<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>Resources Archive - Login VSI</title> <atom:link href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/</link> <description></description> <lastBuildDate>Mon, 25 Nov 2024 22:22:40 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2</generator> <image> <url>https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/cropped-favicon-32x32.png</url> <title>Resources Archive - Login VSI</title> <link>https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/</link> <width>32</width> <height>32</height> </image> <item> <title>Login Enterprise 5.14: Compare Up to 5 Application Tests</title> <link>https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/login-enterprise-5-14-compare-up-to-5-application-tests/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Joshua Kennedy]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 25 Nov 2024 20:16:07 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Login Enterprise Release]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.loginvsi.com/?post_type=resource&p=21951</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>We are excited to announce the ability to compare up to five Application Tests simultaneously! This powerful feature provides deeper insights into application performance across different configurations and updates. Whether you’re conducting iterative testing on base images, rolling out Windows updates, evaluating the impact of security agents, or installing and updating applications, this enhancement streamlines […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/login-enterprise-5-14-compare-up-to-5-application-tests/">Login Enterprise 5.14: Compare Up to 5 Application Tests</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com">Login VSI</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ <p>We are excited to announce the ability to compare up to five Application Tests simultaneously! This powerful feature provides deeper insights into application performance across different configurations and updates. Whether you’re conducting iterative testing on base images, rolling out Windows updates, evaluating the impact of security agents, or installing and updating applications, this enhancement streamlines your decision-making process. Providing percentage and time differences between the compared tests and recording the success of logins and application executions ensures that the end-user experience remains fast, robust, and efficient. </p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-benefits-and-use-cases-nbsp">Key Benefits and Use Cases </h2> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-assess-incremental-changes-and-catch-issues-early-nbsp-nbsp">Assess Incremental Changes and Catch Issues Early </h3> <p>It’s essential to understand the impact on performance and functionality when updating or installing applications, applying Windows updates, or modifying security agents. With the ability to compare multiple Application Test results, you can: </p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Visualize performance changes side by side</strong>, including login and application execution times across different tests. </li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Identify trends and anomalies</strong>: spot performance improvements or regressions and detect critical issues such as failed logins or malfunctioning workflows. </li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Make informed decisions based on objective data</strong>: ensure changes don’t negatively affect the end-user experience before deployment. </li> </ul> <p>This proactive approach is invaluable for virtual desktop environments and physical endpoints like laptops or desktops. By comparing results from test runs, you can pinpoint precisely where an issue occurred between tests, facilitating swift investigation and resolution. </p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-evaluate-the-impact-of-updates-and-configurations-nbsp-nbsp">Evaluate the Impact of Updates and Configurations </h3> <p>Security patches, application installations, and system updates can affect performance and functionality. The comparison feature allows you to: </p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Assess how new software or updates impact application responsiveness and login performance</strong>. </li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Balance performance and security</strong>: find configurations that maintain security without degrading user experience. </li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Optimize base images: </strong>through iterative testing, identify the most efficient setup before deployment. </li> </ul> <p>By ensuring that changes do not negatively affect performance, you maintain a seamless experience for end-users. </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/appSummaryResultsTable.gif" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1733" height="553" src="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/appSummaryResultsTable.gif" alt="" class="wp-image-21952"/></a></figure> <p><em><a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/appSummaryResultsTable.gif" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Click to View Details</a></em></p> <p><em>Figure 1: Comparison of application performance with various updates and configurations.</em> </p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-getting-started-with-application-test-comparison">Getting Started with Application Test Comparison</h2> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-selecting-application-tests-to-compare-nbsp-nbsp">Selecting Application Tests to Compare </h3> <ol start="1" class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Access your Application Tests</strong>: Navigate to your list of completed Application Tests. </li> </ol> <ol start="2" class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Choose up to five tests</strong>: Use the checkboxes to select the Application Test results you wish to compare. </li> </ol> <ol start="3" class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Initiate comparison</strong>: Click the “Compare” button on the comparison overview page. </li> </ol> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/selectTestsToCompare.gif" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img decoding="async" width="1824" height="826" src="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/selectTestsToCompare.gif" alt="" class="wp-image-21953"/></a></figure> <p><em><a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/selectTestsToCompare.gif" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Click to View Details</a></em></p> <p><em>Figure 2: Selecting multiple Application Tests for comparison.</em></p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-designating-a-baseline-test-nbsp-nbsp">Designating a Baseline Test </h3> <p>On the comparison overview page: </p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Set a baseline</strong>: Choose one of the selected tests as the baseline. This test is the reference point against which all other tests are compared. You can choose any test as the baseline, tailoring the comparison to your needs. </li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Add or remove tests</strong>: Use the checkboxes to dynamically add or remove Application Tests from the comparison. </li> </ul> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/selectBaseline.gif" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img decoding="async" width="1824" height="826" src="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/selectBaseline.gif" alt="" class="wp-image-21954"/></a></figure> <p><em><a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/selectBaseline.gif" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Click to View Details</a></em></p> <p><em>Figure 3: Set a test as the baseline and manage tests in the comparison.</em> </p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-interpreting-the-comparison-results">Interpreting the Comparison Results</h2> <p>The results are divided into two main sections, like a single Application Test: </p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-platform-summary-nbsp-nbsp">Platform Summary </h3> <p>This section displays each test’s login time, latency, and percentage difference compared to the baseline. You can determine if login times exceeded defined thresholds and see how they deviated from the baseline.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/platformSummaryTable.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1619" height="273" src="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/platformSummaryTable.png" alt="" class="wp-image-21955" srcset="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/platformSummaryTable.png 1619w, https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/platformSummaryTable-1536x259.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1619px) 100vw, 1619px" /></a></figure> <p><em><a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/platformSummaryTable.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Click to View Details</a></em></p> <p><em>Figure 4: Platform summary table showing login times, latency, and percentage differences.