Configuring Increasing Workload

  1. Click Adjust Workload on the workflow bar. The Workflow - Select and adjust Workload dialog box appears.
  2. Select the workload model Increasing.
  3. Select a user type and set the following values:
    1. Ramp-up time: Specify the initial number of virtual users (Start VUsers), the maximum number of virtual users (max. VUsers), and the number of virtual users to be added in a specific time interval (Add x per x). Based on these values, Silk Performer calculates the ramp-up time.
    2. Steady time: Specify the steady time.
    3. Ramp-down time: Specify the number of virtual users to be stopped in a specific time interval (Per x stop x).
    4. Warm-up time: During the warm-up time, Silk Performer does not measure the performance. The measuring starts after the warm-up time. Enter zero to start the measuring immediately. You can use the warm-up time to prepare the application under test for the actual load test. If you do not want to take measures during this preparation phase, you can use the warm-up time.
    5. Measurement time: Specify a measurement time. If the measurement time is set to 0, all measures taken between the warm-up time and the end of the simulation time are considered in the reports.
    6. Close-down time: When the close-down time starts, Silk Performer will stop measuring the performance. To stop the load test right after the measurement time, make sure that your warm-up and measurement times sum up to the simulation time. You can use the close-down time to shut down the application under test or to close services if you do not want to take measures during this tidying-up phase.
    Note: The sum of the Ramp-up time and the Steady time must not be shorter than the sum of the Warm-up time and the Measurement time.
    Tip: You can enter the time in the format hh:mm:ss or you can enter for example 1h12m30s. Silk Performer will automatically convert 1h12m30s into 01:12:30. If you just enter 7m, it will be converted into 00:07:00.
  4. Click Next. The Workflow - Assign Agents dialog box appears.