Previously we wrote about the different types of LoadRunner licenses available. There were still a lot of questions about VUDs, so this Tech Tip aims to help people better understand this virtual user license type.

What is a VUD

A VUD is a Virtual User Day. While a virtual user day is considered a 24 hour user, 24 hours is the maximum amount of time that a Virtual User is valid.

VUDs provide a cost effective method of boosting the number of virtual users available in a performance test or set of performance tests run over period of time. In addition to the license for VUDs, a license for the LoadRunner Controller or Performance Center must be in place.

How to order VUDs

VUDs are available to any LoadRunner or Performance Center installation. Licenses can be ordered through HP or an HP Software partner like JDS Australia. The license key will be issued by HP in the same way as the other LoadRunner license types.

Configuring VUDs

Virtual User Days have an expiration time. This time can be set through HP support. Set the time for a time an hour or two after the performance tester first arrives at the office. Really, the start time should be set to a time when you are not running a test. If a performance test has been run involving VUDs, the LoadRunner Controller should be shutdown before the start/expiration time occurs.

VUDs can be used in conjunction with permanent/perpetual virtual users. There is no conflict between the two licenses. VUDs will only be expended after the all of the eligible permanent virtual users have been expended.
VUDs are activated by running a virtual user. The effect of running a virtual user is that the virtual user is decremented from the license.

Spending VUDs

Running a test with a number of VUs less than or equal to the amount on a permanent license will not result in an expenditure of any VUDs.

Poor Expenditures of VUDs

Running a test which starts before the expiration time and ends following the expiration time, results in a double charge of VUDs.

When the Controller is open, even if the test run has completed, the VUs that have been allocated to the current test will be decremented from the license at the roll over time. Therefore it is unwise to run tests on a Friday night, unless you are planning on getting to the office to turn off the controller before the start time occurs.

Wise Expenditures of VUDs

Run multiple tests in a day. Make use of the VUDs in more than one test in a day. If possible run your first test using VUDs. Analyze the results of the test, recommend and implement changes to the system under test and rerun the same test. This provides a multiple uses of the same VUDs, while testing configuration changes of the system under test. Make certain that the test scenario is closed before the expiration/start time for the VUDs ticks over.
Analysis is more important than rerunning tests with VU. Accurate identification of issues within the system returns more value than rerunning tests to confirm results. When writing the test plan take into account the VUDs and try to maximize the value of each, by stacking tests using similar quantities of VUDs which accomplish different goals.

Examples

The following examples are designed to test your knowledge of VUDs.

Scenario 1
  • Permanent Web VUs available: 200
  • Web VUDs available: 1000
  • VUD expiration/start time: 11:00

300 VU Endurance Run: Kick off test at 17:00, watch rampup and head home. Test completes at 05:00 the next day. Enter the office at 09:00. Review VUser errors through the Controller for an hour. Shutdown the controller or reset the scenario before 1059:59.

  • VUDs expended: 100
  • VUDs remaining: 900
Scenario 2
  • Permanent Web VUs available: 200
  • Web VUDs available: 1000
  • VUD expiration/start time: 11:00

300 VU Endurance Run: Kick off test at 17:00, watch rampup and head home. Test completes at 11:00 the next day. Enter the office at 09:00. Review VUser errors through the Controller for an hour. Shutdown the controller or reset the scenario after 11:00.

  • VUDs expended: 200 – although 100 remain for the rest of the day.
  • VUDs remaining: 800
Scenario 3
  • Permanent Web VUs available: 200
  • Web VUDs available: 1000
  • VUD expiration/start time: 11:00

700 VU Peak Run: Kick off test at 11:30, watch rampup and analysis of the run while running. Test completes at 14:30. Controller is shutdown or reset following the scenario completion.

  • VUDs expended: 500
  • VUDs remaining: 500
Scenario 4
  • Permanent Web VUs available: 200
  • Web VUDs available: 1000
  • VUD expiration/start time: 11:00

700 VU Peak Run: Kick off test at 11:30, watch rampup and analysis of the run while running. Test completes at 14:30. Controller is shutdown or reset following the scenario completion.
700 VU Peak Run: Make changes to the application. Kick off test at 15:00, watch rampup and analysis of the run while running. Test completes at 18:30. Controller is shutdown or reset prior to 11:00 the next day the scenario completion.

  • VUDs expended: 500
  • VUDs remaining: 500
Scenario 5
  • Permanent Web VUs available: 200
  • Web VUDs available: 1000
  • VUD expiration/start time: 11:00

700 VU Peak Run: Kick off test at 11:30, watch rampup and analysis of the run while running. Test completes at 14:30. Controller is shutdown or reset following the scenario completion.