</em> </p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-application-summary-nbsp-nbsp">Application Summary </h3> <p>This section compares the results of the Application scripts, including: </p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Application execution times with precise timing measurements across tests. </li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Percentage and time differences compared to the baseline. </li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>The application’s success and user login execution are identified by pass or fail icons. </li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>All defined timers were measured during the tests for granular insights. </li> </ul> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/applicationSummary.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1611" height="439" src="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/applicationSummary.png" alt="" class="wp-image-21956" srcset="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/applicationSummary.png 1611w, https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/applicationSummary-1536x419.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1611px) 100vw, 1611px" /></a></figure> <p><em><a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/applicationSummary.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Click to View Details</a></em></p> <p><em>Figure 5: Application summary table with execution times, percentage differences, and pass/fail indicators.</em> </p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-user-friendly-indicators-nbsp-nbsp">User-Friendly Indicators </h3> <p>The comparison tables feature pass/fail icons that offer immediate insight into the success of logins and application executions. By accessing per-test screenshots, you can visually confirm application launches and performance. The baseline test column remains pinned for easy reference as you scroll through the results. </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/screenshots.gif" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1826" height="877" src="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/screenshots.gif" alt="" class="wp-image-21957"/></a></figure> <p><em><a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/screenshots.gif" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Click to View Details</a></em></p> <p><em>Figure 6: Comparison table featuring pass/fail icons and screenshot thumbnails.</em> </p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-enhancing-decision-making-nbsp-nbsp">Enhancing Decision-Making </h2> <p>By providing percentage and time differences between the compared tests, along with recording the success of logins and application executions, this feature makes complex data easy to digest. You can make objective decisions, ensure readiness for deployment, and identify issues promptly before they affect your entire organization. </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/performanceDiffHighlights.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1631" height="678" src="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/performanceDiffHighlights.png" alt="" class="wp-image-21958" srcset="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/performanceDiffHighlights.png 1631w, https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/performanceDiffHighlights-1536x639.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1631px) 100vw, 1631px" /></a></figure> <p><em><a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/performanceDiffHighlights.png" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Click to View Details</a></em></p> <p><em>Figure 7: Comparison table highlighting performance differences, key insights, decision-making points, and execution statuses across tests.</em> </p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-practices-for-effective-comparison-nbsp-nbsp">Best Practices for Effective Comparison </h2> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Compare across environments</strong>: Evaluate changes in both virtual desktop environments and physical endpoints like laptops or desktops to ensure consistency. </li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Use descriptive names and comments</strong>: Clearly label tests with details about configurations or changes for easy identification. </li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Perform regular testing</strong>: Conduct Application Tests after each change to build a comprehensive performance history. </li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Change one variable at a time</strong>: Modify only one thing between tests to identify the cause of performance differences accurately. </li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Utilize visual aids</strong>: Leverage screenshots and precise indicators to understand application performance fully. </li> </ul> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-conclusion-nbsp-nbsp">Conclusion </h2> <p>The ability to compare up to five Application Tests simultaneously in Login Enterprise represents a significant advancement in performance analysis and optimization. By providing percentage and time differences between the compared tests, recording the success of logins and application executions, and offering easy-to-interpret comparisons, this feature empowers you to make data-driven decisions that enhance end-user experience and operational efficiency. </p> <p>Take advantage of this powerful new feature in Login Enterprise 5.14 and elevate your image testing to the next level – <a href="https://euc.loginvsi.com/login-enterprise-get-a-demo?&">try Login Enterprise for free</a>.</p> <p>For more detailed instructions and information, please refer to our documentation comparing Application Tests <a href="https://support.loginvsi.com/hc/en-us/articles/360012858920-Application-Testing-Results#h_01JDHZPZBKW8KDA2T2SCCERF8P" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>. </p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/login-enterprise-5-14-compare-up-to-5-application-tests/">Login Enterprise 5.14: Compare Up to 5 Application Tests</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com">Login VSI</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Performance in Healthcare IT: The Role of Persona-Based Workloads and Regression Testing </title> <link>https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/performance-in-healthcare-it/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Courtney James]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 20 Nov 2024 19:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Lifecycle Optimization]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.loginvsi.com/?post_type=resource&p=21942</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>System downtime can ripple across entire healthcare organizations, delaying treatments, frustrating staff, and compromising patient outcomes. For instance, healthcare IT downtime can cost organizations an estimated $7,900 per minute and jeopardize critical workflows.  To safeguard these systems, persona-based workloads and regression testing are essential strategies. These approaches simulate real-life user interactions and ensure stable performance […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/performance-in-healthcare-it/">Performance in Healthcare IT: The Role of Persona-Based Workloads and Regression Testing </a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com">Login VSI</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ <p>System downtime can ripple across entire healthcare organizations, delaying treatments, frustrating staff, and compromising patient outcomes. For instance, healthcare IT downtime can cost organizations an <a href="https://www.summit-healthcare.com/the-cost-of-an-ehr-downtime/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">estimated</a> $7,900 per minute and jeopardize critical workflows. </p> <p>To safeguard these systems, persona-based workloads and regression testing are essential strategies. These approaches simulate real-life user interactions and ensure stable performance after updates, forming the backbone of a reliable healthcare IT environment. </p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-persona-based-workloads-in-healthcare-it">Understanding Persona-Based Workloads in Healthcare IT </h2> <p>Persona-based workloads are test scenarios tailored to the roles and actions of specific users in a healthcare environment, such as clinicians, radiologists, and patients. These simulations aim to mimic the real-world interactions within IT systems, from accessing patient records to managing imaging studies. By reproducing these interactions, healthcare organizations can better understand how systems perform under realistic conditions and ensure their reliability. </p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-persona-based-workloads-mirror-real-life-interactions">How Persona-Based Workloads Mirror Real-Life Interactions </h2> <p>Healthcare IT systems are intricate, supporting diverse workflows unique to each role. For instance, a clinician might navigate an electronic medical records (EMR) system to review lab results and place orders, while a radiologist requires high-speed access to imaging software for diagnostics. Persona-based workloads replicate these tasks, testing