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This section of the documentation will walk you through the first steps in order to getting started with the RealLoad Product.
Follow the next sections of the document and you should be able to run your first basic test script using the SaaS Evaluation scenario within 20 minutes.
Let us know if encounter any issues while getting started, as that will help us updating this documentation to make it as clear and user friendly as possible. Please email us at support@realload.com
First of all you’ll have to decide which RealLoad deployment type better suits your needs. These guidelines should assist you in making an informed decision.
There a few components that make up the RealLoad solution. Most components are available under an SaaS model which doesn’t require any infrastructure commitment from your side.
If required by security or other constraints, some or all components can be deployed on your own infrastructure. Please reach out to us to discuss requirements if you’re planning to go down this road.
The key components that make up RealLoad’s solution are:
There are 2 options for your to run AWS cloud based Measuring Agents:
- Using our Cloud Credits: The relevant Virtual Machines are spun up from our portal under our own AWS account and you pay a usage fee using Cloud Credits you’ve previously purchased from us.
- By starting pre-configured AWS AMIs under your own AWS account. You’ll be charged directly for AWS related costs.
The RealLoad portal gives you the ability to launch load generators (Measuring Agents) in the AWS cloud with a click of button and the execute a load test.
Key features and requirements are:
- You’re not required to have an AWS account, as the Measuring Agent is run under RealLoad’s AWS account.
- You pay for the AWS and RealLoad licensing costs using previously purchased Cloud Credits.
- The application to be load tested needs to be reachable from the Measuring Agent’s public IP address, assigned by AWS at launch.
Using Cloud Credits is not an option if the servers to be performance tested are not exposed to the internet. In this scenario, the Measuring Agent will need to be deployed behind perimeter firewalls as follows:
Key features and requirements are:
- The Measuring Agent needs to be reachable from the internet based Portal Server. You’ll need to configure firewall and NAT rules on your perimeter firewall to allow communication.
- You’ll need to update the Measuring Agent software from time to time, to stay compatible with updates on the Portal Server.
- You’ll need to purchase a Load Testing license to suit your load requirements.
Typically Synthetic monitoring is use to monitor services that are exposed to the internet. RealLoad uses Measuring Agents to implement the monitoring functionality.
We recommend executing Synthetic Monitoring tests from at least 2 Measuring Agents, to cater for transitory local disruptions (like network issues or agent software updates) which might trigger false positive alerts.
There are two types of agents you can use for monitoring purposes:
Key features and requirements are:
- The application or service to be monitored needs to be reachable from the internet.
- You’ll need to subscribe to a Synthetic Monitoring plan. Reach out to us for pricing.
Should you have the need to monitor services within your perimeter, this can be arranged by deploying Measuring Agents within your networks.
Key features and requirements are:
- You’ll need to deploy two measuring agents behind the firewall perimeter. For AWS deployments your can use our existing AMIs, for other infrastructure install the Measuring Agent on a supported Linux Distribution.
- You’ll need to update the Measuring Agent software from time to time, to stay compatible with updates on the Portal Server.
- The Measuring Agents need to be reachable from the internet based Portal Server. You’ll need to configure firewall and NAT rules on your perimeter firewall to allow communication.
- You’ll need to subscribe to a Synthetic Monitoring plan. Reach out to us for pricing.
If you already have an account, you can login at https://portal.realload.com
In order to login to the portal you’ll first have to setup an account. Go to the portal URL and click on the Sign Up button or go this URL: https://portal.realload.com/SignUp
You’ll need to provide:
After sign up, you have access to 2 (shared) Measuring Agents and to a remote HTTP/S Proxy Recorder.
A free account allows you to execute both Synthetic Monitoring Jobs & Load Test Jobs with the following limitations:
¹ = Does not apply for Load Test Jobs executed on Measuring Agents launched by Cloud Credits: in this case there are no such restrictions.
In addition, you will receive at sign up 20 free Cloud Credits, which you can use to launch additional (private) AWS Measuring Agents to perform Load Tests with hundreds of virtual users.
You can add a RealLoad license to your account at any time, even if your account is expired (but no longer than 6 months ago), by purchasing licenses at https://shop.realload.com .
