Timeslot Reservation Dialog Box

This dialog box enables you to reserve a testing timeslot and view details of a reserved testing timeslot.

To access
  • New Testing Timeslot Reservation:

    On the ALM sidebar, under Testing, select Timeslots. Then use one of the following:

    • On the Timeslots toolbar, click the New Timeslot button.

    • Calendar view only: Double-click anywhere on the calendar, or right-click the target time and select New Timeslot.

  • Existing Timeslot Reservation:

    From Lab Management: On the sidebar, under Lab Resources, select Timeslots.

    From ALM: On the sidebar, under Testing, select Timeslots.

    Then use one of the following:

    • Grid View: Right-click a testing timeslot and select Timeslot Details.

    • Calendar view only: Right-click a testing timeslot (blue, orange, or green) and select Timeslot Details.

Important information
Relevant tasks

How to Reserve Testing Timeslots in ALM

See also

Reserving Timeslots Overview

User interface elements are described below (unlabeled elements are shown in angle brackets):

UI Elements Description
Run

Choose the type of timeslot to reserve:

  • Performance Test. Reserves resources for running a single instance of a performance test.

  • Functional Test Set. Reserves resources for running an entire functional test set.

  • Build Verification Suite. Reserves resources for running a collection of functional test sets as well as single performance tests, as defined in the Build Verification module. For details, see Build Verification Suites .

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 from the Test Lab module. For details on running tests manually, see Test Execution Overview.

  • 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, refer to Micro Focus ALM Lab Management Guide: Project Settings Details Dialog Box.

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.

Select a test instance

Enables you to link a performance test to the timeslot.

By default, there is no linked test, and the selection appears as none.

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. For details, see Automatic timeslots.

In order to link a performance test to the timeslot, an instance of the test must be included in a test set. To link the test, click none. A window displaying the Test Lab tree opens. Navigate to the performance test to link and click OK.

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.

Available for: Performance Test timeslots only.

Select a test set

Enables you to link a functional test set to the timeslot.

By default, there is no linked test set, and the selection appears as none.

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. For details, see Automatic timeslots.

To select a test set, click none. A window displaying the Test Lab tree opens. Navigate to the functional test set to link to the timeslot and click OK.

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.

Available for: Functional Test Set timeslots only.

Select a build verification suite

Enables you to link a build verification suite to the timeslot.

By default, there is no linked suite, and the selection appears as none.

You do not have to link a suite to the timeslot. However, linking a suite gives you the option of running the suite automatically without your manual intervention. For details, see Automatic timeslots.

To link a build verification suite, click none. A window displaying the Build Verification tree opens. Navigate to the build verification suite to link and click OK.

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

Version Control: You cannot link a build verification suite that contains tests that are checked out.

Available for: Build Verification Suite timeslots only.

Test

Displays the name and status of a performance test that has been linked to the timeslot.

To link a different test to the timeslot, click the test name. A window displaying the Test Lab tree opens. Navigate to the performance test to link and click OK. To unlink the test, click Clear.

For details regarding linking performance tests to timeslots, see Select a test instance above.

Available for: Performance Test timeslots only, and only when a performance test has been linked to the timeslot.

Vusers

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

To add additional Vusers, click the number field.

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 for: Performance Test timeslots only, and 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.

Available for: Performance Test timeslots only, and only when a performance test has been linked to the timeslot.

Post Run

Enables you to define the action to be taken when the performance test run is complete:

  • Collate. When the run has finished, the run results are collected from all the load generators.

    Note: To prevent loss of or inaccessibility to run data, select this option so that the results are collected immediately upon completion of the test run.

  • 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.

  • Do not collate results. 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.

Default value: Collate. Click Collate to change the selection.

Available for: Performance Test timeslots only, and only when a performance test has been linked to the timeslot.

Test Set

Displays the name and status of a functional test set that has been linked to the timeslot.

To link a different test set to the timeslot, click the test set name. A window displaying the Test Lab tree opens. Navigate to the test set to link and click OK. To unlink the test set, click Clear.

For details regarding linking test sets to timeslots, see Select a test set above.

Available for: Functional Test Set timeslots only

Build Verification Suite

Displays the name and status of a build verification suite that has been linked to the timeslot.

To link a different suite to the timeslot, click the suite's name. A window displaying the Build Verification Suite tree opens. Navigate to the suite to link and click OK. To unlink the suite, click Clear.

For details regarding linking suites to timeslots, see Select a build verification suite above.

Available for: Build Verification Suite timeslots only, and only when a suite has been linked to the timeslot.

AUT Env. Configuration

Enables you to select an AUT environment configuration for the timeslot.

By default, there is no configuration selected, and the selection appears as none.

To link an AUT Environment Configuration, click the [none] link. A window displaying the AUT Environments tree opens. Navigate to the AUT environment configuration to add and click OK.

For details regarding AUT Environments, see How to Work with AUT Environments.

Available for: All timeslots types, but only when an entity has been linked to the timeslot.

Deployment

When your system is integrated with Micro Focus Continuous Delivery Automation (CDA), these options enable you to select deployment actions for the application under test. For details on the integration between AUT environment configuration and CDA, see How to Work with AUT Environments.

ALM provides the following options for deployment:

  • Provision and deploy. Allocates machines on which to deploy the application under test, and prepares the required image so that the application can be installed. That is, the operating system, database server and all required software are installed based on CDA parameters. Following provisioning, the application under test itself is installed.

