Each load test has a load profile that defines how the number of active users changes throughout the test run, for example, how it increases and decreases over time.

In LoadComplete, you set the profile for your test on the Load Profile tab of the Load Test editor. You can change the load profile for your test at any time or you can create multiple copies of the same load test with different pre-configured load profiles.

A test can have the following load profiles:

Steady load - LoadComplete simulates a fixed number of virtual users throughout the load test run.

When you start the test run, all virtual users defined in the test start working immediately; user groups with a non-zero Start delay start working after the delay period expires.

The load may drop towards the end of the test run, because some virtual users will finish running their scenarios.

Stepwise - LoadComplete simulates a ramp-up user load, that is, it increases the number of virtual users throughout the test run. For this load profile, you specify the initial number of users, with which the test starts, the number of virtual users to add in each step, and the step duration. Example: start with 10 virtual users and add 2 users every 15 seconds.

The total number of virtual users defined in the load test (see the value if the virtual users table’s footer) determines the maximum number of virtual users.

If the test includes several groups of virtual users, it will share the load among the groups. LoadComplete will use a new virtual group each time a virtual user joins the simulation.

If a group of virtual users has a non-zero Start delay, LoadComplete will wait until the delay expires before adding the group to the load.

Tip:

Use this load profile to determine the number of users that your tested web site can handle without degrading performance and to detect the server’s crash point. For more information, see Load Testing: Determining Server Performance at Different Loads and Stress Testing: Finding the Server's Crash Point.

If continuous load is enabled for the test, it may fail to generate the maximum possible user load. This can happen if the total test duration is shorter than needed to reach the maximum user count.

Custom shape - You define the load profile by drawing the needed load curve. Use this mode to define arbitrary load profiles: peaks, wave-like, ramp up, ramp down, workday load, weekend load and so on.

To draw the load curve, double-click the pane on the left and use the subsequent curve editing dialog.

Note: You can only use the custom load profile if the continuous load is enabled in your test, and if the total test duration is specified.

For more information about configuring user load profiles for tests, see Defining Workload Profile.

Load Profile Settings

See Also