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37 Most Common LoadRunner Interview Questions and Best Answers

Posted In | Automation Testing, Interview Questions, Performance Testing | Last Updated: "January 31, 2018"

In the past tutorials, we have seen the basics of Performance testing and LoadRunner video tutorials. This article is going to focus on
the most important commonly asked LoadRunner interview questions and answers that will help you be successful in
performance tester’s interview using LoadRunner.

LoadRunner is one of the best-licensed Performance testing tools in the market. It is best suited for most upcoming technologies
because of the wide range of supported protocols.

A few basic pointers before we begin:

#1) LoadRunner interview questions can be categorized into 3 main types – Scripting, Execution and Analysis. It is important for
beginners to focus more on the scripting part.

#2) Http/HTML is mostly used protocol, for a start try to perfect this protocol.

#3) Be sure to know the exact version of LoadRunner that you worked on. In case of work experience with a previous version, try
to keep yourself updated with the features that are part of the newer/current versions.

#4) Performance Testing interviews are more practical than they used to be. Scenario oriented questions are common rather than straightforward ones. Some companies, even make
scripting tests a part of the interview process. So, be prepared for the same.

#5) Even in scripting, it is preferred that you be able to customize code, instead of just record and replay.

#6) Expect questions on – think time, transactions, comments, recording options, runtime settings, etc. – these are to test your knowledge of scripting best practices.

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The following are some of the performance testing interview questions that will need some experience to answer. Try to keep these questions in mind while working on your performance
test projects, so the interview preparation activity becomes a continuous process.

1. What are the different scripting issues you faced so far?

2. What are the performance bottlenecks that you found in projects you were working? What are the recommendations made to overcome those issues?
3. Have you applied Little’s law in your project? If so, how?
4. What is your approach for analysis?
5. What do you monitor while execution?
6. How to extract server data for test execution and how to analyze that?
7. How to identify performance bottlenecks?

Key question areas are:

Challenges that you face during scripting

Correlation function
Error handling
Different recording modes for Web HTTP/HTML protocol.
Scenario creation
Challenges during execution
Analysis

See also => Performance Testing with LoadRunner

Below we provided few common LoadRunner interview questions and answers to them. However, please note that the best results can be achieved by providing answers based on
your exposure, expertise and interpretation of the concepts. Learning just the answers to questions is not always optimum. Practice, Learn and Expert – this should be your approach
for performance testing interview preparation.

LoadRunner Interview Questions and Best Answers

Q #1. What is the difference between Performance testing and Performance engineering?
Ans => In Performance testing, testing cycle includes requirement gathering, scripting, execution, result sharing and report generation. Performance Engineering is a step ahead of
Performance testing where after execution; results are analyzed with the aim to find the performance bottlenecks and the solution is provided to resolve the identified issues.

Q #2. Explain Performance Testing Life Cycle.

Ans => Step 1: System Analysis (Identification of critical transaction)
Virtual User Generator
Step 2: Creating Virtual User Scripts (Recording)
Step 3: Defining Users Behavior (Runtime setting)
LoadRunner Controller
Step 4: Creating Load Test Scenarios
Step 5: Running the Load Test Scenarios and Monitoring the Performance
LoadRunner Analysis
Step 6: Analyzing the Results

Refer Performance Testing Tutorial #2 for more details.

Q #3. What is Performance testing?

Ans => Performance testing is done to evaluate application`s performance under load and stress conditions. It is generally measured in terms of response time of user’s action on an
application.

Q #4. What is Load testing?

Ans => Load testing is to determine if an application can work well with the heavy usage resulting from a large number of users using it simultaneously. The load is increased to simulates
the peak load that the servers are going to take during maximum usage periods.

Q #5. What are the different components of LoadRunner?

Ans => The major components of LoadRunner are:
VUGen- Records Vuser scripts that emulate the actions of real users.
Controller – Administrative center for creating, maintaining and executing load test scenarios. Assigns scenarios to Vusers and load generators, starts and stops loading tests.
Load Generator – An agent through which we can generate load
Analysis – Provides graphs and reports that summarize the system performance

Q #6. What is the Rendezvous point?