the system’s ability to handle their complexity under pressure. </p> <p>Consider three common scenarios: </p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Clinicians</strong> access patient records and enter orders in an EMR system. </li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Radiologists</strong> view and interpret high-resolution imaging studies using Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS). </li> </ul> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Patients</strong> log into a secure portal to review lab results and communicate with providers. </li> </ul> <p>By recreating these interactions, persona-based workloads provide invaluable insights into how systems will perform under the stress of real-world use. </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1405" height="820" src="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image-6.png" alt="" class="wp-image-21944" style="width:840px;height:auto"/></figure> <p><em>Figure 1. A “virtual clinician” is seen interacting with Cerner PowerChart, alerting IT of a crash that was found </em></p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-regression-testing-in-healthcare-it">Regression Testing in Healthcare IT </h2> <p>Regression testing ensures that ware updates or integrations don’t inadvertently disrupt existing functionalities. In healthcare, where system stability is paramount, this process is critical. When paired with lifecycle management, which is the continual monitoring and maintenance of software systems, regression testing helps maintain the uninterrupted care flow. </p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-importance-of-regression-testing-at-each-lifecycle-stage">Importance of Regression Testing at Each Lifecycle Stage </h2> <p>Regression testing is crucial at every stage of a software lifecycle, from development and deployment to regular updates. Neglecting this step can lead to undetected bugs, regulatory non-compliance, or even system-wide failures, which can severely disrupt operations and patient care. </p> <p>For example, skipping regression testing after a new EMR update might cause errors in how prescriptions are transmitted to pharmacies, leading to potential patient safety issues. Regression testing catches these errors before they affect end users, ensuring systems remain reliable. </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1811" height="859" src="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image-5.png" alt="" class="wp-image-21945" srcset="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image-5.png 1811w, https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image-5-1536x729.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1811px) 100vw, 1811px" /></figure> <p><em>Figure 2. A Continuous Test catching a spike in Epic workflows in non-production, preventing the issues moving into production</em> </p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-practices-for-persona-based-workloads-and-regression-testing">Best Practices for Persona-Based Workloads and Regression Testing </h2> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-building-and-testing-persona-based-workloads">Building and Testing Persona-Based Workloads </h3> <p>Developing accurate persona-based workloads starts with understanding healthcare roles and workflows. IT teams can create scenarios that reflect actual usage by analyzing the daily tasks of clinicians, radiologists, and administrative staff. Testing tools like Login Enterprise simulate these tasks, providing data on system performance under realistic conditions. </p> <p>It’s equally important to maintain data privacy and compliance during testing. This involves anonymizing sensitive patient data and adhering to regulations such as HIPAA, ensuring that testing environments mimic real-life systems without exposing protected information. </p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-integrating-regression-testing-into-lifecycle-workflows">Integrating Regression Testing into Lifecycle Workflows </h3> <p>For regression testing to be effective, it must be embedded into every stage of the software lifecycle. Automation can streamline this process, enabling quicker, more consistent testing as systems evolve. Moreover, test cases should be updated regularly to account for new features, integrations, or compliance requirements. By doing so, organizations ensure their testing remains relevant and comprehensive. </p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-enhancing-persona-based-workloads-with-login-enterprise">Enhancing Persona-Based Workloads with Login Enterprise </h3> <p>Persona-based workloads ensure healthcare IT systems perform seamlessly under real-world conditions. Tools like Login Enterprise significantly enhance this approach. Our Script Recorder feature streamlines the creation of automated test cases by capturing and replicating user actions accurately and efficiently. This allows IT teams to simulate complex workflows such as clinicians accessing electronic medical records (EMR), radiologists interpreting imaging studies, or patients navigating secure portals. </p> <p>The Script Recorder enables healthcare organizations to tailor test scenarios to specific user personas easily. By recording interactions with systems, IT teams can create robust and realistic workloads that mimic the day-to-day operations of clinicians, administrative staff, and patients. This precision ensures that performance tests reflect usage, providing actionable insights for improving system reliability. </p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-streamlining-regression-testing-with-automation">Streamlining Regression Testing with Automation </h3> <p>Regression testing is essential to maintaining stability during software updates or integrations. Login Enterprise supports this critical process by automating the execution of test cases and enabling continuous performance monitoring. With the Script Recorder feature, IT teams can quickly update test cases to incorporate new functionalities or address emerging requirements. This capability ensures that healthcare systems remain compliant and reliable while minimizing the risk of human error during test case creation. </p> <p>By integrating Login Enterprise’s tools into lifecycle workflows, healthcare organizations can detect and resolve performance issues before they impact patient care. The automation capabilities also reduce the time and effort required for testing, allowing teams to focus on innovation and optimization. </p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <p>Login Enterprise offers invaluable support for healthcare IT organizations. From facilitating the development of accurate persona-based workloads to ensuring efficient regression testing, these capabilities, coupled with Login Enterprise’s focus on automation and precision, make it a vital in seamless performance. </p> <p>Also – recreating robust user interactions just got easier. See how with our new Script Recorder in this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzD-tVfFpDs">3-minute video</a>! <a href="https://euc.loginvsi.com/login-enterprise-get-a-demo">Try Login Enterprise for free</a> today and see it yourself.</p> <p></p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/performance-in-healthcare-it/">Performance in Healthcare IT: The Role of Persona-Based Workloads and Regression Testing </a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com">Login VSI</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Tackling Storage Performance Issues in Virtualized Environments</title> <link>https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/tackling-storage-performance-issues-in-virtualized-environments/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Brian Martynowicz]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 14 Nov 2024 14:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Benchmarks]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Lifecycle Optimization]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.loginvsi.com/?post_type=resource&p=21933</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>An exclusive article by Brian Martynowicz, Leee Jeffries, and Nicholas Campa Virtualization is a cornerstone technology that enables scalability, flexibility, and cost savings. However, as organizations scale their virtualized infrastructures, they often encounter performance bottlenecks that impact the end-user experience.  One such bottleneck that has recently come to the forefront is storage performance, particularly in […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/tackling-storage-performance-issues-in-virtualized-environments/">Tackling Storage Performance Issues in Virtualized Environments</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com">Login VSI</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ <p><em>An exclusive article by Brian Martynowicz, Leee Jeffries, and Nicholas Campa</em></p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <p>Virtualization is a cornerstone technology that enables scalability, flexibility, and cost savings. However, as organizations scale their virtualized infrastructures, they often encounter performance bottlenecks that impact the end-user experience. </p> <p>One such bottleneck that has recently come to the forefront is storage performance, particularly in relation to profile management solutions like <a href="https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/fslogix/overview-what-is-fslogix"><strong>FSLogix</strong></a>.