Traffic Profiles

You can create traffic profiles that will generate changing number of actions over an time period. When creating commands to run your test, you specify a named traffic profile instead of a fixed rate. The traffic profile will be used to generate the specified number of actions over the course of the test.

To create a traffic profile, select (check) Configuration>Global Configuration>Traffic Profile:

As with all snippets, you specify:

the instance number (you can specify multiple traffic profiles);

the source of the traffic profile:

Library (from your XML Library, an existing traffic profile snippet);

Configure Locally (configure it within the existing XML document;

Remote Configuration (the traffic profile is configured in another XML document that will be transmitted/loaded into dsTest before this document).

Give the traffic profile a unique name, as all profiles that are loaded into dsTest at the same time must be named uniquely.

If configuring locally, click on the 'View/Configure' button to configure this traffic profile.

You will be presented with the Traffic Profile Configuration Wizard, as shown below:

From this Wizard canvas, you will create a traffic profile by specifying action rate point over a specific timeframe.

The Actions/Second and Elapsed Time scales can be modified to fit your desired test scenario. Double-click on either axis and modify the scale(s) as needed:

Create your traffic profile by inserting rate points at the desired coordinates. Click on the action rate point icon in the top wizard menu and place the point at the desired coordinates. Double-click on the rate point to modify its properties:

At this point you can modify the Actions/Second, the start time of the new rate, and whether or not it will be reach gradually based upon the slope of the line between the previous rate point and the new rate point, or by step-up from the previous rate to the new rate. In the screen shot above, the new rate will be reached by gradually increasing the rate from the previous rate (0).

You can also have your traffic profile alter the test by using OM thresholds to change the rate and slope of the action.

Continue to add rate points until you have modeled your desired transaction rate changes over the desired time period.

In the screen shot above, three more rate points have been added, with the Actions/Second stepping up then gradually decreasing to a rate at which the Actions/Second will hold constant for a period of time, then step down to zero again.

Save your traffic profile configuration by clicking on the 'Update Configuration' button. You will be returned to the Workspace window of your configuration now showing a graphical representation of the traffic profile just created.

From this point, you can create more instances of traffic profiles, or continue with your overall dsTest configuration.

Later, after you have finished your entire configuration and are ready to execute commands to run the test, you will use the name of the traffic profile(s) create to indicate how the test is to be executed. Refer to Working with the Command Wizard for more information on creating commands.

Rate Cycles

Portions of the traffic profile can be set up to iterate during the test.  Designate the cycle by selecting the 'Rate Cycle' icon in the wizard menu and enclose the set of rate points that will make up the rate cycle. Double-click on the rate cycle box border to open a dialog that allows you to specify the number of iterations desired for the rate cycle.

In the screen shot above, the middle two rate points make up a rate cycle that will be iterated through the number of times specified.

By using the side handles on the rate cycle box, the cycle can be moved left or right to modify the placement of the rate cycle over the test period.

In addition to the functions specified above, the wizard also allows you to:

Display grid lines on the wizard canvas;

Take a snapshot of the traffic profile for documentation purposes;

Display the entire traffic profile configuration including the rate cycles;

Delete elements from the traffic profile.