Ans => Rendezvous point helps in emulating heavy user load (request) on the server. This instructs Vusers to act simultaneously. When the vuser reaches the Rendezvous point, it waits for
all Vusers with Rendezvous point. Once designated numbers of Vusers reaches it, the Vusers are released. Function lr_rendezvous is used to create the Rendezvous point. This can be
inserted by:

1. Rendezvous button on the floating Recording toolbar while recording.

2. After recording Rendezvous point is inserted through Insert> Rendezvous.

Q #7. What are the different sections of the script? In what sequence do these sections run?
Ans => LoadRunner script has three sections vuser_init, Action and vuser_end.
vuser_init has requests/actions to login to the application/server.
Action has actual code to test the functionality of the application. This can be played many times in iterations.

Vuser_end has requests/actions to login out the application/server.

The sequence in which these sections get executed is vuser_init is at the very beginning and vuser_end at the very end. The action is executed in between the two.

Q #8. How do you identify which protocol to use for any application?
Ans => Previously Performance tester had to depend much on the development team to know about the protocol that application is using to interact with the server. Sometimes, it also used
to be speculative.
However, LoadRunner provides a great help in form of Protocol Advisor from version 9.5 onwards. Protocol advisor detects the protocols that application uses and suggest us the possible
protocols in which script can be created to simulate the real user.

Q #9. What is a correlation? Explain the difference between automatic correlation and manual correlation?
Ans => Correlation is used to handle the dynamic values in a script. The dynamic value could change for each user action (value changes when action is replayed by the same user) or for
different users (value changes when action is replayed with a different user). In both, the cases correlation takes care of these values and prevents them from failing during execution.

Manual Correlation involves identifying the dynamic value, finding the first occurrence of dynamic value, identifying the unique boundaries of capturing the dynamic value, writing
correlation function web_reg_save_param before the request having the first occurrence of dynamic value in its response.

Automated correlation works on predefined correlation rules. The script is played back and scanned for autocorrelation on failing. Vugen identifies the place wherever the correlation rules
work and correlate the value on approval.

Refer this tutorial for more details.

Q #10. How to identify what to correlate and what to parameterize?

Ans => Any value in the script that changes on each iteration or with the different user while replaying needs correlation. Any user input while recording should be parametrized.

Q #11. What is parameterization & why is parameterization necessary in the script?

Ans => Replacing hard-coded values within the script with a parameter is called Parameterization. This helps a single virtual user (vuser) to use different data on each run. This simulates
real-life usage of an application as it avoids server from caching results.

Refer this tutorial for more details.

Q #12. How you identify Performance test use cases of any application?
Ans => Test cases/Uses cases for Performance test are almost same as any manual/functional testing test cases where each and every step performed by the user is written. The only
difference is that all manual test cases can’t be Performance testing use cases as there are few criteria for the selection as:

I. The user activity should be related to the critical and most important functionality of the application.
II. The user activity should be having a good amount of database activity such as search, delete or insert.
III. The user activity should be having good user volume. The functionality having less user activity is generally omitted from Performance testing point of view. e.g admin account
activity.

Any of the manual test cases that fulfil the above criteria can be used as performance testing use case/test case. If manual test cases are not written step by step, Performance team should
create dedicated documents for them.

Q #13. While scripting you created correlation rules for automatic correlation. If you want to share the correlation rules with your team member working on the same
application so that he/she can use the same on his workstation, how will you do that?
Ans => Correlation rules can be exported through the .cor file and the same file can be imported through VuGen.

Q #14. What are different types of vuser logs which can be used while scripting and execution? What is the difference between these logs? When you disable logging?
Ans => There are two types of Vuser logs available –Standard log and Extended log. Logs are key for debugging the script. Once a script is up and running, logging is enabled for errors
only. Standard log creates a log of functions and messages sent to the server during script execution whereas Extended log contains additional of warnings and other messages. Logging is
used during debugging and disabled while execution. Logging can be enabled for errors in that case.

Q #15. What is the Modular approach of scripting?

Ans => In Modular approach, a function is created for each request (e.g. login, logout, save, delete, etc.) and these functions are called wherever required. This approach gives more
freedom to reuse the request and saves time. With this approach, it is recommended to work with web custom request.

Q #16. What are the different types goals in Goal-Oriented Scenario?

Ans => LoadRunner has five different types of goals in Goal-Oriented Scenario. These are:

The number of concurrent Vusers

The number of hits per second
The number of transactions per second
The number of pages per minute
The transaction response time

Q #17. How is each step validated in the script?