</p> <p>Over the past few months, I’ve observed a recurring issue across several large-scale enterprise accounts we work with. These organizations are experiencing degraded user experiences due to misconfigurations and storage performance issues with profile management systems. Many others will likely be if these enterprises face such challenges.</p> <p>In collaboration with my colleague and long-time EUC community expert, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/leee-jeffries-0021752a/">Leee Jeffries</a>, we aim to shed light on this issue and provide actionable insights to help you optimize your virtualized environments. </p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-fslogix-and-profile-management">Understanding FSLogix and Profile Management</h2> <p><strong>FSLogix</strong> is a profile container solution acquired by Microsoft that enhances profile management in virtualized environments. It redirects user profiles to a network location, allowing faster logins and consistent user experience across sessions. By encapsulating user profiles in VHDX (Virtual Hard Disk) files, FSLogix minimizes profile load times and reduces the complexity associated with roaming profiles.</p> <p>However, the benefits of FSLogix can be negated by improper configurations and suboptimal storage performance. Since user profiles are stored on network storage rather than local disks, any latency or I/O bottlenecks in the storage subsystem can significantly impact the user experience. This is where many organizations falter, as they underestimate the importance of storage performance in their virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) deployments.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeYj-ddINv7ZRMqz4flvu2Cb-so39DGuO56dREDpGe63z3rzRkOPU4AgkbI_RD9KwnTQh84fb2HvqlbX9NQa6UebggNBw8J1cu0KZ28hV35CCrHbmD4MZToCdAEF8zcyteFyjahB6MBpa-7HAEQcbT0tfwChvweh7JOrSucaNkPTDbm9b7bQzY?key=W1k68hep4Nqex2xdF-HPqrpA" alt="A diagram of a software application Description automatically generated" style="width:838px;height:auto"/></figure> <p><em>Figure 1. A sample configuration of profile management via FSLogix.</em></p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-impact-of-storage-performance-on-user-experience">The Impact of Storage Performance on User Experience</h2> <p>When an end-user reports that their <a href="https://euc.loginvsi.com/asset/overcome-12-sources-of-sluggish-performance">virtual machine is “slow” or “sluggish,”</a> pinpointing the root cause can be challenging. User feedback is inherently subjective and can vary based on individual perceptions and tolerance levels. In virtualized environments, even minor delays in accessing profile data can lead to noticeable performance degradation from the user’s perspective.</p> <p>The latency introduced by accessing profile data over the network—especially when the storage is not optimized for the workload—can affect everyday operations like opening documents, loading applications, and interacting with the desktop environment. As enterprises scale up, these issues can become more pronounced, leading to widespread user dissatisfaction and reduced productivity.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measuring-user-experience-the-eux-score"><strong>Measuring User Experience: The EUX Score</strong></h3> <p>To objectively assess and quantify the user experience, we leverage <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/solutions/eux-benchmarks/">Login Enterprise’s EUX (End-User Experience) score.</a> This metric provides a comprehensive view of system performance from the user’s perspective by measuring various key performance indicators (KPIs) that correlate with common user operations.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-determining-the-eux-score"><strong>Determining the EUX Score</strong></h3> <p>The EUX score is calculated based on a series of timers representing users’ actions, which help us measure metrics like: application responsiveness, keyboard input processing, CPU-intensive tasks, and storage I/O latency. The score also accounts for application and session failures, penalizing the overall score when such events occur.</p> <p>Here are the core components of the EUX score:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>My Documents I/O Score</strong>: Measures disk read and write operations (mostly sequential) in the ‘My Documents’ folder with caching disabled. This assesses IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second) and latency.</li> <li><strong>Local AppData I/O Score</strong>: Evaluates disk read and write operations (mostly random) in the ‘Local AppData’ folder with caching disabled, focusing on IOPS and latency.</li> <li><strong>CPU Score</strong>: Performs a series of mixed CPU operations to determine how many can be completed within a fixed period.</li> <li><strong>Mixed CPU I/O Score</strong>: Executes a mix of cached and non-cached operations, including compression and decompression tasks.</li> <li><strong>Generic Application and User Input Score</strong>: Launches a proprietary, purpose-built text editor that simulates the behavior of applications like Microsoft Office. It measures the time from application start to readiness for user input and evaluates typing speed by measuring characters per second.</li> </ul> <p>By analyzing these metrics, we can objectively determine where performance bottlenecks exist and how they impact the user experience.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-evolving-bottleneck-from-cpu-and-memory-to-storage-performance"><strong>The Evolving Bottleneck: From CPU and Memory to Storage Performance</strong></h3> <p>Historically, performance bottlenecks in virtualized environments have shifted as technology and infrastructure components have evolved. In the past, CPU and memory were often the primary constraints. As hypervisors and virtualization technologies matured, optimizations in these areas reduced their impact on performance.</p> <p>Today, we see a resurgence of storage performance as a critical bottleneck, mainly due to the increased reliance on profile management solutions like FSLogix. As user profiles and data grow and expand in complexity, the demand for storage subsystems intensifies. Network storage systems must handle high IOPS with low latency to prevent performance degradation.</p> <p>This shift highlights the importance of continually monitoring and optimizing all components of the virtualized environment. As one bottleneck is addressed, another may emerge, necessitating a holistic approach to performance management.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-case-study-mitigating-storage-bottlenecks-in-a-fortune-1000-finance-company">Case Study: Mitigating Storage Bottlenecks in a Fortune 1000 Finance Company</h2> <p>Let’s explore a real-world example of how addressing storage performance can significantly improve the user experience—Shoutout to <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-campa/">Nicholas Campa</a>.</p> <p><strong>Background</strong>: We worked with a Fortune 1000 company designing its Citrix solution using Azure compute components. During the testing phase, they noticed that users were experiencing sluggish performance, particularly during login and when accessing applications.</p> <p><strong>Challenge</strong>: Initial assessments targeted storage performance issues related to their FSLogix profile containers. The storage subsystem was not provisioned to handle their user profiles’ IOPS and latency requirements.</p> <p><strong>Solution</strong>: By leveraging the EUX score and detailed metrics provided by Login Enterprise, we pinpointed the storage performance as the primary bottleneck. The organization upgraded its storage solution to a higher-performance option, offering better IOPS and lower latency. Additionally, they optimized their FSLogix configuration based on best practices.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcxAuK_j_mcrKrrb6f-f8Wg0KI0zoeCy0IYEMpiEgfe59v9o3xNn9g0B2P32bYqW8L8JNzjb-HC7RfuOboAUC2GDsxwhOdYv9s83nBLomuNBAVuOtWrGcZEGkrDBbotM3ZfrmKZyDLYfadKX6MSv2-Ya4kOifHSLGWum9VW7z_nPD4Jf5QWjIg?key=W1k68hep4Nqex2xdF-HPqrpA" alt="A close-up of a graph Description automatically generated"/></figure> <p><em>Figure 2. Real results from our testing. Remember that individual miles may vary depending on your user workflows and technology combinations.</em></p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <p><strong>Outcome</strong>: The improvements significantly increased the EUX score, reflecting a smoother and more responsive user experience. The organization mitigated the storage bottleneck before moving into production, avoiding potential user dissatisfaction and productivity losses. They also calculated the associated cost of migrating to the new storage configuration on a per-user basis, which helped justify the investment to stakeholders.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-collaborating-with-experts-insights-from-leee-jeffries">Collaborating with Experts: Insights from Leee Jeffries</h2> <p>To delve deeper into the technical aspects and best practices for optimizing storage performance and FSLogix configurations, I’ve partnered with Leee Jeffries. You may know Leee for his extensive contributions and influence in the End-User Computing (EUC) community.