Scalability of Office Suites on Terminal Servers

Posted by Benny Tritsch on May 10, 2007

[Introduction] [Methodology] [Performing the Test] [Measurements] [Results] [Conclusions]
[Appendix 1: Configuration Details] [Appendix 2: Step-by-Step Description]

Appendix 2: Step-by-Step Description of a Test Run

Setting up the Load Generators

1. Install vRD Load Edition (vRDLoad) by running vRDLoadSetup.msi.
2. Modify settings of .vrd XML files to be compliant to your test environment: Domain (IP address of test server), username and password.
3. Copy the required .vrd files to the clients.
4. Run vRD on the Controller and log in to all clients.
5. Run vRD Load Edition on the clients and import the appropriate .vrd file.
6. Change settings in vRD Load Edition, such as the interval between automated user log ins.

Test Sequence

1. Run MSinfo32.exe, store data into a file and copy the output file to a save place. IMPORTANT: This is a required test result!
2. Set up the performance log. To do so select Performance in the Administrative Tools menu. In the Performance Monitor right-click Performance Logs and Alerts | Counter Logs and select New Log Settings From. In the Open dialog select TS Test.htm file as a template for the required performance counters. Now start the log.
3. Start the test sequence in vRD Load Edition.
4. Now the test sequence is running. On the server, you should do nothing interactively except watching Task Manager. You can interrupt the test sequence manually by clicking the Stop button in all instances of vRD Load Edition. When the test is over all Start buttons in vRD Load Edition switch back to active.
5. Stop the performance log and copy the log file to a save place. IMPORTANT: This is a required test result!
6. Run “pslist -m > C:\<testname>_after.txt” on the server and copy the output file to a save place. IMPORTANT: This is a required test result!
7. Save the log file vRDLoad.log of vRD Load Edition from the Program Files\visionapp\visionapp Remote Desktop. Then rename the old log file in the program folder. This allows vRD Load Edition to create a new log file during the next test sequence.

Cleaning up

1. Use Terminal Services Manager to remove all user sessions from the test server.
2. If Terminal Services Manager is not able to start due to memory limitations, use Task Manager to force one user log off after the other.
3. If you want to use the server for another test, you have to remove all user profiles. This can be done by running System from the Control Panel. In the Advanced tab select Settings of the User Profiles. Delete all user profiles beginning with “v” and followed by a number. NOTE: Use shortcuts (Alt+D and Alt+Y) instead of mouse clicks.