CitraTest VU, a Automation Solution for Citrix Load Testing and Terminal Services Monitoring

Tevron
CitraTest®VU
CitraTest VU, a single test automation solution
for Citrix/Microsoft Terminal Services:
Load Testing and Application Performance Monitoring

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Load Testing for
Citrix/Microsoft
Terminal Services
Realistic and accurate load modeling in a server-
based computing environment requires a unique
approach compared to web/client-server load
testing. With applications deployed via Citrix
MetaFrame/Citrix NFuse/Microsoft Terminal
Services, no underlying controls or objects are
delivered to the client. Instead, a proprietary
protocol delivers only an image of the
application from the server out to the client GUI.
CITRATEST VU IS THE IDEAL LOAD MODELING SOLUTION
for Citrix/Terminal Services
CitraTest VU, the ideal load modeling solution for
CitraTest VU’s image
applications deployed via Citrix MetaFrame/Citrix
recognition logic allows
NFuse/Microsoft Terminal Services, can…
intelligent “synchronization”
and persistence in your
Generate 100% realistic load modeling
scenarios with varying number of “virtual users” by
Load Test scripts. Other
using automated scripts to replicate real user
tools rely on time delays
activity in the actual client GUI
between each step and
their scripts quickly fail as
Measure End-to-End application response metrics
the environment is stressed
from the real user perspective- the
actual client GUI- under different levels of virtual
and End-to-End response
user activity
times increase.
Observe and record server performance metrics

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Key CitraTest VU
Advantages
CitraTest VU uses intelligent image
recognition. Image recognition is automatically
built into every CitraTest VU script. This allows the
script to intelligently “synchronize” to the
application-under-test during playback, allowing
realistic and consistent virtual user activity.
CitraTest VU uses dynamic image searching and
does not require images to be displayed at the
same location on the screen.
The first objective in accurate load modeling for
Citrix/Terminal Services is generating realistic and
consistent Virtual User activity. CitraTest VU’s
dynamic image recognition allows the scripts to
play back repeatedly and successfully resulting in
realistic and reliable load modeling scenarios.
CitraTest VU scripts are “intelligent” and verify that
each application response is complete before
continuing to the next step, regardless of the
response latency. Other tools rely on time delays
between steps and the scripts quickly fail when
response times increase and they get “out of sync”
with the application-under-test.
runs on the client machine and is virtually non-
CITRATEST VU
invasive, adding no overhead to the client connection performance.

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CitraTest VU accurately models real world user activity by using the actual client GUI.
CitraTest VU scripts replicate any real world transaction using the actual client interface.
CitraTest VU measures the “real user experience” by gathering End-to-End response metrics directly from the
actual client GUI.
A single CitraTet VU load-modeling scenario can measure End-to-End response metrics under different levels of
virtual user activity.
CitraTest VU uses a simple, intuitive scripting language. CitraTest VU scripts are created in Visual
Basic. The scripting functions are easy to understand and translate into real user actions: ClickOnImage,
WaitForImage, Keystroke, StartTimer, etc, and the CitraTest VU scripting interface automatically generates all of
the script logic for you.
CitraTest VU’s Visual Basic scripting environment is simple, intuitive, and standard. CitraTest VU scripting
functions are easy to understand and translate to real user actions, such as Click, Verify, Type, StartTimer,
StopTimer, etc.
CITRATEST VU is a value proposition: the same scripts can be used for
both Load Testing and ongoing Application Performance Monitoring

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CitraTest VU supports any
terminal server environment.
CitraTest VU scripts support Citrix
MetaFrame, Citrix NFuse, Microsoft
Terminal Services, as well as any
client type: web, NFuse, ICA,
Terminal Services, RDP, etc.
CitraTest VU tests your
environment in the “as
delivered, as deployed” state.
CitraTest VU requires that nothing
be installed on the servers-under-
test, preserving the “as delivered, as
deployed” test environment and
valid server performance metrics
CitraTest VU offers value by
fulfilling multiple enterprise
requirements. After load
testing is finished, CitraTest VU
scripts can be used for ongoing
Service Level Agreement (SLA)
testing and Application Performance
Monitoring (APM).
CITRATEST VU is a value proposition: the same scripts can be used for
both Load Testing and ongoing Application Performance Monitoring