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1199" height="593" src="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Leee-linkedin.png" alt="" class="wp-image-21935" style="width:839px;height:auto"/></figure> <p><em>Figure 3. In addition to being a stellar technologist, he’s also quite nice.</em></p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <p>User experience is the cornerstone of any End-User-Computing solution, irrespective of whether you are working on a physical machine or a virtual desktop; you must complete your tasks as efficiently and quickly as possible. A consultant is responsible for making the solutions provided to end users seamlessly merge into their day-to-day work.</p> <p>The challenge has always been the way this is performed. FSLogix has been key for a long time, and Outlook caching has been the main driver for the wide adoption of VHD profile-based solutions. The emergence of Exchange Online triggered this adoption, and later, Microsoft decided to purchase FSLogix, an intelligent decision.</p> <p>When implementing FSLogix on a standard file server such as a clustered file server, it’s important to track your disk queue length during user migrations; this will provide insight into how well those servers are coping with the storage requests being asked for them. If your disk queue is continuously high and above a value of 2, storage operations will be queued, impacting user profile performance and login times.</p> <p>If you are deploying FSLogix on Microsoft Azure Files, there are a few things to remember. The total IOPS available for the FSLogix file share is based on the size of the share.</p> <p>There is also a handle limit to be aware of. Each user of FSLogix will create two file handles.</p> <p>I recommend the following settings to ensure you get the best out of your FSLogix deployment.</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Do not use differences disk for single session desktop; instead, set “ProfileType to 0.”</li> <li>Set “FlipFlopProfileDirectoryName” to 1 to make folders easier to read</li> <li>Avoid the use of Office containers unless you absolutely must split the two VHDX files</li> <li>Set the “DeleteLocalProfileWhenVHDShouldApply” to ensure any local profiles left over after image maintenance are overwritten.</li> <li>Set the “Locked VHD Retry Count” and “Volume re-attach retry count” to 10 to retry ten times.</li> <li>Set “Volume re-attach retry interval” and “Locked VHD retry interval” to 5. This will retry a VHD attach every 5 seconds</li> <li>Set the “milliseconds to wait for volume arrival” to 2000. </li> </ul> <p>Disclaimer – These settings are based on my experience working in environments where storage can become strained, and you want to ensure FSLogix is properly configured to avoid end-user experience issues. Individual miles may vary, and these settings should be tested instead of blindly implemented.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXf71c3G9Ew7e10ZJUDry5va5UQSE443L7P5GrQbOR3LhPJ44pPpO5IQiQLvbnutaY4JfHY0oUAcBdnKMi31cIb95ejuAt-ZES3m3FiCrMAs0jmZ4T9Uo2hyx3_J1kWKber3ykq8X06GJvNLculVxlt_5Eb8ktmzn6CBI-U5H3uQyqEjwqOqDg?key=W1k68hep4Nqex2xdF-HPqrpA" alt="A screenshot of a computer Description automatically generated"/></figure> <p><em>Figure 4. Azure File Storage performance characteristics.</em></p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-recommendations-and-next-steps">Recommendations and Next Steps</h2> <p>Given the critical impact of storage performance on the user experience in virtualized environments, we recommend the following actions:</p> <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Assess Your Storage Performance</strong>: Use objective metrics like the EUX score to evaluate your current storage subsystem’s performance. Identify any bottlenecks that may be affecting user-profiles and application responsiveness.</li> <li><strong>Review FSLogix Configurations</strong>: Ensure your FSLogix settings follow the industry’s best practices. Misconfigurations can exacerbate performance issues even on high-performance storage systems.</li> <li><strong>Engage with Experts</strong>: Consult with professionals specializing in virtualization and storage optimization. Their expertise can help you navigate complex configurations and implement effective solutions.</li> <li><strong>Continually Test and Monitor</strong>: Implement ongoing testing using <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/platform/">tools like Login Enterprise</a> to identify and address performance issues before they impact end-users proactively.</li> <li><strong>Consider Cost-Benefit Analysis</strong>: When upgrading storage solutions, perform a cost-benefit analysis to understand the per-user costs and justify investments to stakeholders.</li> </ol> <p>As virtualization technologies evolve, so do the challenges of delivering an optimal user experience. Storage performance, especially profile management solutions like FSLogix, has emerged as a critical factor that can significantly impact end-user satisfaction and productivity.</p> <p>Organizations can mitigate these bottlenecks by objectively measuring performance using tools like the EUX score, addressing configuration issues, and investing in appropriate storage solutions. Proactive management and continual optimization are key to ensuring that your virtualized environments deliver the performance your users expect – just like Login Enterprise is designed to. <a href="https://euc.loginvsi.com/login-enterprise-talk-to-sales">Connect with our EUC experts to learn more.</a></p> <p>Remember, the goal is not just to fix current issues but to establish a resilient infrastructure that can adapt to future demands. By taking these steps, you’ll be better equipped to provide a seamless and efficient user experience in your virtualized environments.</p> <p><em><br></em></p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/tackling-storage-performance-issues-in-virtualized-environments/">Tackling Storage Performance Issues in Virtualized Environments</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com">Login VSI</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Epic Hyperspace vs. Hyperdrive: Performance Testing and Key Considerations from Login Enterprise </title> <link>https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/epic-hyperspace-vs-hyperdrive-performance-testing-and-key-considerations-from-login-enterprise/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Nicholas Campa]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 06 Nov 2024 14:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Endpoints Performance]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Epic]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.loginvsi.com/?post_type=resource&p=21924</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>Modern healthcare relies on technology; even minor application performance improvements can significantly impact patient care. Many healthcare providers use Epic Systems for their electronic health records (EHR) applications. Whether the organization uses Epic or not, this is the most critical application system, providing capabilities to support clinical and administrative workflows.   What’s Changing: From Hyperspace to […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/epic-hyperspace-vs-hyperdrive-performance-testing-and-key-considerations-from-login-enterprise/">Epic Hyperspace vs. Hyperdrive: Performance Testing and Key Considerations from Login Enterprise </a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com">Login VSI</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ <p>Modern healthcare relies on technology; even minor application performance improvements can significantly impact patient care. Many healthcare providers use Epic Systems for their electronic health records (EHR) applications. Whether the organization uses Epic or not, this is the most critical application system, providing capabilities to support clinical and administrative workflows. </p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-changing-from-hyperspace-to-hyperdrive-nbsp">What’s Changing: From Hyperspace to Hyperdrive </h2> <p>With Epic’s new Hyperdrive platform emerging as a successor to Hyperspace, healthcare providers are facing critical decisions—will these changes lead to smoother workflows and improved outcomes? </p> <p>Hyperspace is a thick client application typically delivered via RDSH/VDI application virtualization. Hyperdrive is a modern, web-based interface that can be accessed from a browser or locally installed Hyperdrive front-end. Many organizations are exploring the cost-benefits of the shift, and as they do so, they need data to justify their decisions—not just anecdotes. </p> <p>Login Enterprise is well-suited for the analysis because of its agnostic approach to user experience. Virtual Users are scripted to simulate real-world workflows within applications like Epic, whether delivered via RDSH/VDI, locally installed, or accessed from a browser. </p> <p>Our analysis leveraged the <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/empower-your-testing-introducing-script-recorder">Login Enterprise Script Recorder</a> to capture a basic clinical workflow: launching Epic, logging in, looking up a patient record, and opening its patient chart. By simulating the workflow against Hyperspace via RDSH/VDI and then against Hyperdrive as a local installation, we captured key performance metrics for the workflow. </p> <p>This article analyzes our results and addresses considerations not included in our testing, including application management and infrastructure costs. </p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-test-setup-overview-nbsp">Test Setup Overview </h2> <p>A continuous test was used to analyze the performance across application versions. </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="867" height="311" src="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/test-setup-overview.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-21947"/></figure> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rdsh">RDSH</h3> <p>Built-in Login Enterprise Connectors were used to emulate how end-users would access Epic. Using this connector, the Login Enterprise Launcher can natively connect to an access portal, authenticate, and launch the desired desktop or application. Like many organizations, Hyperspace is delivered with app virtualization, and that is how it was tested. </p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-endpoint-nbsp">Endpoint </h3> <p>This particular Healthcare System did not have any users accessing Hyperdrive when the testing was conducted, so a representative system was configured on an older Dell OptiPlex 5000 workstation. Because no brokering is required, a Desktop Connector was used. Desktop Connectors allow admins to initiate tests from the CLI without the need for dedicated testing accounts or Launchers. </p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-performance-testing-results-epic-hyperspace-vs-hyperdrive-nbsp">Performance Testing Results: Epic Hyperspace vs. Hyperdrive </h2> <p>As mentioned, key measurements were taken around Epic Hyperspace and Hyperdrive response times, and here, we consider two: Epic Login Time and Patient Lookup Times. </p> <p>Epic Login Time represents the duration between an end-user clicking “Login” once their credentials are entered and until the main Epic interface is displayed and ready for interaction. This key measurement translates to clinicians waiting for Epic to load. Patient Lookup time represents the duration between an end-user clicking “Search” once the (test) patient’s information was entered until Epic returns the specified patient chart. This measurement similarly translates into the time clinicians wait for Epic to respond. Healthcare is unique in this way—not only does workspace performance translate to end-user experience, but also patient satisfaction. Looking at the charts below, you can imagine yourself as the patient waiting in an exam room while a clinician is “waiting for their system to respond.” </p> <p>The chart below shows the average response times for logging into Epic and loading a patient record once requested, respectively. For logging into Epic, Hyperdrive was marginally faster by an average of 1.4 seconds (17.48 seconds vs. 18.88 seconds). Returning a requested patient chart was, on average, 4.53 seconds faster (2.25 seconds vs. 6.78 seconds). For a clinician who performs this workflow 10 times a day over 365 days, this translates to almost 6 hours of “wait time” reduced by Hyperdrive. </p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="624" height="332" src="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/image-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-21941" style="width:839px;height:auto"/></figure> <p>The results were somewhat unsurprising. Epic is delivered from a multi-session OS, so multiple users share the same resources, unlike an endpoint. With less resource contention, a more consistent experience is to be expected on the endpoint. </p> <p><a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/dive-into-virtual-desktop-health-with-session-metrics">Login Enterprise Session Metrics</a> were used to collect CPU and Memory utilization statistics through our testing. These statistics supported the above assumptions. The average CPU utilization recorded during local endpoint testing was 1.29% compared to 19.45% on RDSH Servers. </p> <p>It is also worth mentioning that Hyperspace was tested over a longer period of time than Hyperdrive, which means the Hyperspace sample size is larger than Hyperdrive’s. </p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-additional-considerations-nbsp">Additional Considerations </h3> <p>Now that we know the performance differences are only marginal let’s discuss some additional considerations that organizations need to address. </p> <p>Hyperdrive offers the opportunity for a change in IT strategy. On-premises applications and RDSH/VDI infrastructure were required for a long time to run a successful Hyperspace deployment. With Epic Hosting Services, healthcare systems can offload their infrastructure costs onto Epic and pay as a service. Now, Hyperdrive offers another opportunity to shift how organizations deliver and consume Epic greatly. Without on-premises RDSH/VDI infrastructure supporting Epic, many recouped costs exist—including licensing, infrastructure, and maintenance. </p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-recommendations-for-healthcare-providers-considering-hyperdrive-nbsp">Recommendations for Healthcare Providers Considering Hyperdrive </h2> <p>Now, healthcare systems must decide whether those financial implications outweigh the benefits of using virtualization. A major benefit has always been the centralized delivery of Epic via RDSH/VDI. When errors and issues occur, administrators can roll back a single master image consumed by clinicians. With a locally installed Hyperdrive solution, app updates and OS management become decentralized, requiring investments into solutions like Intune for patching, updating, and device management. This can significantly increase the IT workload. With all the compliance requirements in the healthcare space, many necessary configurations are baked into the golden image that would require more IT resources to manage on an endpoint-to-endpoint basis. </p> <p>It is important to note that the IT staff and leadership at our customer carefully evaluated the management of supporting software, rollback capabilities, and the ability to support peripherals and their drivers. They ultimately determined that maintaining their Epic Systems deployment on RDSH/VDI was more advantageous for their organization overall, considering both cost and performance perspectives.</p> <p>Lastly, RDSH/VDI management platforms make it easier to diagnose and resolve application issues. This reduces the time and resources required to troubleshoot clinical issues. IT teams may need more resources and triage solutions with local installations to ensure consistent performance and maintain positive end-user experiences. </p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-finding-the-right-balance-for-your-organization-nbsp">Finding the Right Balance for Your Organization </h2> <p>While there may be decreased upfront costs when delivering Epic Hyperdrive without RDSH/VDI, there are also compelling arguments about why it has always been the preferred delivery mechanism. As always, every environment is unique. Depending on the unique configuration of each environment’s network and infrastructure, performance results (as shown above) may vary. That’s why performing benchmark tests against your environment is important to understand your starting point—before deciding where to go next. </p> <p>Is you’re organization moving from Hyperspace to Hyperdrive? If you would like to test more complex workflows, or other supporting software (such as imaging or document management systems) <a href="https://euc.loginvsi.com/login-enterprise-get-a-demo">book a demo with us today</a> and see if Login Enterprise can help you with application functionality and performance testing. </p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/epic-hyperspace-vs-hyperdrive-performance-testing-and-key-considerations-from-login-enterprise/">Epic Hyperspace vs. Hyperdrive: Performance Testing and Key Considerations from Login Enterprise </a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com">Login VSI</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Assess Your Current Endpoints Performance Testing Solution</title> <link>https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/assess-endpoint-performance-testing-solution/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Zachary Lummis]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 01 Nov 2024 13:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Endpoints Performance]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.loginvsi.com/?post_type=resource&p=21900</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>Why Start with a Checklist for Endpoint Testing Solutions? So, you want to test your endpoints but don’t know where to start? With so many options on the market for endpoint testing, it can often be difficult to navigate all the buzzwords and get down to the meat and potatoes of what a solution offers. […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/assess-endpoint-performance-testing-solution/">Assess Your Current Endpoints Performance Testing Solution</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com">Login VSI</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-start-with-a-checklist-for-endpoint-testing-solutions"><strong>Why Start with a Checklist for Endpoint Testing Solutions?