When tests exceed 24 hours, resource consumption issues
can cause problems with the SAP and Citrix clients. The long run mode
increases the reliability of long duration tests with the SAP and
Citrix protocols by running the tests in multiple processes.
Before you begin
Ensure that the test plays back reliably, with no errors,
when run as a single test.
For Citrix tests, a new process
is created for each virtual tester.
For SAP tests, a new process
is started each time the number of test instances reaches a specific
value.
The following guidelines improve the success of long
duration tests:
- Use agent computers with at least 2GB of RAM and 10GB of free
disk space, running the same version of the IBM® Rational® Performance Tester or Rational Performance Tester Agent.
Disable antivirus software, screen savers, and automatic updaters.
Avoid using the agent computers during the test.
- Keep individual tests short by avoiding loops of more than 10
iterations within each test, and achieve the desired long run duration
by looping within the schedule. Do not exceed 20 or 30 virtual testers
per agent computer with a think time above several seconds.
- Use tests with a minimal number of verification points.
For SAP:
- Do not use the Signature theme. Disable all animations in the
SAP GUI.
- Any mouse click could be interpreted by a hidden SAP GUI window,
which could cause the test to fail.
- Ensure that the Screen Throughput counter remains low (approximately
1 per second per agent).
Procedure
To enable long run mode:
- In the Test Navigator, browse to the schedule and double-click
it. The schedule opens.
- In the schedule, click the schedule element and in the
Schedule Element Details area, configure the options
- On the Test Log page, disable Show
errors and failures.
- On the Problem Determination page,
set the log level to Severe.
- On the Statistics page, set the
log level to Schedule Actons or Primary
Test Actions, set a sample interval between 15 and 30
minutes, and select only store All Hosts statistics.
- On the Performance Requirements page,
disable performance requirements.
- In the schedule, click the user group for which you want
to enable the long run mode.
- In the Schedule Element Details area, click the Options tab
and click Edit Options.
- To enable long run mode:
- Click Enable long run mode.
- For SAP tests, type a value to specify the Number
of test starts per process. Ideally, set this
value to 1.5 times the number of virtual testers for the user group.