Creating a Detailed Performance Test Schedule

During the preparation phase of a performance testing project, it is important to provide a test schedule (normally a Microsoft project plan) to highlight the key tasks, the resource(s) tasked and their duration. This article details the key tasks that should be planned for in the Performance test schedule.

These tasks can be sub-divided into the following activities

1. Test preparation activities
2. Test setup activities
3. Test execution activities
4. Test evaluation activities
5. Test tuning activities
6. Test reporting activities

Test preparation activities

• Test Plan preparation – Define the test plan preparation steps, (i.e. test plan creation steps, test plan review and test plan sign off steps etc.) duration of each step, and the person(s) responsible for each step.
• Test Script preparation – Define the test script preparation steps, (i.e. script creation/transformation steps, script correlation/parameterisation steps, script review and script sign off steps etc.) duration of each step, and the person(s) responsible for each step.
• Test Scenario preparation – Define the test scenario preparation steps, (i.e. test scenario creation steps, test scenario review and test scenario sign off steps etc.) duration of each step, and the person(s) responsible for each step.
• Test Data preparation – Define the test data preparation steps, (i.e. test data analysis steps, test data creation steps and test data review and test data sign off steps etc.) duration of each step and the person(s) responsible for each step.

Test setup activities

• Environment setup – Define all the steps involved in the environment setup, (i.e. build environment steps, configure environment steps, prove environment steps etc.) duration of each step, and the person(s) responsible for each step.
• Tool setup– Define all the steps involved in setting up a tool, (i.e. installation steps, configuration steps, prove the tool has been set up correctly steps etc.) duration of each step, and the person(s) responsible for each step.
• Monitoring setup– Define all the steps involved in setting up the monitoring, (i.e. define what monitoring is to be used i.e. OS, Network, DB etc.) duration of each step, and the person(s) responsible for each step.

Test execution activities

• Test Execution – Define all the steps involved in the actual test execution (i.e. if you plan to have 2 test cycles in your execution phase your schedule could be something like the below)

Cycle 1

• Environment Check/Smoke Test – Define the steps involved in checking the environment/ running a smoke test (i.e. Execute the smoke test), duration of each step, and the person(s) responsible for each step.
• Cleardown the environment – Define the steps involved in clearing down the environment (i.e. cleardown the database etc.) duration of each step, and the person(s) responsible for each step.
• Start Monitoring – Define the steps involved in starting up the monitoring, duration of each step and the person(s) responsible for each step.
• Test Cycle 1 Execution – Define the steps involved in the cycle 1 execution phase (i.e. Execute Load Test, Execute Stress Test, Execute Soak Test etc.) duration of each step and the person(s) responsible for each step.
• Stop Monitoring – Define the steps involved in stopping the monitoring and retrieving the data, duration of each step and the person(s) responsible for each step.

Cycle 2

• Environment Check/Smoke Test – Define the steps involved in checking the environment/ running a smoke test (i.e. Execute the smoke test), duration of each step, and the person(s) responsible for each step.
• Cleardown the environment – Define the steps involved in clearing down the environment (i.e. cleardown the database etc.) duration of each step, and the person(s) responsible for each step.
• Start Monitoring – Define the steps involved in starting up the monitoring, duration of each step and the person(s) responsible for each step.
• Test Cycle 2 Execution – Define the steps involved in the cycle 2 execution phase (i.e. Execute Load Test, Execute Stress Test, Execute Soak Test etc.) duration of each step and the person(s) responsible for each step.
• Stop Monitoring – Define the steps involved in stopping the monitoring and retrieving the data, duration of each step and the person(s) responsible for each step.

Test evaluation activities

Define all the steps involved in the test evaluation phase, (i.e. Analyse the results for each cycle i.e. Cycle 1 – Results Analysis, Cycle 2 – Results analysis etc.) duration of each step, and the person(s) responsible for each step.

Test tuning activities 

Define the test tuning steps, (i.e. Execute and Create a baseline test for comparison purposes, Modify / Tune the system, Execute the baseline test, Compare the results of the two baseline tests etc.) duration of each step, and the person(s) responsible for each step.

Test reporting activities 

Define the test reporting steps, (i.e. daily reporting, cycle 1 reporting, cycle 2 reporting, creating and distribution of the performance test completion report, review and sign off performance completion report etc.) duration of each step, and the person(s) responsible for each step.

When creating a performance test schedule, the key activities outlined above are not an exhaustive list but should be considered and planned for.

To find out how SQA Consulting can assist you with your performance testing needs contact us.