Performance Testing: SAP Volume Testing Facts

Abstract: SAP is the most successful product for enterprise resource planning (ERP), touching nearly every facet of business like accounting, logistics, CRM, HR, data warehouse, etc. In many companies, transactions of thousands of users must be processed concurrently by SAP and the underlying database system. Hence, it is truly a mission-critical technology that requires solid performance and high availability to deliver the level of service the business requires. Failure of this critical system introduces tremendous business risk, both to the successful execution of internal processes and to the service level agreements as established.
The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of various facts and to large extent the best practices followed during SAP volume and stress testing. This paper describes best methods of creating automation scripts and experiences from real time execution of various SAP applications involving modules like Sales & Distribution, Material Management, Human Resource Management, CRM, Business Warehouse. The paper also shows how an SAP system can be monitored during volume test. This paper is structured in a format to give an overview of the activities to be done before the test, during the test and after the test. LoadRunner 8.1 from HP-Mercury is the automation tool used to create automation scripts and mimic end user workload.

Profile: Anshuman Das has been working with IBM since 2004. He has over 6 years of experience in IT and Testing. Currently, Anshuman works as a SAP Performance Testing consultant. He is involved in consulting and creating performance testing strategies to ensure application performance enhancement.

He has vast experience in domains like container and terminal management, logistics and ERP. He is CSTE certified.