Web Application Performance Testing with

MERCURY LOADRUNNER
Course Overview (17 lessons)

Introduction......................................................................................2 1. Introduction..........................................................................2 Web Application Development - overview and terminology...........3 2. Two tiers configuration.........................................................3 3. Front tier of web application................................................3 4. Back tier of web application.................................................3 5. Operating Systems................................................................4 Web Application Testing..................................................................5 6. LoadRunner installation and primary configuration............5 7. Recording and executing scripts...........................................5 8. LoadRunner Controller.........................................................5 9. Monitoring system resources................................................5 10. Analysing the results............................................................6 11. Preparing the performance test report..................................6 Programming LoadRunner scripts...................................................7 12. Language C as implemented in LoadRunner.......................7 13. Functions..............................................................................7 14. Variables...............................................................................7 15. Conditional program flow....................................................7 16. Loops....................................................................................8 17. LoadRunner Tips&Tricks.....................................................8

Introduction
Introduction

Automated testing, performance testing and test scripts as a "stepping stone" for a software tester to move toward software development. Carrier planning in software testing and software development fields.

Mercury LoadRunner course overview

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Web Application Development overview and terminology

Two tiers configuration

Web application is normally hosted by (at least) two servers: the HTTP server (front tier) generates web pages based on the data provided by database server (back tier).
Front tier of web application

1) Java. Enterprise Java Beans and Java Server Pages. Pure Java webservers, such as Weblogic, Jboss and Jetty. 2) C++. Apache, Internet Information Server and others. 3) ASP. 4) Perl and PHP.
Back tier of web application

1) Microsoft SQL Server 2) Oracle

Optional: An in-depth SQL and relational database training can be

provided for advanced students. Although Web Application Tester primarily work with web interface and does not necessarily have to access the database directly, most testers consider relational databases (RDBMS) as a must-have skill. At the end of RDBMS training you will be able to create and execute a simple SQL queries to test the data you see on the web page against the actual database.

Mercury LoadRunner course overview

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Operating Systems

Overview of two major families of server-class operating systems: UNIX, such as Sun Solaris, HP-UX and Linux, and NT, such as Windows NT Server, Windows 2000 Advanced Server and Windows dot NET platform. At the end of this lesson you must be able to start, stop and monitor the web server (application under test).
Optional: An in-depth UNIX training can be provided for

advanced students. At the end of this lesson you will be able to install and configure the web server (application under test) and LoadRunner on all major UNIX platforms. You also will get an opportunity to beef up your resume with "UNIX administration" and "Shell scripts programming" tasks.

Mercury LoadRunner course overview

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Web Application Testing

LoadRunner installation and primary configuration

LoadRunner system requirements. You will learn how to install LoadRunner on a single or multiple computers and perform some minor configuration tasks. You will learn what is LoadRunner registration, how to get it and how to request assistance from Mercury Interactive regarding your product. At the end of this lesson you will be able to contact Mercury Interactive technical support on your own, receive a "heat ticket" and communicate with Mercury Interactive engineer.
Recording and executing scripts

At the end of this lesson you will be able to click the "Record" button, open the browser, perform a short test procedure, click the "Stop Recording" button and save your script. You will be able to execute your script in LoadRunner Script Generator.
LoadRunner Controller

Running several concurrent users. You will learn some "known bugs" about LoadRunner and common workarounds, such as impossibility to run your script for some given predictable amount of time. At the end of this lesson you will be able to start the web server and stress-test it with several concurrent users.
Monitoring system resources

LoadRunner and OS-specific system monitoring tools. Connecting a web server machine to LoadRunner Controller. You will learn some LoadRunner tricks , for example the "free memory" graph
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will become much more human readable if reversed on Y-axis and maximized to 256 MB, "CPU Activity" graph is unclear unless you set a high "Diversity" value, etcetera.
Analysing the results

Functionality of LoadRunner Result Analyzer. Playing with the graphs.

Preparing the performance test report

Exporting the results to HTML, Word or Excel format. You will learn how to change the default window background color and export the graphs with "PrnScrn" button. You will learn some tricks to adjust the results according to management's expectations. At the end of this lesson you will have your own application performance report ready to present. Note: At this point you must be clear with what LoadRunner is used for, what can be your first task at work and what terms your are likely to hear on the interview. It is recommended that you create your resume and start a job search at this point to understand what you know and what you do not know while you are still in class and have a tutor assistance. If employed, you are now ready to excel at any given task with our phone assistance, help of Mercury Interactive technical support and LoadRunner Help system.

Mercury LoadRunner course overview

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Programming LoadRunner scripts

Language C as implemented in LoadRunner

Students familiar with C/C++ family of languages will get a brief list of differences between classic C and Mercury's idea of language C. Students unfamiliar with programming will receive the suitable training.
Functions

At this lesson you will learn the following tasks: 1. what is a function and how to create a function 2. main() function 3. #include "file" 4. "*.c" files 5. "*.h" files
Variables

At this lesson you will learn how to use the following keywords: 1. char 2. int 3. long 4. float 5. double 6. array of variables
Conditional program flow

At this lesson you will learn how to use the following keywords: 1. if 2. else
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3. 4. 5. 6.

else if switch case default

Loops

At this lesson you will learn how to use the following keywords: 1. for 2. while 3. do while 4. break 5. continue
LoadRunner Tips&Tricks

Running a script for a given amount of time with a given delay between clicks. Reading values from the web page. Reading data (for example tables) from external text files.

Mercury LoadRunner course overview

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