Ans => Each step in the script is validated with the content on the returned page. A content check verifies whether specific content is present on the web page or not. There are two types of
a content check which can be used in LoadRunner:
Text Check- This checks for a text/string on the web page
Image Check- This checks for an image on a web page.

Q #18. How is VuGen script modified after recording?

Ans => Once the script is recorded, it can be modified with the following process:
Transaction
Parameterization
Correlation
Variable declarations
Rendezvous Point
Validations/Checkpoint

Q #19. What is Ramp up and Ramp Down?

Ans => Ramp up- Rate at which virtual users add to the load test
Ramp Down- Rate at which virtual users exit from the load test.

Q #20. What is the advantage of running the Vuser as the thread?

Ans => Running vusers as thread helps generate more virtual users from any machine due to small memory print of the vuser running a thread.

Q #21. What is wasted time in VuGen Replay log?

Ans => Waste time is never performed by any browser user and just the time spent on the activities which support the test analysis. These activities are related to logging, keeping record
and custom analysis.

Q #22. How do you enable text and image checks in VuGen?

Ans => This can be done by using functions web_find (for text check) and web_image_check (for image check) and enabling image and text check from runtime setting.
Run Time Setting–>Preference–>Enable the Image and text check box.

Q #23. What is the difference between web_reg_find and web_find?

Ans => web_reg_find function is processed before the request sent and is placed before the request in the VuGen script whereas a web_find function is processed after the response of the
request come and is placed after the request in VuGen script.

Q #24. What are the challenges that you will face to script the step “Select All” and then “Delete” for any mail account?
Ans =>, In this case, the post for “Select All” and “Delete” will change every time depending on the number mails available. For this the recorded request for the two should be replaced
with the custom request and string building is required to build the post. (Note- This question needs practical knowledge. So please this practically and formulate your answer).

Q #25. What is a difference between pacing and think time?

Ans => Pacing is the wait time between the action iterations whereas thinking the time is a wait time between the transactions.

Q #26. What is the number of graphs you can monitor using Controller at a time? What is the max of them?
Ans => One, two, four and eight graphs can be seen at a time. The maximum number of graphs can be monitored in at a time is 8.

Q #27. You have an application which shows the exam results of the student. Corresponding to name of each student its mentioned whether he passed or failed the exam with
the label of “Pass” and “Fail”. How will you identify the number of passed and failed student in VuGen script?
Ans => For this text check is used for the web page for the text “Pass and “Fail”. Through the function web_reg_find, we can capture the number of texts found on the web page with the
help of “SaveCount”. SaveCount stored the number of matches found. For example-

1 web_reg_find("Text=Pass",
2 "SaveCount=Pass_Student",
3 LAST);
4 web_reg_find("Text=Fail",
5 "SaveCount=Fail_Student",
6 LAST);

Q #28. During the load test, what is the optimum setting for Logs?
Ans => For the load test log level is set to minimal. This can be achieved by setting the log level to the standard log and selecting the radio button “Send a message only when an error
occurs”.

Q #29. How will you handle the situation in scripting where for your mailbox you have to select any one mail randomly to read?
Ans => For this we will record the script for reading the first mail. Try to find what is being posted in the request to read the first mail such as mail ids or row no. From the post where a list
of emails is reflecting, we will try to capture all the email ids row no with correlation function and keeping Ordinal as All i.e. ORD=All. Replace the requested email id in the read post with
any of the randomly selected email id from the list of captured email ids.

Refer this Scripting Tutorial.

Q #30. What is the Think Time? What is the Threshold level for think time and how can be this changed?
Ans => Think time is the wait time inserted intentionally between the actions in the script to emulate real user`s wait time while performing an activity on the application. The Threshold
level for Think time in the level below which recorded think time will be ignored. This can be changed from Recorded options->Script->Generate think time greater than the
threshold.

Q #31. How is Automated Correlation configured?

Ans => Any setting related to Automated Correlation can be done by General Options->Correlation. Correlation rules are set from Recording options->Correlations.

Q #32. How do you decide the number of load generator machine required to run a test?
Ans => Number of load generator required totally depends on the protocol used to create the script and configuration of the load generator machine. Each protocol has different memory
print and this decides how many virtual users can be generated from the give configuration of the machine (load generator).

