Reserve timeslots for performance testing

This section describes how to reserve timeslots for performance testing.

Create a timeslot

To learn more about timeslots, see Timeslots overview.

  1. Prerequisites

    • Ensure that there is a host pool defined and allocated to the project. For details, see Manage host pools.

    • If you want to run a particular test during the timeslot, ensure that an instance of that test is included in a test set.

    • Make sure that at least one of the hosts in the host pool can be designated as a Controller, and that Host, Vuser, and Concurrent Run limits are defined in the project settings.

  2. Create a timeslot

    1. From the Performance Center navigation toolbar, click and select Resources > Timeslots.

    2. In the Timeslots module:

      • From the grid view, click Create Timeslot .

      • From the calendar view, right-click and select New Timeslot .

    3. Enter the details of the timeslot and select resources.

      UI Elements Description
      Start

      Choose the method for executing linked tests or test sets:

      • Manually. The timeslot reservation reserves testing resources only. You manually execute the linked test or test sets.

      • Automatically. The linked tests or test sets automatically start running at the start of the timeslot, without any manual intervention. Setting the test to start automatically enables autostart for the timeslot.

        Note: To set autostart retry settings, see Timeslot Settings Page in the ALM Lab Management Guide.

      • Recurrence. Opens the Timeslot Recurrence dialog box, enabling you to create recurring timeslot reservations. For details, see Create a recurring timeslot.

      Version Control: The last checked-in version of a test always runs, even if you have the test checked out at the start of the timeslot. In version-enabled projects, if a test scheduled to autostart contains scripts that are checked out, the autostart fails.
      Name

      A descriptive name for the timeslot.
      Test instance

      Link a performance test instance to the timeslot. By default, there is no linked test, and the selection is empty.

      You do not have to link a test to the timeslot. However, linking a test gives you the option of running the test automatically without your manual intervention.

      Note: If you make changes to the linked test (in the Performance Test Designer), the timeslot is updated automatically, and you do not need to relink the test manually. Bear in mind that changing a linked test might affect the validity of the timeslot.

      Version Control: You cannot link a test that is checked out.
      <Select a test set>

      Enables you to link a test set to the timeslot. By default, there is no linked test set, and the selection is empty.

      You do not have to link a test set to the timeslot. However, linking a test set gives you the option of running the test set automatically without your manual intervention.

      Note: If you make changes to the linked test set, the timeslot is updated automatically, and you do not need to relink the test set manually. Bear in mind that changing a linked test set might affect the validity of the timeslot.
      Vusers

      Displays the number of Vusers that are defined in the linked test.

      Note: The sum of all Vusers reserved for the requested timeslot and other timeslots must not exceed the limits specified in the project settings (Lab Settings > Project Settings), and must not exceed the number of Vusers specified in the license.

      Available: Only when a performance test has been linked to the timeslot.
      VUDs

      Displays the number of VUDs that are defined in the linked test.

      Note: The sum of all VUDs reserved for the requested timeslot and other timeslots must not exceed the limits specified in the project settings (Lab Settings > Project Settings), and must not exceed the number of VUDs specified in the license.

      For details about VUDs, see Performance Center licenses overview.

      Available: Only when a performance test has been linked to the timeslot.
      Duration

      The duration of the timeslot, in hours and minutes.

      Note: A timeslot can be reserved for a minimum of 15 minutes and maximum of 480 hours (20 days).
      Start/End Time

      The date and time (in hours and minutes) that the timeslot starts and ends.

      Add Automatch LG

      Opens the Add Automatch Load Generators dialog box, enabling you to select automatch load generators with specific properties for the timeslot. For details, see Add Automatch Load Generator dialog box.

      Note: Timeslots must include at least one load generator (automatch or specific).

      Add Specific LG

      Opens the Add Specific Load Generator dialog box, enabling you to select specific load generators for the timeslot. For details, see Add Specific Load Generator dialog box.

      Note: Performance Test timeslots must include at least one load generator (automatch or specific).

      Edit

      Enables you to edit the selected request.

      Remove

      Removes the selected load generators.

      Note: You can change the selected Controller, but you cannot delete it.
      Post run action

      The action to be taken when the test run is complete.

      If the system administrator has set the post-run action, the selected action will be set as the only option for all tests across the project, and you will not be able to change the setting.

      If the system administrator has not set the post-run action, select one of the following the actions:

      • Collate. When the run has finished, the run results are collected from all the load generators. This is recommended because collation of results takes only a few minutes, and can prevent loss of or inaccessibility to results in case any of your load generators becomes unavailable.

      • Collate and Analyze. When the run has finished, the run results are collected and analyzed. Data analysis requires some time, depending on the size of the results file. If there is no timeslot available to include the data analysis, then select the Collate option instead, and run late Analysis when a data processor becomes available. You run late Analysis from the Results tab.

      • None. Frees the machines immediately after the performance test ends. When the run has finished, the run results are left on the load generators. You can analyze the results at a later stage from the Results tab.

      Note:

      • This feature controls the action performed immediately after the run ends. It does not prevent collating or analyzing results from the Test Runs page at a later time.

      • If you have reserved timeslots and the administrator subsequently changes the post-run action to one that conflicts with your post-run action setting, Performance Center will not enforce or modify the setting in these timeslots.

  3. Verify availability of requested resources

    Do one of the following:

    • (Recommended) Click Calculate Availability. The system checks the availability of the requested resources. The results of this calculation are displayed in the Timeslot Status tab and graphically on the resource availability timeline.

      If the timeslot cannot be reserved, consider the reasons displayed in the Timeslot Status tab when reselecting your resources. See the Pool and Project tab for pool details and project limits related to the timeslot.

      Note: For details about timeslot failure, see the ALM Help Center: How to Work with AUT Environments.

    • Click Submit to save the timeslot. The system calculates the availability of the requested resources during the selected timeslot. If all of the resources are available, the Add New Timeslot dialog box closes and the timeslot is reserved and displayed in the Timeslots page. If the timeslot cannot be reserved, the reasons are displayed in the Timeslot Status tab.

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Create a recurring timeslot

A recurring timeslot repeats on a regular basis (for example, on a daily or weekly basis).

  1. Prerequisites

    Recurring timeslots must be enabled by the administrator in Performance Center Administration. For details, see Enable recurring timeslots.

  2. Create a recurring timeslot reservation

    1. Create a timeslot as described in Create a timeslot.

    2. After entering the details of a timeslot, click Recurrence to open the Timeslot Recurrence dialog box.

    3. Select the frequency — Daily, or Weekly — that you want the timeslot to recur, and then select the number of occurrences (between 2 and 30).

    4. Click OK.

  3. Performance Center generates a report showing the occurrences that were successfully created, and any that failed to be created due to a timeslot conflict.

    For any failed occurrences, you can adjust the start/end time, frequency, and occurrences of the recurring timeslot reservation, or manually create new timeslot reservations.

    When deleting a timeslot that belongs to a series of recurring timeslots, choose whether you want to delete the selected occurrence or the entire series.

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See also: