LoadRunner was pioneered by mercury in 1999 as a performance test tool. HPE later acquired LoadRunner in 2006. In 2016 LoadRunner was acquired by microfocus. LoadRunner supports various development tools, technologies, and communication protocols. It is the only tool in the market that can support many protocols for conducting performance testing. Performance test results produced by LoadRunner software are used as a benchmark against other tools.
Why LoadRunner?
LoadRunner is also an industry leader in the performance testing paradigm and is not only an innovator in performance analysis. LoadRunner has a market share of around 85 per cent in the performance testing business in a recent assessment. LoadRunner supports RIA, Web 2.0 (HTTP/HTML, Ajax, Flex and Silverlight, etc.), Mobile, SAP, Oracle, MSSQL Server, Citrix, RTE, Mail and above all, Windows Socket. Windows Sockets are available on a large number of different sites. No competition platform on the market can deliver too many protocols that are integrated into a single tool. What is more compelling to choose LoadRunner in software testing is the credibility of this platform.
As many times as we can find customers who check our performance standards through LoadRunner, LoadRunner has long built a reputation. If we use LoadRunner for our performance checking needs, we will be relieved. LoadRunner Software is closely compatible with other HP Applications such as QTP & ALM, which allows us to execute the final testing procedures. Software for NeoLoad vs. LoadRunner is integrated with other HP Tools. This LoadRunner tutorial operates on a directory of the emulation of the program for simulated users. These virtual users often call themselves VUsers, copy customer requests and anticipate an adequate reply to the transaction.
What is LoadRunner Architecture?
In general, HP LoadRunner’s architecture is complex and yet easy to comprehend. Let’s assume we are assigned to check the performance of Amazon.com for 5000 users. All those 5000 users are not on the homepage but a separate part of the websites in a real-life scenario.
VUGE
The VUGene or Virtual User Generator is an IDE or a rich coding editor. Using VUGen, the loading system (SUL) behavior is replicated. VUGene offers a “binding” to/from Client and Server communication in the form of a coded script – known as VUser script.
Controller
After the completion of a VUSer script, the controller is one of the key LoadRunner control components for the Load simulation, for example:
- How many users simulate per VUser group or business process
- VUsers’ actions (ramp up, ramp down, simultaneous or concurrent nature etc.)
- Load scenario nature, e.g. real-life or objective Oriented or checked by SLA
- How many VUsers against each injector should I use?
- The periodic collapse of findings
- Spoofing of IP
- Reporting of errors
- Reporting of transactions etc.
Agents Machine/Load Generators/Injectors
HP LoadRunner controllers are responsible for simulating thousands of VUsers, for example, processors and memory, so that the computer that simulates them has a limitation. In the same system (with controller), the controller simulates these VUsers and may not be accurate with the results. Both VUsers, including Load Generators or Load Injectors, can be distributed through different machines to deal with this.
In general, the controller resides on another computer and load from other machines is simulated. Several load injectors may be needed for complete simulation, depending on the protocol of VUser scripts and system requirements. E.g., HTTP-script VUser requires a 2-4MB simulation for a VUser, so that a load of 10,000 VUsers is simulated on four machines, each with a 4GB RAM.
Analysis
When loading scenarios are performed, LoadRunner plays the role of “analysis” elements. During execution, the controller generates a dump of raw results and gives details such as the LoadRunner version and its results. All errors and exceptions are recorded in the output.mdb database of Microsoft access. The “Research” part reads and generates graphs from this database file.
Downloading and Installing Free Community Edition of HP LoadRunner
Below is the step-by-step process for installing the LoadRunner community edition. Vugencomes bundled in the community edition. Microfocus has now taken over the load runner tool. Installation of LoadRunner software is a two-step process. We will be covering the step-by-step process for downloading and installing HP LoadRunner for free.
Download LoadRunner
Below are the steps of downloading LoadRunner:
- Step 1
Open https://www.microfocus.com/en-us/signup, enter data and click sign up.
- Step 2
On the next screen, we will see a message that registration was successful.
- Step 3
Check the inbox and confirm the mail.
- Step 4
enter the email and click continue after opening the login page.
- Step 5
Enter the password and click on the sign-in button on the next screen.
- Step 6
We will then be taken to our dashboard, where we will click the download button for downloading LoadRunner’s latest version for free.
- Step 7
We will click on the HPE LoadRunner 12.55 community edition on the next screen.
- Step 8
Now the procedure to download the HP LoadRunner tool will start.
Installing LoadRunner
Below are the steps of installing LoadRunner:
- Step 1
In the and zipped folder, click on HP LoadRunner.
- Step 2
Click on the install button for LoadRunner installation after selecting the destination folder.
- Step 3
The installation process will start now.
- Step 4
In the next screen, select Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 redistributable package and click on the Ok button once the installation is done.
- Step 5
Now Microsoft visual C++ 2010 redistributable setup installation will start.
- Step 6
Select on LoadRunner in the welcome screen and click on the Next button once dependency installation is complete.
- Step 7
Select all checkboxes and click on the Next button on the next screen.
- Step 8
Click next after choosing the destination folder.
- Step 9
Click on the install button on the next screen.
- Step 10
Click on allow access in the windows firewall shows up.
- Step 11
Unselect option LoadRunner agent and click Next in the next screen
- Step 12
Select HR network virtualization in the next screen.
- Step 13
Now the installation will start.
- Step 14
Finally, we will be able to see the license details.
- Step 15
Select restart now on the next screen.
- Step 16
Click on the LoadRunner icon on the desktop for starting MicroFocus LoadRunner after reboot.