Q #33. What are the capabilities exactly you look for while selecting the performance testing tool?
Ans => Performance testing tool should capable of:-

Testing an application built using multiple technologies and hardware platforms.

Determine the suitability of a server for testing the application
Testing an application with a load of tens, thousand and even thousands virtual users.

Q #34. How are concurrent users differing from simultaneous users?

Ans => All simultaneous users are concurrent users but vice versa is not true.
All the vusers in the running scenario are Concurrent users as they are using the same application at the same time but may be or may not be doing the same tasks. Simultaneous users
perform the same task at the same time. Concurrent users are made Simultaneous users through rendezvous points. Rendezvous points instruct the system to wait till a certain number of
vusers arrive so that they all can do a particular task simultaneously.

Q #35. How do you identify which values need to be correlated in the script? Give an example.
Ans => This can be done in ways:
a) Record the two scripts with similar steps and compare them using WDiff utility. (See tutorial Correlation).
b) Replay the recorded script and scan for correlation. This gives a list of values that can be correlated.

Session Id is a good example of this. When two scripts are recorded and compared using WDiff utility. Session ids in the two scripts should be different and WDiff highlight these values.

Q #36. How does caching affect performance testing results?

Ans => When data is cached in server`s memory, the server need not fetch the result and no server activity triggered. Test result does not reflect the same performance of real user using the
application with different data.

Q #37. How will you stop the execution of a script on error?

Ans => This can be achieved through lr_abort function. The function instructs the vuser to stop executing Action section and end the execution by executing the vuser_end section. This
function is helpful in handling a specific error. This can also be used to handle a situation rather than error where execution is not possible. The function assigned “Stopped” status to the
vuser which stopped due to lr_abort function. In Run-Time setting, “Continue on error” should be unchecked.

Over to you

We hope this huge compilation of LoadRunner interview questions with answers will prove useful to you all.

At STH, we always profess the importance of fundamentals. Same is true to succeed in the performance test professional as well. However, we wish that this performance testing
interview questionnaire will be an instrumental reference point for all of you aspiring to find or advance in a performance testing career using LoadRunner.

Wish you all the very best!

If you have more questions, please feel free to ask us in the comments below.

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55 comments ¯

#1 Anjali Mone

This is pretty useful for LR interviews. thanks for the detailed answers.

#2 Munander

Really helpful. Thank u so much for sharing such a great stuff.

#3 anil

thank you very much sir…

#4 Naveen

can you post some Manual testing Question with Answer please.

#5 Rohit

Very much useful and informative questions.

#6 Jagdeesh

Simultaneous and Concurrent definition is wrong. It should be in reverse. Concurrent is – each user using the same application and doing the same task.

#7 Chandra

Very usefull

#8 prashant

Excellent!!! much needed.. Thanks a lot…

#9 sushil

Can you provide text tutorial for all the major topics like 1. correlation, 2. parameterization, 3. controller 4. analysis ?

That will be helpful.

Also can you please provide interview questions on controler and analysis part specifically ?

Sushil

#10 Karthikkumar.R

Great. But the definition of concurrent and simultaneous is wrong. Concurrent- Doing the same task at the same time. Simultaneous- Doing different task at different time. because ,
each we are not using Rendezvous point here, so some uvser will get the thread soon and will finish the task earlier. And does not wait for the next vuser.

#11 umesh

Its very good

#12 Ravi

Excellent…!Much Needed…!Expecting to share Server Resources…!

#13 vamsee

thanks these are much use full.can you give more about analysis?it will help more.

#14 Shwetha

Very Helpful…thanks a lot

#15 Prakhar

Question are useful..!

some question
1) what is difference between schedule by scenario and schedule by group ?
2) How to check for memory leaks in application ?

#16 Vaibhav

Prakhar,

When you need to apply similar settings to more than one script you create a group and run those. This is helpful for stress testing where you actually involve a group to perform few
actions first and then you add one more group etc.

For Memory leaks, please do an endurance test.

#17 Andrei Casas

What are the elements of a LoadRunner scenario and how do you choose a scenario?

#18 Dinesh

Thanks.. It helps a lot.. Please provide real time interview questions if possible.

