PROPRIETARY & CONFIDENTIAL Best Practices in Performance Testing Jennifer Turnquist Storage Service Line Director Lionbridge Technologies Jennifer Turnquist

PROPRIETARY & CONFIDENTIALPROPRIETARY & CONFIDENTIAL

Best PracticesBest Practicesin Performance Testingin Performance TestingBest PracticesBest Practicesin Performance Testingin Performance Testing

Jennifer Turnquist

Storage Service Line Director

Lionbridge Technologies

Jennifer Turnquist

Storage Service Line Director

Lionbridge Technologies

© 2003 Lionbridge Technologies, Inc. © 2003 Lionbridge Technologies, Inc.

Lionbridge Profile Lionbridge Profile

Public Company (Nasdaq: LIOX)- Nearly $400M+ in revenues

- Profitable

Deep expertise across the application life cycle

- Application Development & Maintenance - Testing (Independent V&V)- Content Development, Conversion & Enhancement

- Globalization

Worldwide scale and capability- Over 4000 employees operating in 25 countries (Scale)

- SEI CMM Level 5 certified process model (Quality)

8 of the world’s 10 most valuable companies are Lionbridge customers BusinessWeek Global 1000, July 2004


Services Designed around our Client’s NeedServices Designed around our Client’s Need

LionbridgeLionbridgeA Trusted Partner Around the WorldA Trusted Partner Around the World

Global Development & Testing Solutions

Global Language & Content Solutions

Interps

Software Development LifecycleSoftware Development Lifecycle

Application Development Testing &

Certification

Maintenance & Support

Full Content LifecycleFull Content Lifecycle

Localization/Translation

Technical Publications

eLearning Courseware

Off-shore platforms leverage Off-shore platforms leverage more than staff in China, India, more than staff in China, India, and Eastern Europeand Eastern Europe

Global footprint enables local Global footprint enables local interaction and facilitates interaction and facilitates worldwide release and supportworldwide release and support

Trusted, US-based public Trusted, US-based public company protects against IP losscompany protects against IP loss

Localization services spanning more than Localization services spanning more than 80 languages80 languages

Proprietary web-architected TM and Proprietary web-architected TM and terminology solution accelerates terminology solution accelerates production and improves consistencyproduction and improves consistency

Authoring and eLearning development Authoring and eLearning development services integrate seamlessly with services integrate seamlessly with localization to address global demandlocalization to address global demand


VeriTest: Setting the Standard in Testing Since 1987VeriTest: Setting the Standard in Testing Since 1987

World’s largest independent testing company

- Over 400 test architects, engineers, and analysts in 11 labs across US, Europe, Asia

- Rapid expansion in VeriTest India

- From PDAs and PCs to 32-way servers

- Data center class storage lab

Industry leader

- Exclusive provider and architect of industry-leading certification programs

- Developer of PC Magazine benchmarks

- Test and publish industry standard ISP benchmarks

- Operate globally-networked onsite to offshore model


The Lionbridge TeamThe Lionbridge TeamLocal Connections, Global EfficiencyLocal Connections, Global Efficiency

4,000+ Worldwide StaffExperience and Efficiency


Today’s AgendaToday’s Agenda

• Why Test Performance?

• Different Types of Performance Testing

• Performance Testing Roadmap

• Choosing the Right Testing Tools

• Top 10 performance testing pitfalls


"The standard philosophy of 'test to destruction'... will probably give you an idea of roughly how many users your site can handle at once, but it won't always tell you why the site fails to function properly. And without knowing why, you're not likely to be able to do much about it..."

--Extreme Tech


Why Test Performance?Why Test Performance?

The internet and IT infrastructure crucial to business

Users—employees, business partners, customers—rely on portals, applications, and data to do their jobs

Cost of failure can be devastating

Performance testing in the enterprise is intermittent, cyclical, often prompted by upgrades

Testing is highly specialized


The high cost of The high cost of not not conducting performance testingconducting performance testing

Performance testing overlooked until disaster strikes

Lost and abandoned sales - most visible result of poor performance testing but…

Efficiency of mission-critical systems directly impacts business productivity

Preventing problems—lost productivity, lost business, lost reputation, and even injury or death—is a major incentive

Knowing the vital performance metrics = ammunition to IT departments when planning and justify purchasing decisions

Provides the ability to demonstrate to investors and other critical stakeholders that the company’s infrastructure is adequate


Events that trigger performance testingEvents that trigger performance testing

Build vs. buy

Evolving requirements

Technology due diligence

Consolidating servers

Deploying a SAN

Deploying or upgrading enterprise application

Migrating to a new platform

Addition of features

Response to public critique

Enhancements due to buying trends

Acquiring or merging a business

Launching new product

Enhancing web application

Promoting an offering

Doing any of the above globally


Performance testing is not a

one time event.


Conduct the right test to get the right resultsConduct the right test to get the right results

• Load Testing- Determines the response time and throughput during typical user load

• Stress Testing - Determines the peak user load

• Volume Testing - Determines the problems that occur during long-term user activity

• Component Testing - Determines the performance and behavior of a specific component

• Benchmark Testing- Measures the performance of a system or component relative to a

standard

• Transaction Cost Analysis- Determines the system resources consumed by a single transaction


Performance Testing RoadmapPerformance Testing Roadmap

Define Communicate

TestScript

Plan

•Identify stakeholders•Agree on goals of testing•Determine budget•Determine schedule constraints•Agree to promotion strategy•Outline resources available •Determine staffing plan•Engage test lab (if needed)

•Verify basic functionality•Generate use cases•Capture user activity logging information•Analyze user activity profile•Model user activity•Choose the tool(s)•Identify re-usable script components•Assign resources neededfor scripting, testing•Create test environment

•Design scripts•Create scripts•Validate scripts•Build script library

•Execute tests •Collect data•Analyze test results•Run possible iterations•Troubleshoot bottlenecks•Tune system•Retest•Log non-performance failures

•Outline context•Draft results•Provide feedback to stakeholders•Deliver action items•Finalize report(s)•Promote results


An overview of the performance testing processAn overview of the performance testing process

After initiating the test, the load generator systems to begin accessing the system under test using the designed usage patterns.