</strong></h3> <p>So, you want to test your endpoints but don’t know where to start? With so many options on the market for endpoint testing, it can often be difficult to navigate all the buzzwords and get down to the meat and potatoes of what a solution offers. Here is a brief guide to help make an educated decision on what to look for in a solution.</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Question 1: Is it automated?</strong></h2> <p>One of the most important aspects of a solution should be: Is it automated? If you constantly must log into a portal or remember to schedule a task after a couple of weeks, will you really be able to keep up with it among all your other priorities? </p> <p>Login Enterprise has you covered. Using a continuous test, you can schedule your tests to run daily, including weekends, and for specific hours on a day-by-day basis (for example, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, your company works 8-6, but on Tuesdays and Thursdays, you work 10-4). You can also adjust the hours your test runs for when your users are present in the office. </p> <p>If you just want to run tests all the time, that is supported, too, through the ability to run several concurrent tests and run tests as a user logging in from multiple different locations to verify the infrastructure. This gives you the ability to access near real-time data about how a common resource may be performing from each of your different sites where a launcher is deployed. Login Enterprise: Is it automated? CHECK! </p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Question 2: Is it lightweight?</strong></h2> <p>Next up is implementation. If you build many servers and deploy an agent to all the devices you want to monitor, the maintenance will grow over time and eventually become a burden. Login Enterprise is agentless. The minimum deployment for Login Enterprise is a virtual appliance. After that, you can use an existing server (or build a new one) to host the Launcher, the origination point for your test-user sessions, provided it can access the resources you plan to test. </p> <p>The last component is the login processor, an application that allows your test to run without requiring the installation of yet another software agent. Luckily, there are options for deploying this as well. There are many ways to deploy the login processor, but the key is that it can be executed upon user login. Once the login processor has started, it will pull down the test configuration from the appliance and begin testing your resource. Login Enterprise: Is it lightweight? CHECK! </p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Question 3: Can it easily capture tasks?</strong></h2> <p>We all hate those complicated tasks requiring many mouse movements and button clicks. If your endpoint testing solution requires a lot of effort to capture even simple tasks, the barrier to using it effectively is astronomical. Luckily, Login Enterprise has a Script Recorder. Script Recorder enables users to record actions and build a script without having much programming knowledge. Additionally, the Script Editor can run through an application script and allow you to record more steps. This takes the level of effort to capture tasks from scaling Mt. Everest to a stroll in the neighborhood park. Login Enterprise also has a fallback mechanism called <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/creating-workloads-using-login-enterprise-application-xray/">Application X-Ray</a>. </p> <p>Much like the X-ray machine at the doctor’s office allows the doctor to look underneath your skin at your skeleton, Application X-ray exposes the different controls in an application that allow the creation of scripts to perform your required tasks. Login Enterprise: Easily capture tasks: CHECK! </p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Question 4: Can it interact with your applications? </strong></h2> <p>Very similar to the ability to capture tasks, but no less important is the ability to interact with the different applications you have in your environment. Gone are the days of being able to trust that just because an application opened means your users will be able to use it successfully. Login Enterprise cannot only interact with many <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/solutions/application-validation/">applications</a> but can also give you data about how long an application took to perform an action. Take the healthcare electronic medical record system EPIC, for example. </p> <p>Users may complain about slow logins or loading times from specific pages or sites. If your testing solution can only open and stop the application, you are missing critical data that a Systems Administrator must now perform. Login Enterprise can open the application and interact with it much the same way your users would. This means that the application script can be configured to log in and time the amount of time it takes from clicking login to when the first loaded page is available. </p> <p>You can also time switching between pages, such as going from a visit note to scheduling the patient’s next visit. In this example, you get times related to how long each step took to execute. Login Enterprise can take this further and allow you to be alerted based on the values in the test configuration. Running a continuous test can give you the critical data you need to start researching and repairing a potential issue before it starts to impact the ability of your users to perform their jobs effectively. Login Enterprise: Can it interact with your applications? CHECK! </p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Question 5: Does it allow you to compare metrics meaningfully?</strong></h2> <p>Having a lot of metrics and information is great, but it’s only applicable if you have data to compare it against. Data for the sake of data is not very helpful. However, if you can compare data before and after a change or an update pushed, that data has become useful. </p> <p>Login Enterprise allows you to compare point-in-time performance snapshots and see how they stack up in your environment. This allows you to see if that GPO the Security team pushed on everyone is making your users’ logins slower or if Fry in Shipping and Receiving has had one too many cups of coffee today. </p> <p>Login Enterprise allows you to compare up to 5 load tests at once and generate an excellent report you can send to your manager to show why you need that next rack of servers and new SAN. Login Enterprise: Can you compare metrics in a meaningful way? CHECK! </p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Question 6: Can you compare personas?</strong></h2> <p>Running tests for different kinds of users is also important. What if you could use the same testing scripts constantly running against your endpoints to check Phil’s PC when he complains that it is too slow and now needs a new one? </p> <p>What if you could quantify that? With Login Enterprise and the Desktop Connector, you can. You can run a test on his machine that interacts with multiple applications and produces a score about how his machine is performing. This allows you to gather data from your synthetic users and users who may have an additional load from having other applications open or larger datasets to work with. Login Enterprise: Can you <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/why-persona-based-workloads-are-critical-for-endpoints/">compare personas</a>? CHECK! </p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Invest in a Comprehensive Testing Solution with Login Enterprise</strong></h2> <p> In conclusion, selecting the right endpoint testing solution is crucial for ensuring the performance and reliability of your applications. With Login Enterprise, you can effortlessly automate your testing processes, making them less burdensome and more effective. The lightweight, agentless deployment model ensures minimal maintenance, while features like Script Recorder and Application X-Ray simplify task capture and execution. The ability to interact with applications as real users do provides invaluable insights into performance metrics, allowing for proactive issue resolution. Furthermore, comparing performance data over time equips you with the information necessary to make informed decisions about your IT infrastructure. Whether testing different user scenarios or monitoring the impact of system changes, Login Enterprise offers a comprehensive solution that checks all the boxes for your endpoint testing needs. </p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>A Quick Recap of How to Assess an Endpoints Performance Testing Solution </strong></h3> <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li>Is it automated? (for example, weekends, daily, ring deployments) </li> <li>Is it lightweight? (i.e. infrastructure requirements)</li> <li>Can it easily capture tasks? </li> <li>Can it interact with your applications? (i.e., timers) </li> <li>Can you compare performance point-in-time snapshots? (i.e., system metrics, CPU/disk) </li> <li>Can you perform testing using multiple user personas? (real vs. synthetic)</li> </ol> <p>Investing in a tool that encompasses these essential features can streamline your operations and enhance user experience across your organization. <a href="https://euc.loginvsi.com/login-enterprise-get-a-demo?