Simulating Performance Capacities with HP LoadRunner

Consider this scenario: you have an e-commerce business that ships out knick-knacks and gift items. The deliveries are sure to skyrocket caused by seasonal demands. During Christmas for example, it’s expected that you will get an enormous amount of orders so how do you know your system is prepared to handle all those demands? It’s not really practical to test your logistics system and main server by flooding them with orders. The HP LoadRunner software can help evaluate your system by examining its performance and behaviour in different simulated environments.

Simulation vs. Reality

The software is one of the tools to help businesses utilize technology to streamline operations and maximize profits. By subjecting your system through the LoadRunner, you can identify weak points in both production and logistical chain as well as analyze significant information like web hits, visitor profiles, and the like.
The way to predict behaviour is to examine past experiences and historical data. By constantly using Application Life Cycle Menagement - ALM with your system through diverse scenarios, you can predict how it will act when there are sudden increases in demand. The results in the simulated environment in the HP LoadRunner can then be replicated in a real-life scenario.

Performance Testing

The analysis tool included in the software will log the report from the simulated case that will be used to identify the bottlenecks and gridlocks in the system which can affect performance. The user can study the graphs and metrics to better understand the current infrastructure from placing orders, response time, manner of delivery, and actual shipment. The report can be accessed through HTML or Microsoft Word.
The HP Performance Center includes a management framework which encourages cooperation among the teams involved, centralize resources and standardize processes, and cut cost. Traceability options also allow the user to follow back its tracks from development to production phase in cases of defects.

What are the key benefits of the program?

The HP LoadRunner comprises of different procedural tools: like theVirtual User Generator (VuGen), which aside for simulating real life scenarios, will also help identify bugs by running scripts. Record and playback options make it easier to introduce modifications into the script. The program offers several keys benefits to the end-client like the powerful scripting engine to test performance, TruClient tool to simplify scripting for Web 2.0 applications, load generation that allows easy identification of possible bottlenecks, and the diagnostic tool to isolate and correct these bottlenecks.