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AUT
executes here
Functional test tool
executes here
Functional test tool
touchpoints
(foreground to end-user)
Figure 11.3
Computer necessary to execute functional tests
11.4.2 Touchpoint Paradigm for Performance Test Tools
The second touchpoint paradigm is used by performance testing tools. The goal of
this paradigm is to capture the messages and message timing passed between client
computers and server computers that are all contributors to the AUT. The basis of this
paradigm is the client/server computing architecture popularized in the early 1980s
and made pervasive by the Internet. The client/server computing architecture distrib-
utes the computing workload from the end-user's computer to one or more specialized
server computers. As an end-user operates the AUT, messages are periodically sent
back and forth between the end-user's client computer and one or more server com-
puters elsewhere in a network. The nature of the messages is determined by the com-
munication protocol. The total response time of an application is the sum of the pro-
cessing times on all involved computers plus the sum of all communication times.
The performance touchpoint is referred to as a “background” touchpoint because
its action is not observable by the end-user. Figure 11.4 illustrates the location of the
touchpoint for performance test tools.
Networks
Performance test tool
touchpoints
(background to end-user)
Figure 11.4
Touchpoint paradigm for performance test tools
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