Simulation

After a virtual service is created, you define simulation data. You can do this by manual design, or by recording real service activity in order to learn about the requests and responses of the real service. You can then use the recorded data to create data and performance models that define how the virtual service should behave during simulation.

In this topic:

Select simulation models

Before a simulation session, you can select which simulation models to use. You can simulate various scenarios:

• Use both a data model and a performance model to simulate the real service. Both data and performance are simulated, and the real service does not receive any communication.

• Turn off data simulation to let the real service respond. Only performance is simulated using one of the performance models.

• Turn off performance simulation. Response times are not affected. Only data is simulated using one of the data models.

• Simulate the unavailability of a service.

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Manage the simulation

You manage the simulation process by manipulating virtual service modes:

Learning mode	The virtual service works as a proxy to record and learn the behavior of a real service. The virtual service forwards the real communication between a client and a service. In this mode, any communication through the virtual service is added to the virtual service's simulation models.
Standby mode	The virtual service redirects requests to the real service, and redirects responses from the real service back to the client. The virtual service is not learning, and not simulating.
Simulating mode	The virtual service responds to client requests according to learned behavior. This is the main use of the virtual service, and the mode you use for testing purposes.

During learning or simulating sessions, you can monitor service behavior.

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See also:

• The Simulation Process
• Run simulations