To have your account deleted, please send an email to support@realload.com. We’ll then reach out to you to confirm deletion.
Your account will be immediately disabled and all your data will be removed within 90 days, including backups.
Provide your details, including email and mobile number. All data you enter in this form are only required to verify your identity and will not be shared with any third parties.
Validate your email address.
Validate your mobile number
Configure your nickname and password
Once you signed up, you will be automatically loggedIn and the welcome page will be displayed. Three examples are shown which are also available online:
This example shows how a simple HTTP/S Test can be defined as a RealLoad ‘Test’ and executed as both a Load Test Job and a Monitoring Job.
The test sequence is manually entered into the HTTP Test Wizard to keep this example simple. However, you can also record HTTP/S tests using an HTTP/S Proxy Recorder and convert the recording into a HTTP Test Wizard session.
To configure and execute a simple test you’ll need:
Enter the Headline that briefly describes what the test does.
It’s best to save the empty session now. To do this, you must select a Resource Set of a Project. Alternatively, you can also create a new ‘Project’ and/or ‘Resource Set’. ‘Resource Sets’ are something like sub-directories of a Project, which contain all the files necessary to define and execute a test.
Enter the file name for the session, e.g. HttpSession_TestDownloadServer.json and save the session.
In this example, a new Project named ‘HTTP Tests’ is created which also contains a new Resource Set named ‘Download Server’.
Click on the ‘Add’ dropdown and select ‘URL’.
Enter the URL and click on the ‘+’ icon at ‘Verify HTTP Response’.
At ‘Verify HTTP Status Code’ select ‘200 OK’ and then click the ‘Add URL’ button.
You can then add additional URLs to the session. In this example it looks like this:
Before converting the session into a RealLoad ‘Test’ you should Debug the Session first. This way you can check whether all URL calls are working correctly. Click ‘Debug Session’.
This invokes a powerful Remote Debugger that runs always on a Measuring Agent. As shown at the top right of the following image you can also select an alternative Measuring Agent on which the debugger will run.
In the debugger you can also extract values from HTTP responses and assign them to succeeding HTTP requests, whereby the session is automatically synchronized between the debugger and the HTTP Test Wizard.
In the debugger, click Next Step until all URLs have been executed successfully and the end of the session has been reached - or until an error occurs. If an error occurs, exit the debugger, then repair the URL (= HTTP/S request), and then invoke the debugger again.
After debugging is successful, return to the HTTP Test Wizard.
After the source code is compiled, click ‘Define New Test’.
Enter the Test Description, and click ‘Define New Test’.
The RealLoad ‘Test’ is now defined. From here you can now create both a Load Test Job and a Monitoring Job.
Note: In case you (later) modify the session in the HTTP Test Wizard, you will have to generate and compile the source code again.
In the RealLoad ‘Test’ click ‘Define Test Job’.
In next menu click ‘Continue’ …
… And select the Measuring Agent on which the Load Test Job will be executed, then click ‘Define Load Test Job’.
The Load Test Job is now defined. Click ‘Start Test Job’.
Enter the settings of the Load Test Job here and then click ‘Start Test Job’. We recommend the following settings for the first load test run:
A free account allows you to execute Load Tests with the following limitations ¹ :
¹ = Does not apply for Load Test Jobs executed on Measuring Agents launched by Cloud Credits: in this case there are no such restrictions.
You can add a Real Load license to your account at any time by purchasing it in our shop https://shop.realload.com .
After a few seconds the Load Test Job is in the state ‘Running’. Click ‘Monitor Jobs’.
The real-time data of the running Load Test Job is now displayed.
Click on ‘Analyze Result’ after the Load Test Job is completed.
The Load Test Job result is then displayed.
To view the Job Output Files navigate to ‘Load Test Jobs’ and click in the dropdown of the Job on ‘Job Log Files’.
Select the file users.out which contains the Log Output of the Job.
If you would like to run the Load Test Job again with the same or changed settings, click on ‘Clone Job’ in the Job dropdown and then start the cloned job.
