Knowledge Base

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Maestro is the CloudTest test engine, implemented as a massively multi-threaded service, which executes all or parts of a complex test composition. A single Maestro node is capable of sending and validating responses to thousands of HTTP messages per second. Each track in a given composition has a Location setting, which can also be termed a "Maestro Location." As such, Maestro locations are server locations. Multiple Maestros can be combined to each execute parts of a large load test that can scale out to tens and hundreds of thousands of virtual users. Maestros can be geographically distributed and single test compositions can be geographically distributed while still producing a single integrated set of test results and analytics. Multiple locations can distribute load among servers or geographic locations or networks. For example, some resources may only be available on certain servers or locations, requiring that a test connect separately to those resources. Or, the test itself may be to access and measure performance from specific geographic locations or networks.
Maestro servers can also be selected from the lower panel of the Composition Editor. Click the Properties tab in the lower toolbar to display the Composition Element tree. Navigate to the track whose Maestro you want to access, and single-click the name in the tree. In the right portion of the lower panel you will see the select control for the Maestro location.
Specifying Locations in an HTTP(S) Test You can specify a Maestro location for a specific track in one of several ways: Click the down arrow in the select control underneath the track name in the left portion of the timeline. Then click the radio button for the location that you want to play that track. Please note that if you have only one Maestro server defined in your SOASTA Repository, this drop down will not be visible. Choosing a particular location means that you want to allow any Maestro at that location to control the track. Choosing Any Location means that you do wish to specify a preference as to which Maestro will control the playback of the track.
When a track with only an HTTP(S) clip is selected, the Location drop-down contains only Maestro server locations organized by type.
When clips with a Mobile target(s) & a Server target(s) are combined into one track, the Location drop-down refelects that both devices and servers are available to be configured. Note: Server selection and Device selection (for mobile apps) are totally unrelated. While the server setting says where the track is played, the device setting tells the mobile targets which device to play on once the composition has started playing.
Using Play Options You can change the way a test composition will play by accessing Maestro locations and servers using the Play Options command in the Composition Editor toolbar Etc. menu. Choose Play Options, make any changes in the dialog box, and then click OK. Changes will be in effect for only the current load of this test composition, not for the life of the test composition. Play Options dialog box Maestro drop-down Choose a location or server from the list of configured locations and servers. Repeat play Repeat play by the specified criteria. Choose from among Count (number of test runs), Seconds, Minutes, Hours, Days, or Forever. Optionally, check Continue on error to override error handling that specified test play should halt when an error is encountered. Preview mode Run this test in preview mode only. This can be useful when setting up tests for multiple Maestros and/or Results Services. Play speed Specify a play speed as an integer times normal. Save Result In some cases, skip saving a result. For example, in some cases with use of preview mode.
Play with options from the Composition list Play with options can also be accessed control Maestro locations and servers is from the Compositions list in the SOASTA Repository. Right-click the test composition that you want to play and select Play with Options from the context menu.
The Play Composition dialog box appears. Make any selections and click the Play button.
Specify a Proxy for Maestro to Use Administrative users can specify a proxy for Maestro to use by selecting the relevant server under Central > Servers. Then, in the Settings tab, select Maestro from the drop-down and define the following items: HTTP.Proxy.Server should be set to the proxy server name or IP address HTTP.Proxy.Port should be set to the proxy port number Configuring a proxy for Maestro will cause all HTTP and SOAP compositions to use that proxy for communicating with target websites. Note that this is a global server setting and all compositions run on that server will be affected. These settings will need to be removed to return Maestro to its prior behavior.