Endurance testing, also known as soak testing, is a type of non-functional software testing that evaluates the performance of a system under a sustained load over an extended period. The primary goal of endurance testing is to identify issues such as memory leaks, performance degradation, and other problems that may not be apparent during shorter testing periods.
Key Objectives of Endurance Testing:
Memory Leaks: Detecting memory leaks that can cause the system to slow down or crash over time.
Performance Degradation: Monitoring the system for any decline in performance, such as increased response times or reduced throughput.
Stability: Ensuring that the system remains stable and performs consistently under continuous usage.
Resource Utilization: Analyzing how the system uses resources like CPU, memory, and disk space over time.
System Behavior: Observing the system's behavior under prolonged load to ensure it can handle real-world usage scenarios without failure.
Process of Endurance Testing:
Establish Test Environment: Set up a test environment that closely resembles the production environment, including hardware, software, and network configurations.
Create Test Plan: Develop a detailed test plan outlining the goals, parameters, methodology, and success criteria for the endurance test.
Test Execution: Execute the test by applying a continuous load to the system for an extended period, typically ranging from several hours to days or even weeks.
Monitoring: Continuously monitor the system for performance metrics, resource utilization, and any errors or failures.
Data Collection and Analysis: Collect data throughout the test and analyze it to identify any issues or bottlenecks.
Test Closure: Compile a comprehensive report detailing the findings, including any performance issues, memory leaks, and recommendations for improvement.
Tools for Endurance Testing:
Apache JMeter
LoadRunner
WebLOAD
LoadComplete
Benefits of Endurance Testing:
Identifies Long-term Issues: Helps in detecting issues that only appear after prolonged usage.
