The level of information collection directly affects log sizes. Depending on the setting that you select, the logs can become quite large. By limiting the log level and collecting the information from a representative sample of users, you can decrease your log size and still have sufficient information for analysis.
For example, if you are debugging a test, you might set all three What to Log fields to All or Action Details. These settings produce large test logs, especially if your tests are long or you are running a large number of users. Large test logs, in turn, increase the test log transfer time, and might even cause your computer to run out of disk space or the agent computer to run out of memory. To reduce transfer times and the likelihood of running out of disk space, sample information from a very small subset of users; smaller even than the default of 5 users per user group. A fixed sampling rate samples the same number of virtual users from each group. A percentage sampling rate samples a percentage of virtual users from each group, but guarantees that at least one user is sampled from a group.
To set the amount of information collected in the test log and the rate of sampling:
Option | Description |
---|---|
Schedule Actions | Collects events that correspond to actions executed in the
schedule:
|
Primary Test Actions | Typically, you set data collection at this level. Primary
test actions include schedule actions, plus the following actions:
|
Secondary Test Actions | Secondary test actions include primary test actions, plus
this information:
|
Action Details | Action details include secondary test actions, plus this information:
|
All | For HTTP, SAP, and Citrix tests, All and Action
Details provide the same information. For socket send and receive actions, the exchanged data is also available in the test log, by means of attachments. |
Option | Description |
---|---|
Fixed number of users | The number is applied to each user group. Assume that your schedule contains two user groups. One group contains four users, and one group contains 1000 users. If you specify 2 for this option, two users are sampled from each group. |
Percentage of users | The percentage is applied to each user group—but at least one user will be sampled from each group. Assume that your schedule contains two user groups. One group contains four users, and one group contains 1000 users. If your sampling rate is 10%, one user is sampled from the first group, and 100 users are sampled from the second group. If your sampling rate is 25%, one user is sampled from the first group, and 250 users are sampled from the second group. |
Both choices, as well as the default setting, will limit the size of the test log and reduce the total time to run the schedule by significantly shortening the test log transfer time at the end of a test.