Create a testing environment using PAL

This task describes how to work with PAL to create a testing environment similar to your real production environment.

1. Prerequisites
   

   Create a data set based on production data benchmarks.

   For information on how to create data sets using IIS W3C, Google Analytics, Webtrends, Apache, or RUM, see Create PAL data sets.

   For information on how to create APM data sets, see Create PAL data sets from APM.

2. Open PAL
   

   From the Performance Center navigation toolbar, click and select PAL (under Applications).

3. Import production data

   1. In the Data Set tab, select a data set folder and click Import. The Upload Production Data Set Dialog Box opens. For user interface details, see Upload Production Data Set dialog box.

   2. Upload the data set file. The data file is stored as a .zip file.

4. Create the scenario analysis

   1. Start scenario analysis.

      1. In the Data Set tab, select your data set.

      2. In the Scenario tab, click Start Scenario Analysis. PAL samples the data set and displays a suggested scenario.

         Note: Scenario Analysis supports the following data set types: IIS W3C, Apache, and RUM.

         To analyze Google Analytics, Webtrends and BSM data sets, create a PAL report. For details, see the Run the performance test step.

   2. Adjust your scenario.

      Review your business flows and adjust your coverage as needed. For user interface details, see Data Sets - Scenario Sub-tab.

   3. Assign business flows to scripts.
      • To assign a business flow to an existing script, hover over it and click . The Assign Script dialog box opens. Select a script and click OK.

      • To assign a business flow to a new script, hover over it and click to download a template script. Edit the script in VuGen and upload it to Performance Center. For more details on editing scripts, see the Virtual User Generator Help Center. For more details on uploading scripts, see Manage scripts.

        In PAL, select the business flow to assign it to your new script, click . The Assign Script dialog box opens. Select a script and click OK.

      • To hide a business flow, hover over it and click Hide .
      • To display a hidden business flow, hover over it and click Show .
   4. Include virtual locations in the performance test - optional (available only in RUM data sets).
      1. Click Options. For user interface details, see Data Sets - Scenario Sub-tab.
      2. In the Location tab, select Include locations as part of the test. For more details on working with NV, see Network Virtualization integration.
   5. Create the performance test.
      1. In the Scenario tab, click Create Test to create a performance test. The Create Test dialog box opens. For user interface details, see Create a test.
      2. In the Performance Test Designer window, define the performance test. For details, see Performance Test Designer window.

5. Run the performance test

   In the Performance Test Designer window, click Run Test. The Run dialog box opens. For user interface details, see Run Test dialog box.

6. Edit your PAL report

   1. Click the Reports tab and select a PAL report. For user interface details, see <Report Name> PAL report.

      Note: When creating a scenario analysis, PAL automatically creates a PAL report.

      For Google Analytics, Webtrends and BSM data sets, click New PAL Report. The Create New Performance Application Lifecycle Report Dialog Box opens. For user interface details, see Create New Performance Application Lifecycle Report dialog box.

   2. Click Add Testing Data to add the test run data to the report. For user interface details, see Data Sources tab.
   3. Click the report sub-tabs to view and compare production and performance test behavior. For user interface details, see PAL report view tabs.

   4. Based on your comparison, you can adjust your performance test to closely resemble your production and rerun your test.

7. Export the test run data

   1. Open the Test Run Pane. For user interface details, see Manage results.
   2. View the result information for the selected test run.
   3. To export your test run data, click Export PAL Data . For user interface details, see Export PAL Data dialog box.

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See also:

• PAL overview