How to Do Performance Testing
Performance testing is not a single action.
It is a repeatable process that starts long before you run a test and continues after execution through analysis and retesting.
The performance testing process consists of the following seven steps.
Step 1 – Identify Your Testing Environment
Know your:
- Physical test environment
- Production environment
- Available testing tools
Understand the details of the:
- Hardware configuration
- Software configuration
- Network configuration
used during testing before you begin.
This helps testers:
- Create more efficient tests.
- Identify possible challenges that may occur during performance testing.
Step 2 – Identify the Performance Acceptance Criteria
This includes goals and constraints for:
- Throughput
- Response times
- Resource allocation
It is also necessary to identify project success criteria outside these goals and constraints.
Testers should be empowered to set performance criteria and goals because project specifications often do not include a wide enough range of performance benchmarks, and sometimes there are none.
When possible, finding a similar application to compare against is a good way to set performance goals.
Step 3 – Plan and Design Performance Tests
Determine how usage is likely to vary among end users.
Identify key scenarios to test for all possible use cases.
It is necessary to:
- Simulate a variety of end users.
- Plan performance test data collection.
- Outline which performance metrics will be collected.
Step 4 – Configure the Test Environment
Prepare the testing environment before execution.
Arrange the required:
- Testing tools
- Resources
Step 5 – Implement the Test Design
Create the performance tests according to your test design.
Step 6 – Run the Tests
Execute and monitor the performance tests.
Step 7 – Analyze, Tune, and Retest
Consolidate, analyze, and share the test results.
Then:
- Fine-tune the application.
- Execute the tests again.
- Check whether performance improves or declines.
Since improvements generally diminish with each retest, stop when the bottleneck is due to the CPU.
At that point, you may consider increasing CPU power.
FAQs
1. What are the steps in the Performance Testing process?
The Performance Testing process consists of the following seven steps:
- Identify the Testing Environment.
- Identify the Performance Acceptance Criteria.
- Plan and Design Performance Tests.
- Configure the Test Environment.
- Implement the Test Design.
- Run the Tests.
- Analyze, Tune, and Retest.
2. Why is identifying the Test Environment the first step?
Knowing the hardware, software, and network configurations helps testers:
- Create more efficient tests.
- Anticipate challenges before testing begins.
3. What are Performance Acceptance Criteria?
Performance Acceptance Criteria include:
- Throughput goals
- Response time goals
- Resource allocation constraints
- Project success criteria
These criteria are often established by comparing the application with a similar system.
4. When should you stop tuning and retesting?
Improvements usually decrease with each retest.
You should stop when the bottleneck is caused by the CPU.
At that point, increasing CPU power becomes the next consideration.
