Performance Testing Pre-requisites

Before starting performance test, we should have some pre-requisites or check lists in our hand. Today, in this page, we will discuss about the key pre-requisites which we need prior to start the performance test activity.

• Knowledge on Application: Tester must have knowledge on the application (at least for scenarios in scope for testing) for which the performance test is going to be carried out. It is because, while designing the scripts and verifying them, Tester deal with application functionality. If tester have idea on how functionality works then it would be easy for him to design the script and avoid some minimal issues at least

          image source: Google

• Identification of Key Scenarios: An application may have hundreds of functionalities but all of them may need not to be performance tested. A business analyst gives the most critical scenarios which needs to be performance tested. The scenarios in scope for performance testing are usually most used scenarios by the end users when the application goes live. EXAMPLE: An e-commerce site may have certain functionalities like Searching product, Viewing item details, Adding to items to favorite, Placing order and cancelling order etc., Out of all these scenarios, Search a Product is the most critical action performed by real users. Because not all users who liked the product will place an order, But most of users will search product. In this way, Business analysts will be identifying the scenarios which which will be in scope for performance testing.

           image source: Google

• Business Requirements: Every performance test need to meet certain business requirements which are set by business team. Before starting the engagement, testing team need to get the inputs on the requirements & expectations from the client . Some of the requirements would be like "The response time for Search transaction should be under 3 seconds", "The total error percentage should be under 1%" and system should handle 1000 concurrent users without any issue.

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• Identification of Performance Test Tool: While selecting the tool for performance test, one should keep business requirement in mind as it is the primary factor which needs to be achieved. There are two types of performance testing tools available in the market. A) Open Source [e.g Apache Jmeter] & B) Commercial [e.g HP/MicroFocus Load Runner]. Depending upon the requirement, necessary tool will be selected.

           image source: Google

• Environment Set Up: It is highly recommended that performance testing needs to be carried out in a separate environment which is similar to production. It is because the environment should be stable throughout the assignment otherwise the scripts developed by testers will not work if any deployment is carried out. Also, No other team should use the environment which is dedicated for performance Testing.

          image source: Google

• High level Test Strategy Document: A high level PT test strategy document is needed where in the entry criteria and exit criteria is specified. This also covers the factors such as effort estimation, types of tests & total rounds of tests needs to be conducted, timeline and risks.

             image source: Google

In next page, we will start discussing about introduction of JMeter and how it works. :) Keep following me for more updates