Kestävyystestauksen

Kestävyystestaus, also known as endurance testing, is a type of software testing that verifies whether a system can handle a large load over an extended period. The primary goal is to identify performance bottlenecks and ensure that the software remains stable and responsive under continuous stress. This differs from load testing, which typically focuses on peak load performance, by emphasizing the long-term effects of sustained usage.

During endurance testing, applications are subjected to expected or anticipated user loads for a significant duration, which can range from hours to days. The testing environment monitors various system metrics such as memory usage, CPU utilization, disk I/O, and network traffic. It also tracks application-specific performance indicators like response times, throughput, and error rates. The objective is to detect issues that might emerge only after prolonged operation, such as memory leaks, resource exhaustion, or degradation in performance over time.

Common problems identified through endurance testing include memory leaks, where the application fails to release memory, leading to gradual performance decline and eventual system crashes. It also helps uncover thread exhaustion, where the number of available threads becomes insufficient to handle ongoing requests, causing unresponsiveness. Database connection pool exhaustion is another frequent issue, where the system runs out of available connections to the database. By simulating real-world usage patterns over extended periods, endurance testing plays a crucial role in ensuring the reliability and scalability of software applications.