Depending on whether the test is a global, local, or isolated configuration, the load generators may be located worldwide or completely contained within a test lab.

The one critical configuration requirement for the load-generating systems is that they have adequate network bandwidth throughput capability to access the system under test in a realistic manner without bandwidth constraints.

If bandwidth constraints become a problem, adding additional load generators to the pool of load generators will typically fix this problem.

If the test is global or local, the Internet will be an important factor in the configuration. For an isolated configuration, the Internet is not a factor.


An overview of the performance testing processAn overview of the performance testing process

Once a performance test is initiated, it can run for several minutes to several days, depending on the test goal.

During the test time, the test tool monitors and collects performance data from all of the components within the system under test, such as the Web server, application server, or database server.

All of the monitor data along with the performance test data collected at the generating client end to determine the overall performance as well as the potential system bottlenecks.

In a typical performance test cycle, the performance bottlenecks are located, fixed, and iteratively retested to ensure that they are fixed as designed.


High Level Picture of the ProcessHigh Level Picture of the Process

Overcome resource limitations• Replace testers with “Virtual Users”• Run many Virtual Users on few machines• Controller manages Virtual Users• Run repeatable tests with scripted actions• Get meaningful results with analysis tools

System under TestLoad Generation


You don’t have to go it aloneYou don’t have to go it alone

Define Communicate

TestScript

Plan

Build and train internal resourcesHire contractors

Utilize service offerings from test tool vendorsRely on application provider

Engage with a consulting firm or SIPartner with an independent testing company


Important considerations for choosing the resourcesImportant considerations for choosing the resources

Deadlines

Testing skills and experience

Technology and/or application expertise

Frequency and scale of testing requirements

Infrastructure requirements

Risk assessment

Market factors


The vast number of performance testing tools can be The vast number of performance testing tools can be overwhelmingoverwhelming


Important considerations for choosing the right toolImportant considerations for choosing the right tool

Do you already own the license?

Do you have the internal resources to script and execute?

Will it meet the test objectives?

Is it compatible with your technology objectives?

Does it fit within your budget constraints?

Do you have the training and expertise to analyze the results?

Does it match the frequency of your testing needs?


Leading performance toolsLeading performance tools

Benchmark Tool Pros Cons

Mercury Interactive LoadRunner

•Compatible with numerous protocols

•Excellent data analysis tools

•WAN emulation

•Web transaction breakdown monitor

•Expensive license

•Requires a unique license for each protocol type

Segue SilkPerformer •Offer “Lite” version for reduced price

•Excellent data analysis tools

•Root cause analysis tools included

•Windows only

•Expensive license

RadView WebLoad •Inexpensive license

•Good data analysis tools

•Covers few protocols; primarily Web-based automation

Spirent Avalanche/Reflector •Uses SST TracePlus to provide record and playback feature

•No additional hardware required

•Expensive hardware to purchase


Popular Benchmark ToolsPopular Benchmark Tools

Benchmark Tool Workload SimulatedVeriTest Tools VeriTest NetBench

VeriTest WebBench

CIFS file / network traffic

•HTTP / Web traffic

Microsoft Tools WCAT

WMLS

Microsoft LOADSIM

DBHammer

HTTP(S) traffic

streaming media

Exchange email traffic

SQL database traffic

SPEC benchmarks

SPECjbb

SPECsfs

SPEC Java Business Benchmark

Exercises the CPU

NFS File / Network Traffic

Other Industry Standard Tools

IOMeter

IOZone

TSScaling

block level data transfer, OLTP(database) traffic

block level data transfer

terminal services traffic


Manual testing may be your best tool Manual testing may be your best tool

• Frequency of testing requirements

• Rate of change

• Limitations of available tools


Top 10 performance Top 10 performance testing pitfallstesting pitfallsTop 10 performance Top 10 performance testing pitfallstesting pitfalls


Top 10Top 10

1. Not Testing.

2. Lack of clearly defined test objectives and poor planning.

3. Relying exclusively on beta customers to find performance issues.

4. Using the wrong tool for the job.

5. Introducing too many variables simultaneously into a test.

6. Failing to test how your product or system is actually used.

7. Conducting load testing in a vacuum.

8. Treating performance testing like a one-time event.

9. Assume that the scripting effort will be short and simple.

10. Finding functional bugs during performance runs.


ConclusionConclusion

Companies rely on systems to conduct business efficiently and effectively

Performance testing ensures that your users are getting reliable and timely access to the resources they need

Performance testing mitigates the risk of lost time and money due to poor performance

A fully integrated performance testing program is the preventative medicine that keeps your system from becoming an inaccessible and costly resource.

Though it may seem counterintuitive at first to slow your deployment for performance test planning and execution, the payoff in time, money, and quality will be big and will come soon.


Thank YouThank YouThank YouThank You

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PROPRIETARY & CONFIDENTIAL Best Practices in Performance Testing Jennifer Turnquist Storage Service Line Director Lionbridge Technologies Jennifer Turnquist