Product Transitions from VS 2008 to VS 2010 for Load Testing

If you are currently using VS 2008, here is how I compare the products and components you use for load testing.

VS 2008

 

 

VS 2010

 

 

Description

 

 

Key differences

 

 

VS Team System Test Edition  

VS Team System Suite

VS Ultimate 2010

 

 

Client for developing load tests and web tests, running tests, and analyzing results. Enables limited “local” load generation from the same machine VS is on.

Test Edition is gone, load testing is only available in Ultimate.  

Both VS 2008 and VS 2010 limit local load generation to one core. However, VS 2010 has the addition restriction of only allowing 250 virtual users.

 

 

Visual Studio Team System 2008 Test Load Agent

Visual Studio Load Test Virtual User Pack 2010

Product required for generating load

VU Packs are installed on the controller, and can be used on any number of agents.

VU Packs are just “paper licenses” that enable load generation.

 VU Packs are tied to a controller, much like in VS 2008 Load Agent licenses were tied to the agent machine.  

Test Controller

 

 

Visual Studio Test Controller

 

 

Distributes tests to agents, manages automated test runs, centralizes data collection from agents.

In VS 2008, the test controller is free when you purchase a load agent.

In VS 2010, the test controller is free when you purchase VS Ultimate, Premium, or Test Pro. 

The 2010 test controller is used in a number of additional scenarios:

Lab management and provisioning test environment

Manages data collection agents for manual testing

Manages automated runs on Test Agents 

 

 

 

Visual Studio Test Agent

 

 

The test agent allows distributed, parallel functional and unit test execution, as well as distributed data collection. The agent is also used as a load generator in conjuction with the Virtual User Pack on the controller.

 

VUser licenses are required on the controller to generate load.

See Test Controller for additional scenarios that are enabled.

 

 

If you licensed VS Team System Test Edition 2008 or Suite 2008 under SA, you can transition your license to VS Ultimate 2010 under the SA agreement. Similarly, if you purchased load agent licenses under SA we will also provide a transition from Visual Studio Team System 2008 Test Load Agent to Visual Studio Load Test Virtual User Pack 2010. Please refer to Licensing Whitepaper, EULA and/or Product Use rights for licensing requirements.

Ed.