#19 rammohan

it is very good for new learnears thanks for your suport.

it will help full for me. i will go thorough this videos and i will get back to you once its done.

thanks,

G Rammohan

#20 Ram

Very useful material for LR interviews

#21 nagendra

can any one please tell me send me the customization/error handling in detail with example.thanks

#22 Deepak Kumar

Very Helpful…thanks a lot for Load runner Interview Question and Answer.
Can you provide Profiling,performance configuration parameter and memory check Process
document. if possible
Again Thanks a lot In Advance !!!

#23 thangam

it will be worked on functional or non functional and then what is the diff b/w F and NF

#24 sudheer

good.

#25 Debabrata

Very useful for beginners to get into the PT with more detailed view at the components of load runner. Should provide enough data to get started. Useful content.

Thanks

#26 Mohan

This is very helpfull to me………Thanks

#27 Manisha

Between manual & automatic correlation, which one is used preferred over the other?

#28 Gauri

Very Nice Compilation..!!! Answers are more in practical manner.

Thanks.

#29 santhosh

Thank you very much for this.

Is it sufficient for experience persons.

will they ask this quations only .

#30 santhosh

could you plz send me quations and answers for experience candidates(on real time). i mean what they will ask quations on real time.

#31 Haridas

very nice article…..

#32 Chetan Kaushal

Hi All,

Now a days apart from given questions which are asked indirectly, interviewer ask scenario based question to check practical approach. He try to put the problem that he faced in a
case study and expect to give a answer with detail approach. So there is no exact questions for that.

#33 mayank gurnani

Hi,
good questions… it helps new borns…

#34 Niranjan

If i run a script from VUGEN and it has 5 requests, and if 4th request fails. Then how do i troubleshoot the script.

#35 Niranjan

Timestamp in unix format?

#36 Niranjan

“Year2016”- capture 2016.

How do we capture. Any syntax for such type.

#37 Niranjan

IRCTC..book tkts for future date..What is the syntax and logic

#38 Niranjan

What might be the main reasons for failing of the requests?

#39 Harinath

How to find out network issues

I have 10 URLs? How to test the URLs in in at a time

#40 ajayreddy

thanks for you this was so much help full for me. can post most critical quation in perfomance testing

#41 Rahul Reddy

Hai ,
Tech Vision is the best “LOADRUNNER” training institute in Bangalore, provides you real-time training with six important protocols along with six monitoring and profiling tools.
Our practical, real time LOADRUNNER project scenarios training helps to work on LOADRUNNER projects. Also provides free LOADRUNNER training materials of soft copy
and hard copy to enhance your skills and practice by yourself.
Our LOADRUNNER training program helps every student to achieve their goal in LOADRUNNER career.
Contact Us:
Tech Vision
3rd Floor, ramanjaneya complex,
Tulasi theatre road, Marathahalli,
Bangalore-560037
Land line:080-42067117,080-42007811
Mobile:8050148265

#42 Nishi

Useful and very good. Thanks a lot!

#43 Rahul R Gaike

This too much USEFUL in LR,really appreciated about excellent answer given.

#44 sandy

Which is the very best institute to learn Load runner in Hyderabad. (Which supports more of Practical trainings)
-Thanks.

#45 raju

In bangalore, techvision is the best institute for loadrunner training. They will give training on 6 protocols and various monitoring and profiling tools. contact them for best practical
trianing

#46 Rajveer

I am creating a script for web application which don’t loads directly but through a macro which hits the url.
How to load test such scenario?

Thanks

#47 Manjunath

Very useful and detailed. Helped to be strong in basics of LR. Thank you!!

#48 SANNOH M.I.B

That was very helpful. Could you please help me/us with file handling on vugen script? Thanks.

#49 Jyoti Gupta

Hello

I have a question

How can we apply parameteriztion for railway booking process?

#50 JonesRay

Thanks for the useful interview question answers, As a beginner it is very helpful to know about the subject and helps me to do well during interviews, The answers explained here
are very easy to understand the subject. Thank You

#51 Priya

what is the difference between benchmark and baseline?

what is lotus?

#52 Madhuri

Very useful and easy to understand

#53 subba

what is the difference between WinInet and socket leval port mapping.

Thanks in Advance
Subba

#54 DHANALAKSHMI

Need interview Questions for Experience people and Indepth Questions and Answers

#55 VISHAL

I have attended interview at infosys and most of the questions were asked from these.

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