Consider a scenario where the first iteration involves logging into a site, saving the session's cookies to global variables. Subsequent iterations should skip the login process, utilize saved cookies, and execute REST calls. The goal is to run multiple iterations simultaneously, each starting after a specified delay, thus simulating concurrent user interactions.
One apparent challenge is the pacing settings within testing tools, which typically dictate that the next iteration starts only after the previous one completes. This limitation can hinder efforts to introduce delays between iterations. Possible Solutions are as follows.
Multiple Scripts with Shared Session Cookies:
- After the first iteration (login), save the session cookies to a file.
- Create multiple independent scripts that read from the same cookie file.
- Run these scripts simultaneously, effectively simulating concurrent users.
- This approach ensures independence between iterations, allowing for parallel execution.
Parallel Execution Tools or Frameworks:
- Explore parallel execution tools or testing frameworks designed to run multiple instances concurrently.
- Configure these tools to introduce delays between iterations, achieving the desired pacing.
- This approach provides more control over the timing of script execution.
Custom Scripting Logic:
- Implement custom scripting logic within your testing tool.
- Introduce scripting logic that simulates delays between iterations.
- This method may require a deeper understanding of the testing tool's scripting capabilities.
Achieving concurrent iterations with session persistence in performance testing may require a combination of creative scripting, external tools, or frameworks. While some testing tools have limitations in directly supporting concurrent pacing, exploring alternative solutions, such as multiple scripts with shared session data or parallel execution tools, can provide the flexibility needed to simulate real-world scenarios effectively.