  • Redeploy. Deploys and runs the application under test environment on machines that have already been provisioned.

  • Use deployed environment. Uses an existing installation to run the test.

When you select an option, the environment name appears in blue. Click the name to change the selection.

Note:

  • When deciding which option to select, bear in mind that the provisioning and deployment actions can be very time consuming. For routine testing, it is advisable to select Use Deployed.

  • You can arrange for an environment to be deployed and available for your run. Schedule a build verification suite or test set to run for the entire day, and select the environment you want to use.

Deprovisioning

When your system is integrated with Micro Focus Continuous Delivery Automation (CDA), these options enable you to select the action to be taken after an environment has been deployed. For details on the integration between AUT environment configuration and CDA, see How to Work with AUT Environments.

ALM provides the following options for deprovisioning:

  • Leave environment deployed. Leaves the AUT environment deployed indefinitely. The deployed environment can be used for future tests.

  • Deprovision at end. After the tests have completed running, the environment is undeployed and the machines are deprovisioned, freeing them up for other use.

Duration

The duration of the timeslot, in hours and minutes.

Click the Suggested Duration icon to open the Suggested Duration dialog box. For details, see Suggested Duration Dialog Box.

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

Start Time

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

End Time

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

Edit Recurrence

Opens the Edit Recurrence dialog box, enabling you to edit the recurrence for the timeslot reservation.

Repeat:

  • Daily: The maintenance task occurs every day.

  • Weekly: The maintenance task occurs every week on the selected day.

  • Monthly: The maintenance task occurs every month on any specified days.

  • Yearly: The maintenance task occurs every year on any specified days.

Available for: Testing timeslots that start automatically.

Automatically Extend Timeslot

If enabled, the testing timeslot will be automatically extended if tests are still running when the timeslot is about to end. For the timeslot to extend successfully, the necessary testing resources must be available in the timeslot extension. For details, see Extend timeslot reservations.

Available for: Functional test sets and Build Verification Suites.

Opens the Select Automatch Load Generators/Edit Hosts dialog box, enabling you to select automatch load generators/hosts with specific properties for the timeslot. For details, see Select Automatch Load Generators/Edit Hosts Dialog Box.

Note: Performance Test timeslots must include at least one load generator (automatch or specific), and Functional Test Set or Build Verification Suite timeslots must include at least one host (automatch or specific).

Available for: New, open, or future testing timeslots

Opens the Select Specific Hosts dialog box or Select Specific Load Generator/Host dialog box, enabling you to select specific load generators/hosts for the timeslot. For details, see Select Specific Hosts Dialog Box and Select Specific Load Generators/Hosts Dialog Box.

Note: Performance Test timeslots must include at least one load generator (automatch or specific), and Functional Test Set or Build Verification Suite timeslots must include at least one host (automatch or specific).

Available for: new, open, or future testing timeslots

Enables you to edit the selected host request.

Remove. Removes selected load generators/hosts.

Note: Performance Test timeslots: You can change the selected Controller, but you cannot delete it.

Set Start Time as Now. Selects the current time in the resource availability chart.

Note: A timeslot whose start time is set to the current time opens immediately upon submitting the reservation.

Calculates the availability of the requested resources for the selected timeslot. The results are displayed graphically on the resource availability chart, and a message is displayed in the Timeslot Status tab.

The availability timeline displays all timeslots when the requested hosts can be reserved. Even if the requested hosts cannot be reserved for the selected timeslot, they may be available at other times.

<Message bar>

Located at the top of the dialog box. Displays messages and warnings about the timeslot.

Available for: Existing timeslots only.

<Resource availability timeline>

Displays the availability of requested resources on a timeline:

  • Availability not calculated. Displayed on the timeline before you calculate the availability of the requested resources for a new timeslot, or when modifying a timeslot.

    This is not displayed for Data Processing timeslots.

  • Start Times. Indicates available start times for the timeslot, when the requested resources are available.

  • Insufficient Resources. Indicates that not all the requested resources are available at the start times indicated on the timeline.

  • Unknown. Displayed before calculating the availability of the requested resources for the timeslot.

  • License/Project Limit. Indicates license or project limit issues at the start times indicated on the timeline.

    Example. More hosts requested than available in the license limit.

  • Unavailable Resource. Indicates that a requested resource is not available at the start times indicated on the timeline.

ID

The ID of the timeslot.

Requested Hosts grid

Displays the resources requested for the timeslot.

For Performance Test timeslots, an automatch Controller is selected by default. You can change this by browsing for a specific Controller.

Note: Resources that are defined as part of a linked entity's creation (such as resources that are requested for a functional test set in the Test Lab module's Required Hosts tab) are automatically displayed in the grid. These pre-selected resources are indicated by an asterisk.

Timeslot Status tab

Displays the status of the timeslot reservation.

For details about timeslot failure, see Understanding Timeslot Failure.

Description tab

Describes the currently selected timeslot.

Tip: Right-clicking in this area displays a toolbar for formatting and spell checking the text.

Additional Details tab

Displays additional details related to the timeslot.

Available for: Existing timeslots only.

Event Log tab

Displays a log of events related to the timeslot. For details, refer to the Micro Focus ALM Lab Management Guide: Event Log.

Available for: Existing timeslots only.