If this is your first Monitoring Job, you must first create a Monitoring Group. Navigate to Monitoring, click the ‘Configuration’ tab and then click ‘Add Monitoring Group’. There is also a help available for configuring the Synthetic Monitoring.
Enter the ‘Group Title’ and select at least one ‘Measuring Agent’ on which the Monitoring Job(s) will be executed. Then click ‘Add Monitoring Group’.
In the ‘Monitoring Group’ click ‘Monitoring Jobs’ and then click ‘Add Monitoring Job’.
Select the ‘Test’ of the Monitoring Job.
Click ‘Define Monitoring Job’.
Enable the execution of the Monitoring Group and navigate to ‘Dashboard’.
The Monitoring Job is now defined and will be executed periodically. For additional help configuring monitoring (e.g. adding ‘Alert Devices’), see Monitoring Help.
Tip: If you modify the RealLoad ‘Test’, the corresponding Monitoring Job is not automatically updated to avoid unexpected corruption of the Monitoring Job. After you have verified the modified ‘Test’ by running a small Load Test Job, you must manually update the Monitoring Job.
Done, congrats, you’ve run your first test with Real Load.
As you have seen, a RealLoad Test can be run as both a Load Test Job and a Monitoring Job.
This example was deliberately kept simple so that you can become familiar with the RealLoad product. To create a test with a web browser session across multiple web pages, you can use a Remote Proxy Recorder to record the test case and then convert the recording into an HTTP Test Wizard session.
Additionally, a Test Job Template can also be defined from any ‘Load Test Job’, which can then be part of a Test Suite. This means that you can add multiple ‘Test Job Templates’ to a Test Suite and execute them in a single run as a Regression Test.
To learn more, we recommend you read the User Guide. There you will find detailed documentation on the steps described in this document.
This example shows how a Selenium IDE Test - which was recorded with a Chrome or Firefox web browser - can be converted into a RealLoad ‘Test’. The converted RealLoad ‘Test’ can then be executed both as a Load Test Job and as a Monitoring Job. In addition, the converted test can also be part of a Test Suite for performing Regression Tests.
In most cases, the conversion can be done easily with just a few mouse clicks - without the need for any special settings.
At the end of each executed test run (of the converted RealLoad test), a final screenshot of the simulated web browser session is taken for each virtual user so that you can check whether the web browser session of the virtual user has been fully executed.
Tip: If possible, always use the Chrome web browser for Selenium IDE recording, as Chrome sessions are simulated much faster (= more realistic) than Firefox sessions.
To configure and execute this test you’ll need:
Export the your recorded Selenium IDE Test as Java JUnit file and save the file to any folder on your local device. Note that the 3-dot dropdown icon may initially be hidden and may only appear when you are near to the Selenium ‘Test Case’ area. Do not choose any export option.
At Projects menu click on the ‘Developer Tools’ dropdown and select ‘Convert Selenium IDE Test to Real Load Test’.
Then upload the file by ‘Upload File’ or by dragging and dropping the file into the dashed area.
Click on the ‘Convert’ button after uploading the file. The converted Java code is then displayed. Then click on the ‘Save & Compile’ button.
You have to save the converted code in a Resource Set of a Project. You can also first create a new Project with a new Resource Set.
After saving the converted code, you will be automatically redirected to the Compile Java File dialog.
The JAR files required to compile are already preselected, i.e. you need only click the ‘Compile’ button.
After successful compilation, click ‘Define or Update Selenium by JUnit Test’.
You will then be automatically redirected to the Define JUnit & Selenium Test dialog.
Select the JUnit @Test method (in this case only one will be shown) and click ‘Define Test’.
In an intermediate step you can enter an (optional) test description.
Now the Selenium RealLoad ‘Test’ is defined from which you can define a Load Test Job and/or a Monitoring Job.
Please note that not all Measuring Agents support the execution of Selenium jobs. You can ‘ping’ a Measuring Agent at application level to find out whether Selenium jobs are supported:
Example 1: Measuring Agent ‘Demo Agent 1 (CH)’ does not support Selenium jobs
Example 2: Measuring Agent ‘Demo Agent 2B (CH)’ supports Selenium jobs