700 VU Peak Run: Make changes to the application. Kick off test at 15:00, watch rampup and analysis of the run while running. Test completes at 18:30. Controller is not shutdown or reset prior to 11:00 the next day the scenario completion.

  • VUDs expended: 1000
  • VUDs remaining: 0 - although 500 remain available for the remainder of the day.

Please leave a comment if you still have questions about VUDs.

Tech tips from JDS

10 comments

Arjun
November 23, 2017

Hi,
While applying the licence key we are seeing the error as Invalid licence.
We have 1500 VUDs but we want to go with 300 user test .Could any one let me know how to proceed.

Thanks,
Arjun

Jillian Hunter
Jillian Hunter
November 23, 2017

Hi Arjun,

It sounds like the license key may have been issued incorrectly – did you order the license directly from HP/Microfocus or through a partner? If you ordered through JDS, please email us at support@jds.net.au and we will be able to contact licensing on your behalf. Otherwise, you will need to contact your HP/Microfocus representative directly and request a new license key.

Thanks,
Jill Hunter

Arjun
November 24, 2017

Hi Jil,
We directly ordered from HP.They have given the one licence key ,while applying we got it invalid licence and 2nd time also same issue in the last week.
Even I tried applying the licence in other hosts but i know that is not a good practice.I thought of giving a try.

Jesús García
November 30, 2016

Sorry but, can anybody answer to my question?

Thank you in advance! :)

Jesús García
November 7, 2016

Hello!

I have some questions:

1 – When you speak about “Controller is not shutdown or is shutdown”, are you talking about the Controller LoadRunner process or the Computer which has the Controller LoadRunner installed?

2 – The VUD expiration/start time is the time that appears in the low part of the LoadRunner License Utility window? Which appears a message like this: “VUDs will begin at HH:mm” ?

3 – I have the Community License (50 VUD) and Global License (1000 VUD). If I run a scenario where there are going to be used 400 VUD, but because of a mistake in my scripts I have to stop it; the license takes all the VUDs or only the ones which have init or action?

4 – I have one doubt about the use of the license, I will put one case:

· Community License (License type is Permanent): 50 VU
· Global License: 1000 VUD
· VUD expiration start/end time: 01:00

400 VU Peak Run: At 01:00 of 01/05/2016 it runs a disatended test, at 05:00 the test finished and the Controller (Machine) has shutdown at 05:30.
68 VU Peak Run: At 00:00 of 02/05/2016 the scenario runs another disatended test. At 03:00 the test finished and the Controller (Machine) shutdown at 03:30.

How many VUD’s have been expended? How many are remained?
LoadRunner takes first 18 VUDs from the first test of 400 VUDs and them takes another 18 VUDs?

Thank you in advance!

Daniel Spavin
Daniel Spavin
November 8, 2016

Hi Jesús,

1. Here we’re talking about the Controller LoadRunner process. The computer can still be turned on, but you should exit the Controller program to avoid using further VUDs.

2. Yes, that is correct – the time displayed on the LoadRunner License Utility is when your VUDs will start. The start time will vary by time zone. In Melbourne during daylight saving time, we are GMT +11, so our VUDs begin at 11am.

3. Only those VUsers who have got to the INIT stage will be used. Be aware that your scenario may be set to ‘initialize all VUsers simultaneously’ rather than ‘initialize each VUser just before it runs’.

4. The Community License is consumed first – then the Global license. VUDs are valid for as many tests as you can run within a 24h period.
Therefore the first test will use 50 Community Licensed VUDs and 350 Global Licenced VUDs.
The second test spans two “days” or cut-off periods, so it will consume 50 Community Licenses and 18 additional licenses.
In total you would have used 368 VUDs over the two days.

You could have saved 18 licenses by starting the second test at 9:30pm to complete by 00:30am (then closing the controller).

Jesús García
November 23, 2016

Thank you very much for your quickly reply!

Perhaps, I have one additional question with the scenarios and VUDS:

· Community License (License type is Permanent): 50 VU
· Global License: 20 VUD
· VUD expiration start/end time: 09:30 AM
51VU Peak Run: At 09:00 AM it runs an atended test, at 10:00 AM the test finished and the Controller has been closed.

How many VUDs I have expended? 1 or 2?

Thank you very much!

Daniel Spavin
April 13, 2017

Hi Jesús,

In this case you ran your test over 2 x 24-hour periods (the boundary being 9:30am in this case)

That means you would have consumed all 50 community licence VUs and 1 VUD for the first period, and the same amount for the second period.

In the end, the 2 periods cost you 2 VUDs.

If it’s any consolation, you’d have 1 VUD reusable until 9:29am the following day.

Sindhu
July 20, 2016

Very well explained.Thanks!

Satya Mantena
February 23, 2013

Thats a killer explanation … Thanks