Tutorial: Set up LoadGen Load & Performance Testing for Microsoft Remote Desktop and Azure RemoteApp environments

You have finished the following tutorials:

Getting started with the LoadGen Platform

Step 1: Create your Load Profile

1. Go to Testing > Load Profiles and choose New Profile.
2. Enter a name for your test.
3. Select the RDP technology card for Microsoft Remote Desktop Services and Azure RemoteApp environments.

These fields are documented in Configure load profiles.

Step 2: Add your Active Directory test users

The next step is to add the test users that you will use during your test. You need to use existing users from Active Directory; find more information Create your test users (vUsers) in Active Directory.

Adding test users is documented in Manage test users and variables.

Add one or multiple users

1. You can add one or multiple users at once.
2. Fill in the Username, Password, and NetBIOS Domain (for test users, we advise you to have the same password for the complete series).
3. Confirm to save the users.

The number of test users you can add depends on your license.

Step 3: Connect to your Microsoft Remote Desktop or Azure RemoteApp environment

1. Define how you would like to connect to your Microsoft Remote Desktop and Azure RemoteApp environments.
2. Add the server.

The RDP connection and RD Gateway steps are documented in Configure load profiles.

Remote Desktop Services Gateway settings

1. When you check RDS Gateway settings, you can add the settings of your RDS Gateway.
2. The default settings must be changed to the settings of your RDS Gateway.

The RDP connection and RD Gateway steps are documented in Configure load profiles.

Step 4: Useraction Flow (User simulation / Test script)

1. Select which Useraction Flow to use in your test. Read more about the Useraction Flow LoadGen Studio: Create a new Workload/Flow.
2. You have two options: use the example user simulation flow from LoadGen, or use a blank user simulation flow. The test script itself is authored in LoadGen Studio; choosing a blank flow guides you into the Studio flow wizard to create your own Useraction Flow.
3. We suggest you use the example user simulation flow from LoadGen.

The workload that a profile runs is managed in Manage workloads and add-in machines; the flow itself is authored in LoadGen Studio: Create a new Workload/Flow.

Step 5: Set up your LoadGen Agents

1. You need at least one LoadGen Agent to run this test. Read more about LoadGen Agents What is a LoadGen Agent?.
2. Agents are enrolled from a Launcher Appliance, or registered under Configuration > LoadGen Agents.

Registering and enrolling agents is documented in Manage test agents and Tutorial: Installation of the LoadGen Core Agent.

Step 6: Set up your Load Scenario

1. The Load Scenario determines how many users can log in at the same time and how long the gap is between two login sessions. Read more about the Load Scenario Create and manage test scenarios.
2. We advise you to choose the default settings of 1 log-in with an interval of 30 seconds (for 5 users, the total log-in duration will be 2 minutes). You can always change these settings later.

Scenario phases and their timing are documented in Create and manage test scenarios.

Step 7: Add the LoadGen Remote Desktop Server add-in

1. To run a test on Microsoft Remote Desktop Services, LoadGen needs to install the Remote Desktop Server add-in on the RD Session Host. This add-in is a very lightweight service that allows the LoadGen Agent to interact with the session (i.e., send keystrokes and mouse clicks, and receive screen and control information).

The add-in is installed on the Remote Desktop Session Host itself, not on a LoadGen Agent.

Add the LoadGen Remote Desktop add-in to your Remote Desktop Server

1. Add your Remote Desktop Services machine.
2. Add an administrative username.
3. Add your Password.
4. Add the NetBIOS Domain name.
5. Confirm to continue.

The add-in is installed on the Remote Desktop Session Host itself, not on a LoadGen Agent.

Installation of the LoadGen Remote Desktop Service add-in

1. Start the installation.
2. The Platform installs the LoadGen Remote Desktop Service on the machine you added.
3. Continue once the installation is complete.

The add-in is installed on the Remote Desktop Session Host itself, not on a LoadGen Agent.

Step 8: Add your Systems under Test machines

1. With LoadGen, you can monitor your whole IT environment and get insight into how applications perform in correlation with the performance of machines. Read more about Systems under Test Manage Systems Under Test (SUTs).
2. Add your Systems under Test machines and performance counters.

Adding systems under test and their counters is documented in Manage Systems Under Test (SUTs) and Configuration: Systems Under Test: PerfCounter Settings.

Step 9: Start your test run

1. Once your Load Profile is configured, start the run from Run Test.