT are these types of license models available for your load tests?

Here are the details:

  1. IBM RPT – for use with Virtual Tester Pack floating license in IBM RPT
    Option used if you have an RPT license and VT pack licenses.
  2. IBM RPTS (PVU Mode)
    If you are using the agent for performance testing with PVU licenses, select the IBM Rational Performance Test Server - PVU mode. You require a RTW license and PVU enabled Core.
  3. IBM RPTS (Agent Mode)
    If you are using the agent for performance testing with token licenses, select the IBM Rational Performance Test Server - Agent mode. You require a RTW license and Token Simultaneous session license for RPTS

Attention: Agent mode enables support for token licensing. Select this option only if you have purchased token licenses. Contact IBM Support to check your entitlement if required.

Note: The components in Rational Test Workbench can be combined with Rational Performance Test Server (RPTS)& Rational Test Virtualization Server (RTVS) into a solution called Rational Solution for Test Automation.









IV. What are the licenses utilized for the performance test while using the above modes?

The licenses consumed by a performance test varies depending on whether RPT or RTW is used to generate the load and the Agent Installation mode. The following table indicates the requirement for each combination.
Product Installation
License Requirement
Workbench (Load Generator)Agent Installation (Mode)
License Type
Licenses Required
License Content
RPT
VT Mode
Floating key
Base Licenseibmrpt
Run time licenseLT_VU_<load value> (For e.g. LT_Playback_1000VU
Activation Kit
Base LicenseRPT_V8.5_Activation_Kit.zip
com.ibm.rational.performance.tester.pek.la_pek.jar
Run time licenseActivation kits for VU packs unavailable , so use LT_VU_<load value> floating licenses
RPT (RTW PVU Support installed)
RPTS PVU Mode

(RTW PVU Support installed)

Floating key
Base Licenseibmrtw (includes ibmrpt)
Run time licensePVU enabled core with the following license (Floating)
ibmrpt_pvu (included with ibmrtw package)
Activation Kit
Base LicenseRPT_V8.5_Activation_Kit.zip
com.ibm.rational.performance.tester.pek.la_pek.jar
Run time licenseRTW_Performance_PVU_8.5_ActivationKit.zip
RTW-PT-PVU-LUM-PEK.jar
RPT (RTW PVU Support installed)RPTS Agent ModeRPT (RTW PVU Support installed) Floating Key (TOKENs) “TLSTOK”Base License
ibmrtw (includes ibmrpt)
Run time license
ibmrpts_simultaneous-session

Authorized User license – Activation Kits (JAR file)

Authorizes an individual to use a Rational software product. Purchasers obtain an Authorized User license for each individual user who accesses the product in any manner. An Authorized User license cannot be reassigned unless the purchaser replaces the original assignee on a long-term or permanent basis.

Floating license – Flexlm based key (UPD File)

License for a single software product that can be shared among multiple team members. The total number of concurrent users cannot exceed the number of floating licenses purchased. To use, obtain floating license keys and install them on a Rational License Server. The server responds to user requests for access to the license keys; the server grants access to the number of concurrent users that equals the number of licenses the organization purchased.

a) RPT Virtual Tester Packs:

Here you will require the base license for RPT and Floating VU tester pack licenses.

Components:

  1. RPT Workbench.
  2. IBM Installation manager->Manage License
  3. IBM Rational License Key Administrator->Manager License ->Configure Floating License Support
  4. RPT Agent installed VT testpack option (starting from v8214 and above, else just install and point to the workbench in earlier releases).

Mandatory Tasks:
  1. RPT Workbench installed and configured with Floating license Server/Activation kit for base license feature.
  2. It is mandatory for the IBM Rational License Key Administrator to be installed to configure the floating license server to consume VU tester pack licenses
  3. Install the RPT agents and configure the “majordomo.config” file to point to the appropriate workbench machine (starting from 8.3.0 release and above).VU Tester pack offering:

How to configure Rational Performance Tester Virtual Tester Pack floating license and Activation Kit together

b) RPT PVU License:

Optimization of system resources and flexible sharing of hardware is a key challenge for any organization. To use maximum system resources and get there are two widely adopted technology changes: Multi core chip technology and virtualization technologies. These two technologies push the need for Processor Value Unit (PVU) licensing. PVU is a unit used to set off licensing for Rational products such as Rational Performance Test server and Rational Test Virtualization server based on processor technology. More read here: IBM Green Hat Licensing Concepts and Management

How to configure IBM Rational Performance Tester to use PVU licensing

Components:

  1. RPT Workbench (Installed with RTW PVU mode support).
  2. PVU enabled Agent (Install RPT Agent in RPTS PVU mode).

Mandatory tasks:
  1. Create a schedule to run the test.
  2. Add atleast one RPT agent from location
  3. And edit the location to have Operating System compoent choosen as "Windows PVU").

c) RPT Agent mode (Token License) :

When installing Rational Performance Tester Agent as part of IBM Rational Test Virtualization Server, Rational Performance Test Server, or Rational Performance Tester products, the install configuration panel now includes an 'Agent Mode' option. The 'Agent Mode' enables support for token licensing

