Load runner

HPE Load Runner can simulate thousands of users concurrently using application software, recording and later analyzing the performance of key components of the application.

 

Load Runner simulates user activity by generating messages between application components or by simulating interactions with the user interface such as keypresses or mouse movements. The messages/interactions to be generated are stored in scripts. LoadRunner can generate the scripts by recording them, such as logging HTTP requests between a client web browser and an application's web server.

 

The key components of HPE Load Runner are:

• Load Generator generates the load against the application by following scripts
• VuGen (Virtual User Generator) for generating and editing scripts
• Controller controls, launches and sequences instances of Load Generator - specifying which script to use, for how long etc. During runs the Controller receives real-time monitoring data and displays status.
• Agent process manages connection between Controller and Load Generator instances.
• Analysis assembles logs from various load generators and formats reports for visualization of run result data and monitoring data.

Modules are available to enable HPE Load Runner to capture, replay and script different application and networking technologies. These include support for:

• Applications using Microsoft .NET and Java
• Database servers such as Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle
• Internetworking protocols such as DNS, FTP and LDAP.
• E-mail protocols including IMAP, MAPI, POP3 & SMTP.
• Remote client technologies such as Citrix ICA and RDP.
HPE Load Runner can be run standalone or multiple instances can pooled for use by several people under the control of HP Performance Center.

HPE Load Runner in the Cloud

From 2010 HP started to offer on-demand versions of Load Runner available by cloud computing services such as Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud and later Microsoft Azure. Version 12.50 added the use of Google Compute Engine. Selected HP partners are also able to provide Load Runner in the Cloud as an on-demand service from their SaaS platforms.

Scripting Languages

HPE Load Runner client emulation scripts are usually created using the ANSI C programming language. However, Java and .Net programs can also be run by HPE Load Runner. Version 12.50 added the use of JavaScript for Web-HTTP/HTML scripts. Scripts from other testing tools such as Apache JMeter , NUnit, and Selenium can be run by Load Runner by declaring an interface library. This enables scripts to send key-value pairs to the Controller as the script runs, enabling response times to be associated with specific conditions such as the number of items displayed in the User Interface.

Load Runner scripts can also be called from within Jenkins