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CitraTest VU F.A.Q.
What terminal server based
Is CitraTest VU image searching logic
environments does CitraTest VU
position dependent”?
support?
No, it is dynamic and user configurable. As a global
All of them: Citrix MetaFrame, Citrix NFuse,
setting, CitraTest VU scripts limit screen searching to a
Microsoft Terminal Services, etc. CitraTest VU
buffer area around each image’s original location,
scripts look at images on the screen, not
which reduces resource consumption on the Load
underlying protocol, so all client types are
Machine and increases the number of VU scripts you
supported: Citrix ICA, Citrix NFuse web client,
can run. You can globally increase the buffer area,
Microsoft Terminal Services, RDP, etc.
or within individual script functions you can choose to
“search” the entire screen for the image. This would
What are the system requirements for
be the case when some aspects of your application,
the CitraTest VU Load Machine?
such as desktop icons, are not always displayed at
A Windows Server 2003 machine or Windows
the same location each time the VU script plays back.
2000 Server. As a benchmark, a dual CPU
machine with 2GB memory will generate 75
CitraTest VU scripts.
How many CitraTest VU Load
Machines will I need?
Typically 1-3 CitraTest VU Load Machines are
used, depending on what size subset of your
server farm you want to benchmark. For
example, if you use 2 CitraTest VU Load
Machines to test 3 servers-under-test, and client
side End-to-End response times become
unacceptable when approaching 150 virtual
users, your servers will support approximately
50 concurrent users each.
You can plan the number of servers you need
based on the results of a CitraTest VU Load
Modeling Scenario.

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Where do I see the Measurement
Machine response time results?
The CitraTest Measurement script records the timer
results over the duration of the load test scenario.
Response time results are stored in a results
database, which is installed with CitraTest in
Access, Oracle, MS SQL, and MySQL formats.
Predefined Crystal Reports are also installed with
CitraTest. These allow you to view Summary and
Detail results of all the response timers from the
Measurement Machine.
Can I observe server-under-test metrics
while the VU Load Model Scenario
plays back?
Yes. The Tevron Controller displays real-time
processor and memory metrics from the
server-under-test. Also, the Measurement
Machine CitraTest scripts can benchmark server-
under-test metrics during playback, from within the
script logic.
How is CitraTest VU licensed?
What is the CitraTest Measurement
The base licensing model includes:
Machine?
• CitraTest script development license
This machine is a stand-alone workstation, separate
• CitraTest VU license for X number of VU
from the Load Machine. CitraTest scripts run on this
scripts
machine and gather accurate (tenth of a second)
• Tevron Controller license
End-to-End response metrics from the real user
perspective while the Load Machine generates stress
on the server(s)-under-test.

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About Tevron
Tevron® is a global leader in APM and
Automated Testing.
Through our all encompassing customer-
centric vision and advanced
technology, our APM & Testing Solutions
allow the unique flexibility of supporting
every application across the enterprise with
one methodology delivering the ability to
test, monitor, enforce SLA's, and optimize
performance with confidence and ease.
Founded in 2001, Tevron® is a global
organization and is privately held.
Our vast and diverse range of customers
are global leaders and include companies
such as A.G. Edwards, Bank of America,
Citigroup, DaimlerChrysler, Hewlett
Packard, Siemens, Lucent Technologies,
T-Mobile, and numerous others.
TRADEMARKS: Tevron, the Tevron logo, CitraTest, CitraTest VU, and CitraTest NI are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Tevron, LLC. All other product references herein are either trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective owners.
Address: 402 Amherst Street, Nashua, NH 03063
Phone 603.595.9301
702.518.7435
Fax 603.595.9304
E-mail: sales@tevron.com, support@tevron.com
Web: www.tevron.com

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