Using Rational Performance Tester Agent in Agent mode

Components:

  1. RPT Workbench (Installed with RTW PVU mode support).
  2. PVU enabled Agent (Install RPT Agent in RPTS Agent mode).

Mandatory tasks:

  1. Create a schedule to run the test.
  2. Add atleast one RPT agent from location
  3. And edit the location to have Operating System compoent choosen as "Windows (RPTS AGent Mode)"







V. Product Installation

There are pre-requisite considerations while installing the RPT Workbench and RPT Agents as follows:

1) RPT Workbench Installation:

While installing the RPT Workbench, ensure that the feature “IBM Rational Test Workbench Processor Value Unit (PVU)” is selected for PVU/Agent Mode licenses. This is not required for VU Tester packs.



CAUTION: You should note in the above screenshot that the License Type is configured for both RPT and RTW PVU Unit feature


2) RPT Agent Installation:

WARNING: The above option (choosing the agent offering) cannot be visible after installation from IBM Installation Manager->View Installed Packages. And this cannot be modified with the IBM Installation Manager -> Modify option either.

But with release of RPT 8.7.1, there is an enhancement provided from the RPT Workbench->Agent Status icon -> which shows the mode of the license RPT agent is installed and connected with the Workbench.




3) Configure the Agent “Location” in the workbench


The test script is run as part of a Test Schedule with an agent location added from the RPT schedule:



While creating an Agent “Location” to run the load test in, select an “Operating System” value that is appropriate for the agent installation mode.





From 8.2.1.4 till 8.7.0 release





Starting from v8.7.1








APPENDIX: Case study

1. Can a single license server serve licenses for different Agent modes? For example: Can Team A use VT pack agent mode and Team B use RPTS Agent mode, consuming licenses from the same license server?

Yes, this is possible by using an “OPTIONS” file attached to the license file hosted on the license server. A sample options file looks like the following:




GROUP TeamA ACHALUPA
GROUP TeamB RCS-TESTING

INCLUDE ibmrtw GROUP TeamB
INCLUDE ibmrpts_simultaneous_session GROUP TeamB
EXCLUDE LT_Playback_50000VU GROUP TeamB

# Team A RPT load testing is designed to check out ibmrpt + VT pack for user load
# Team B load testing is designed to check out ibmrtw (token pool) + ibmrpts_simultaneous_session (token pool)
#Team A and Team B both use ibmrpt




So your license file should look like the following after attaching the OPTIONS file:







For more details on Options file, read here: Options file commands

2. Is there any order for the license feature lines to be maintained from the token license file when both ‘ibmrtw’ and ‘ibmrpt’ coexist?

By Default INCREMENT line for ibmrtw had a sort order of 100. The INCREMENT line for ibmrpt had no sort order value. Hence ibmrpt when sort order is not specified, the default sort order is taken to be 100. Based on the license file that he had shared, the ibmrpt feature had a version number which was lesser than the version number for ibmrtw. Therefore, the ibmrpt license is always given precedence, when you have both ibmrpt and ibmrtw INCREMENT blocks in the same license file.




If you need to give precedence to ibmrtw over ibmrpt, you need to change the sort order for ibmrtw to a value lesser than 100 so that it is given priority




Yes it has to be on the following order, if there are no sort order specified for an INCREMENT line.




INCREMENT TLSTOK
PACKAGE ibmrtw
INCREMENT ibmrpt
INCREMENT ibmrtw

Read here for more details on sort order values: Combining named-user and floating licenses -> sort order








Disclaimer

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. WHILE EFFORTS WERE MADE TO VERIFY THE COMPLETENESS AND ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT, IT IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. IN ADDITION, THIS INFORMATION IS BASED ON IBM’S CURRENT PRODUCT PLANS AND STRATEGY, WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BY IBM WITHOUT NOTICE. IBM SHALL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF, OR OTHERWISE RELATED TO, THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY OTHER DOCUMENTATION. NOTHING CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS INTENDED TO, NOR SHALL HAVE THE EFFECT OF, CREATING ANY WARRANTIES OR REDOCUMENTS FROM IBM (OR ITS SUPPLIERS OR LICENSORS), OR ALTERING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ANY AGREEMENT OR LICENSE GOVERNING THE USE OF IBM PRODUCTS OR SOFTWARE.

[{"Product":{"code":"SSMMM5","label":"IBM Rational Performance Tester"},"Business Unit":{"code":"BU053","label":"Cloud & Data Platform"},"Component":"Documentation","Platform":[{"code":"PF033","label":"Windows"}],"Version":"8.3;8.3.0.1;8.3.0.2;8.3.0.3;8.5;8.5.0.1;8.5.0.2;8.5.1;8.5.1.1;8.5.1.2;8.5.1.3;8.6;8.6.0.1;8.6.0.2;8.7;8.7.0.1;8.7.0.2;8.7.1;8.7.1.1","Edition":"","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB45","label":"Automation"}}]

Product Synonym

RPT

Document Information

Modified date:
17 June 2018

UID

swg27047543