How do we load test a 3-tier architecture using LoadRunner?
Posted: April 22nd, 2008 | Author: TnT Admin | Filed under: Concepts | Tags: Architecture, LoadRunner | No Comments »Hit on the spot! An interview question for newbies! Yes, we can load test a 3-tier architecture using LoadRunner. This is the purpose of the product. Usually in a 3-tier architecture, there will be one point of contact by the real user, the URL address of the web application. This is where LoadRunner access the web application too.
What LoadRunner does is to record whatever activities on the web application. Replay them as network traffic to the servers in the 3-tier architecture. Prior to the loading, monitoring setup has to be done on the servers in the architecture. Say, there are 2 Web Servers, 3 Application Servers and 2 Database Servers. It doesn’t matter how many of them (except the extra effort), all of them (depending on your monitoring requirements) have to be configured properly so that the monitoring data can be successfully sent back when the load test is been executed.
Put it simply.
1. Record the web application.
2. Setup the scenario for execution.
3. Setup the monitors in the 3-tier architecture.
4. Load test it!
5. Collect the monitoring after the run.
6. Analyze the results.
I would suggest reading my previous post on “What’s LoadRunner?” to get a better understanding and not dwell on this question too much. I will be covering some case studies in future which you will have a better idea of the requirements and assist you in your planning and engagement.
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