Think you may be off the hook from load testing because you use Remote Desktop Service (RDS) / Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) from Microsoft (which provides a user with a graphical interface to connect to another computer over a network connection)? Think again. Your users have the same level of expectations regardless of your behind the scenes architecture, and how your applications are deployed and consumed. And there are quite a large number of RDP users out there. In fact, out of 11 million devices with open online 3389/TCP ports, roughly 4.1 million of the 3389/TCP ports are specifically speaking the RDP protocol (Source: Rapid 7, recent security scan results)
In a nutshell, a Remote Desktop Services (RDS) platform runs applications or user desktops on the server rather than on user workstations. No underlying objects or controls are delivered to the client. Instead, the RDS server sends screen images of the user desktop to the end-user workstation, and keystrokes and mouse clicks are returned to the server. This adds a new layer of complexity and challenge– since you stream your applications, many test automation tools would not work because they use object recognition methodologies. Instead you need a test automation solution that uses image recognition and visually examines the desktop, responds to changes and uses the keyboard and mouse just like a real user does. And this is exactly what CitraTest does. Use Tevron solutions for complete end-to-end testing and monitoring as outlined below
1) Build your test scripts and automate manual, functional, smoke and performance testing: Easily automate all user actions (clicking on, comparing, verifying, awaiting display images…) with minimal effort. CitraTest utilizes an advanced proprietary image recognition system to replicate the actions of an actual user and visually analyze every aspect of the desktop. Just like a user, CitraTest does not need to ‘see’ an image in the same location each time. CitraTest looks at the entire desktop and when an image needs to be clicked, it will move the mouse to the desired image and issue the appropriate mouse action, just like a user would do. CitraTest also automates keystrokes in the same way that an actual user types. The simplicity of using these 3 elements (desktop visualization, keyboard and mouse) gives CitraTest the power and flexibility to operate with any application so you can easily automate all your testing activities.
2) Test your application under load. Use CitraTest scripts and CitraTest VU to ensure readiness for peak traffic and real-world conditions for all Citrix, Remote Desktop Services & Microsoft Terminal Services environments. You can test, measure and validate application response time, at the client UI, under various controllable load levels with non-intrusive load testing. “Load generating machines” are used to generate user load against the server environment under test, while “measuring machines” actively measure response times at the client UI and gather server performance metrics on the back-end. Each CitraTest VU script executes in its own “desktop” and opens its own client connection to the server-under-test, just as a group of real users would. CitraTest VU automatically compares what it “sees” on the screen to baseline response images (created during test script development), and measures and reports response times at the client GUI to immediately identify underperforming components. Validate complex multi-step scenarios end-to-end (e.g. find item, add to shopping cart, enter credit card information and complete payment) and easily customize load levels and virtual user ramp-up times as defined in your test plans.
3) Monitor response time from a user perspective. Reuse the same CitraTest scripts and proactively monitor any application with CitraTest APM . CitraTest APM periodically executes end-to-end transactions, taking response time measurements along the way. By automating the driving of any application just like a real user, CitraTest APM can validate whether all critical aspects of an application are available and working within limits. If they are not, CitraTest APM generates a real time alert to help you find and resolve problems before your users are impacted. Screenshots are also taken when problems are identified to help you analyze root cause. Any end to end transaction can be simulated and measured in absolute values, percentages or statistical deviations to help you identify problems early on.
Are you ready to boost quality and customer satisfaction? Start testing and monitoring ALL your applications today, without any code changes or production impact! All you need is access from Windows to any target application.
See how other enterprises and global leaders rely on Tevron to ensure their application SLAs are met.
Good luck!
