LoadRunner Interview Questions & Answers

1. What is Load Runner?

LoadRunner Interview Questions & Answers : Load Runner is a performance testing tool from Micro Focus, widely used for detecting performance bottlenecks in websites.

It is basically used to test the performance and behavior of a system under heavy load.

Loadrunner software can simulate several thousand clients concurrently and test the essential components of software under different conditions.

It not only helps you in testing performance but also helps in improving it.

Testing types, including Load, Stress, Endurance, Volume and Spike Testing are supported by this tool.

2. What are the advantages of LoadRunner?

Some of the advantages of LoadRunner are as follows

1. It reduces the amount of human interaction required.
2. Reduces the need for various systems.
3. Using automation as effectively as possible
4. It allows you to better utilize your time and money.

3. Explain various components of LoadRunner?

Various components of LoadRunner are as follows:

• Virtual User Generator (VuGen): VuGen captures end-user business processes and generates Vuser script (automated perforamance testing script) that emulate the actions of end-users.
  These Vuser Scripts can be used even in other Micro Focus products such as LoadRunner Cloud, Business Process Monitor, and others.
• Controller: It creates, executes, manages, and monitors the load tests.
• Load Generator: It is used to generate load.
• Analysis: It is used to view, interpret, and compare the results of the load tests.

4. Explain Performance Testing Life Cycle?

• Step 1: Perform system analysis and identify critical transactions
  Virtual User Generator
• Step 2: Create virtual user scripts
• Step 3: Define users behavior
  LoadRunner Controller
• Step 4: Create load test scenarios
• Step 5: Run the load test scenarios and monitor the performance
  LoadRunner Analysis
• Step 6: Analyze the results

5. Name the protocols supported by LoadRunner?

Protocols supported by LoadRunner are as follows.

• .NET Record / Display
• Database
• DCOM
• GUI
• Java Record and replay
• Network
• Oracle E-Business
• Remote desktop
• SAP
• SOA
• Web and Multimedia
• Wireless
• Web 2.0

6. How to run a test on LoadRunner?

• Planning the Test – includes developing a clearly defined test plan to make sure that the newly developed or the LoadRunner test scenarios can accomplish the load-testing objectives.
• Creating the Vuser scripts – involves Vuser script creation that includes various tasks performed by every Vuser performed during scenario execution.
• Creating the Scenario – this elaborates the events that take place during the client/server testing session. A scenario includes machines, scripts, Vusers, a list of Vuser scripts that the Vusers run during the scenario. Scenarios are created by using LoadRunner Controller. Manual scenarios, as well as goal-oriented scenarios, can also be created.
• Running the Scenario – Here, you can run the entire scenario, Vuser groups, or individual Vusers. Before the testing, load on the server is emulated by instructing multiple Vusers to perform the tasks at the same time.
• Monitoring the performance – Using LoadRuner online run-time, transaction resources, database resources and firewall resources can be monitored.
• Analyzing Test Results – while executing a scenario, LoadRunner records the application’s performance (client/server system) under multiple loads. Its graphs and reports are used to analyze the application’s or server’s output.

7. What component of LoadRunner can be used to record a Script?

The VuGen (Virual User Generator) component is used to record a script. It allows you to implement Vuser scripts for a variety of application types and communication protocols.

8. What component of LoadRunner is used to playback a script in multi-user mode?

The Controller component is used to playback the script in multi-user mode. This is done during a scenario run, where a Vuser Script is executed by a number of Vusers in a group.

9. What do you mean by the Rendezvous point?

Rendezvous point aids in emulating heavy user load (request) on the server.

This instructs Vusers to wait during test execution for multiple Vusers to arrive at a certain point, in order to perform multitasking.

In simple words, its a meeting point between transactions.

The significance of this is to simulate a heavy load on a small area of the scenario and observe how the application behaves.

Function lr_rendezvous is utilized to create the Rendezvous point. After script recording, it can be inserted in the script through Insert > Rendezvous.

For example, to emulate peak load on the bank application, you can insert a rendezvous point instructing 1000+ Vuser to deposit cash simultaneously.

10. What are Vusers and Vuser scripts?

Vuser:

Vusers are the replacement of human users in LoadRunner. Vusers imitate the behavior of real users by executing typical business activities in your application.

During the recording session, the actions that Vuser’s perform aare described in Vuser script. VuGen component is used to generate Vuser scripts.

Vuser Scripts:

It’s the script that controls all of the Vuser’s activities to accomplish a specific goal. When we execute a scenario, every Vuser executes a Vuser script. The application’s performance is also tracked via a function defined in the Vuser script.

11. How many types of VUsers are available in LoadRunner?

Types of Vusers in LoadRunner are GUI Vuser, DB Vuser, SAP Vuser, Web Vuser, RTE (terminal emulator), People Soft, Java, etc.,

12. What are the types of Vuser logs and state the differences?

Log files are crucial for troubleshooting the script. The logging of errors is enabled only after a script has been launched.

There are two types of Vuser logs in LoadRunner.

1. Standard Logs
2. Extended Logs

Standard Logs: During script execution, the standard log creates a log of functions and messages sent to the server.

Extended Logs: However, the extended log captures detailed execution messages including warnings and other messages. It is used during debugging.

13. How many VUsers are necessary for load testing?

For this there cannot be any generic answer.

The number of VUsers required depends on many aspects such as System Under Test (SUT), Hardware Settings, Network Configurations, Memory, OS, and Objective of the performance test.

14. What is the difference in running the Vuser as a process and as a thread?

When Vuser is run as a process, the same driver program is loaded into memory for each Vuser. This will consume a lot of RAM and restrict the number of Vusers you can execute on a single generator.

When Vuser is run as a thread, only one instance of the driver program is loaded into memory for the given number of Vusers. The multi-threading mode allows you to run more Vusers on a single generator.

15. What are the benefits of running Vuser as a thread?

The benefits of running a VUser as a thread are as follows:

Running Vusers as a thread allows for the creation of more virtual users from any memory, since the small memory print of the Vuser running a thread puts it at an advantage. 

16. What are the sections of a Vuser script?

Vugen contain the 3 section .

• Vuser-init – This should be used to record the logon.
• Action – This is used to record the business process.
• Vuser-end – This should be used to record the logoff.

17. What is the significance of “Vuser-init“ Section?

Before the application actually runs, vuser-init records the pre-operations, also known as the initialization operations.

18. What is the significance of “Action“ Section?

Action is used to record the business process (clicent activity).

19. What is the significance of “Vuser-end“ Section?

Vuser-end is used to record a log off in to the server.

20. What is Ramp up and Ramp Down?

Ramp-up:

The term “ramp up” refers to gradually increasing the amount of load on a server. Increasing the number of Vusers is an example of this. To set Ramp Up, go to ‘Scenario Scheduling Options’.

Ramp-down:

The term “ramp down” refers to gradually decreasing the amount of load on a server. Decreasing the number of Vusers is an example of this.

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