OATS: Tie All Processes Together — from OpenScript to Scenario

We have been blogging different topics on OATS since 2013.  In this article, we'll tie all processes together.

In [1], we have demonstrated how to create an open script for load testing using CRM FUSE (i.e. a Fusion application).  Assume you have done that, the next step will be testing by clicking on the  Playback button:

If the test succeeds, you should see Passed status in the Results.  Since we have hard coded user name (i.e., SALESREPUSER00001) in the Post Data step, the next step will be setting up databanks in OpenScript and then configuring scripts to use databanks.  See [2] for details.

But, before we do that,  I usually clean up steps a bit by removing steps that loaded cookies or images (i.e., png files).  In my experience, they were not useful.  Since we will migrate OpenScript file from Windows to Linux, the cookie recorded might be useless.  Also, we would like the whole zip file self-contained.  By removing image files, we don't need to worry about the dependency of script to the images (i.e., where to load them from).  Anyway, before you remove anything from the project.  Save the project and make a backup first.

After deleting steps involving either cookie or images, you need to playback steps to make sure everything still works OK.  You then proceed to iterate the test using multiple unique users.  To create databanks needed for the test, we have copied it from a previous project.  Noted there is a new folder named databanks in our new project folder (i.e., FUSE_Saleopty_oct01_wrk).

Inside the databanks folder, there are two files:

• UserName.csv
• UserName.csv.index3

You may delete the index file (i.e., UserName.csv.index3) because it will be re-generated by OpenScript later.  Inside UserName.csv, you will find the following entries:

UserName
SALESREPUSER00002
SALESREPUSER00003
SALESREPUSER00004
SALESREPUSER00005
SALESREPUSER00006

Then you follow [2] to substitute a variable for the hard coded user name (i.e., SALESREPUSER00001).  Make sure you have selected the correct csv file (i.e., the one under your new project folder).   Note that we have set up all users to share the same password in WebLogic Server. 

Now, we can test the script with multiple virtual users by clicking on "Iterate (Alt+I)" button:

Let's iterate the test for no more than 3 times:

After the testing, you then export a self-contained zip file (note that we have excluded some unnecessary data from the export):

Read [3] for more details on how to export and import scripts from Windows to Linux.  To import OpenScript into Oracle Load Testing (OLT which is run on Linux in our case), you start up OLT and select Tools > Import...

Note that when you migrate OpenScript zip file from Windows to Linux, copy it somewhere outside the $installDir/OFT folder. On the Import File dialog, open it and specify Default Repository as  your destination which is the OFT folder.

After import the OpenScript, you can find it from the Default folder (highlighted on the diagram).  If not, exit OLT and restart it.  Clicking on the script named FUSE_Saleopty_oct01_wrk, this will allow you start building a new scenario.  However, with the default setup, you can submit the scenario and start a test immediately:

Let the test run for a while and then click the same button to stop it.  Note that it will take a while before the test fully stops.  If you don't see any Failed transaction, it means your script is OK.  Then the next step is to configure parameters by selecting "Build Scenarios" tab.  This will bring you back to the window before you started the test.  For advanced editing, you can click on the "Configure all parameters" icon.  This allows you to edit scenario details.

For our tests, we have set the following:

• # VUs: 200
• VU Pacing (Think Time): Recorded/Random
• Lower: 15 (percent)
• Upper: 185 (percent)

which mean OLT will generate 200 virtual users using recorded delays, but with some variations (i.e., randomly ranged from 15% to 185% of the original delay time).  The next step is to "Set up Autopilot".  After clicking on the tab, this will allow you to control the timing and other advanced features:

In our tests, we only need to set up stop time (i.e., after 3 hours and 20 minutes).  Note that our benchmark utilizes this new scenario in a refworkload framework, which is composed of a few Linux shell scripts that drive the whole process.  For this reason, we didn't use other advanced features such as ServerStats or Scenario Profiles as shown above.

Finally, to save your new scenario, select Scenario > Save as.  Be warned that this writing is based on an old installation (i.e., OATS 12.3.0.1 Build 376) and might be a bit different from newer versions.^[4]

References

1. How to Create Load Testing Scripts Using OpenScript (Xml and More)
2. How to Configure Scripts to use Databanks in OATS (Xml and More)
3. OATS: How to Export and Import Scripts from Windows to Linux
4. Oracle Application Testing Suite
5. Auto-Correlating Session IDs in Oracle Application Test Suite (Xml and More)