&">Try Login Enterprise for Free.</a></p> <p></p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/assess-endpoint-performance-testing-solution/">Assess Your Current Endpoints Performance Testing Solution</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com">Login VSI</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>GPU Benchmarking with Login Enterprise: A Comprehensive Guide</title> <link>https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/gpu-benchmarking-with-login-enterprise-a-comprehensive-guide/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Courtney James]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 24 Oct 2024 18:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Benchmarks]]></category> <category><![CDATA[GPU]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.loginvsi.com/?post_type=resource&p=21894</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) performance has become crucial to the performance of virtual desktop environments. Whether handling high-definition video editing, 3D rendering, or any other visually demanding tasks, having the right GPU configuration can make or break your virtual desktop experience.  Login Enterprise provides a powerful platform for testing, benchmarking, and optimizing GPUs in virtual […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/gpu-benchmarking-with-login-enterprise-a-comprehensive-guide/">GPU Benchmarking with Login Enterprise: A Comprehensive Guide</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com">Login VSI</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ <p>GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) performance has become crucial to the performance of virtual desktop environments. Whether handling high-definition video editing, 3D rendering, or any other visually demanding tasks, having the right GPU configuration can make or break your virtual desktop experience. </p> <p>Login Enterprise provides a powerful platform for testing, benchmarking, and optimizing GPUs in virtual desktop infrastructures (VDI).</p> <p>In this guide, we’ll walk you through benchmarking GPUs using Login Enterprise, explain why it’s essential, and provide practical steps to help you maximize your GPU investment.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-gpu-benchmarking"><strong>What is GPU Benchmarking?</strong></h2> <p>In simple terms, <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/benchmarking-a-gpu-option-for-vdi-with-intel-data-center-gpu-flex-series/?">GPU benchmarking</a> is the process of testing and evaluating a GPU’s performance. It allows you to measure a GPU’s performance under different conditions, such as during high graphics processing tasks, 3D rendering, or AI-driven workloads. Benchmarking can help you understand if your GPU can handle your specific workloads and reveal any performance issues, such as bottlenecks or overheating, that could affect the efficiency of your virtual desktop environment.</p> <p>The GPU ensures smooth performance in virtual desktop setups, where multiple users share resources, particularly for visually intensive tasks. Benchmarking helps IT professionals, system administrators, and decision-makers determine if their hardware can handle the required workloads efficiently.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-does-login-enterprise-come-in-nbsp"><strong>Where Does Login Enterprise Come in? </strong></h2> <p>Login Enterprise is a performance testing and monitoring tool for physical and virtual desktop environments. It allows businesses to automate testing and assess the performance of their infrastructure across environments, including benchmarking the GPUs used in virtual desktops. Login Enterprise offers a structured approach to testing system performance, enabling you to simulate real-world workloads and measure how well your hardware, including GPUs, performs under stress.</p> <p>What sets Login Enterprise apart is its ability to automate testing across different systems and hardware setups, giving insights into how your GPUs function in real-world scenarios.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-benchmark-gpus-in-virtual-desktops"><strong>Why Benchmark GPUs in Virtual Desktops?</strong></h2> <p>Benchmarking GPUs in virtual desktops is essential for several reasons:</p> <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Optimizing User Experience</strong>: A well-functioning GPU ensures that graphics-heavy applications run smoothly. This improves the overall user experience, especially when working with design software, video editing tools, or other applications that demand high graphic performance.</li> <li><strong>Improving Productivity</strong>: When your GPU is optimized, tasks like rendering videos or processing large datasets become much faster. This leads to increased productivity and reduced downtime.</li> <li><strong>Identifying Bottlenecks</strong>: Benchmarking helps you spot performance issues, whether the GPU itself, memory, or other hardware components, that may slow down the virtual desktop environment.</li> <li><strong>Cost-Effective Hardware Upgrades</strong>: By benchmarking your current hardware, you can make data-driven decisions about upgrading your GPUs. This helps you invest in the right hardware based on your actual needs.</li> </ol> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-setting-up-login-enterprise-for-gpu-benchmarking"><strong>Setting Up Login Enterprise for GPU Benchmarking</strong></h2> <p>Getting started with GPU benchmarking using Login Enterprise is straightforward. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide:</p> <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Install Login Enterprise</strong>: Begin by installing Login Enterprise on your virtual desktop infrastructure. The software is compatible with various VDI solutions, including popular tools like <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/reference-architecture/vmware-horizon-with-intel-data-center-gpu-flex-series">VMware Horizon</a>, <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/reference-architecture/citrix-daas-azure-amd/">Citrix</a> Virtual Apps, and Desktops.</li> <li><strong>Configure the Environment</strong>: Set up Login Enterprise to communicate with your virtual desktops and GPU hardware. Ensure your system meets the minimum requirements for benchmarking, including adequate GPU drivers and a stable VDI setup.</li> <li><strong>Create Workloads</strong>: Use Login Enterprise to create workloads that simulate real-world usage scenarios. These workloads should reflect your <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/why-persona-based-workloads-are-critical-for-endpoints/?">persona-specific</a> tasks, such as running 3D applications, video editing software, or AI-driven processes.</li> <li><strong>Run the Benchmark</strong>: Once the environment is set up, run the GPU benchmarking tests. Login Enterprise will measure performance metrics such as frame rate, latency, and GPU utilization.</li> <li><strong>Analyze Results</strong>: After completing the tests, Login Enterprise will generate detailed reports. Use these reports to understand how your GPU is performing under different workloads.</li> </ol> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-metrics-to-track-in-gpu-benchmarking"><strong>Key Metrics to Track in GPU Benchmarking</strong></h2> <p>When benchmarking GPUs with Login Enterprise, focusing on key metrics directly impacting performance is essential. These include:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Frame Rate</strong>: The number of frames per second (FPS) your GPU can render. Higher frame rates mean smoother performance, especially for graphic-heavy tasks.</li> <li><strong>GPU Utilization</strong>: This measures how much of the GPU’s capacity is used during the workload. If GPU utilization is consistently high, it may indicate the need for a more powerful GPU.</li> <li><strong>Latency</strong>: The time it takes for the GPU to process and display information on the screen. Lower latency means faster response times and smoother performance.</li> </ul> <p>Analyzing these metrics lets you identify where performance can be improved and make informed decisions on hardware upgrades or configuration changes.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-practices-for-gpu-benchmarking-with-login-enterprise"><strong>Best Practices for GPU Benchmarking with Login Enterprise</strong></h2> <p>Here are some best practices to ensure your GPU benchmarks are accurate and useful:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Simulate Real-World Workloads</strong>: Make sure the workloads you create for testing reflect the actual tasks your users perform. This provides more relevant results.</li> <li><strong>Run Multiple Tests</strong>: Benchmarking should be done more than once to ensure consistent and reliable data, eliminate outliers, and provide a clearer performance picture.</li> <li><strong>Monitor Other Resources</strong>: Don’t just focus on GPU performance. Use Login Enterprise to monitor CPU, memory, and network utilization for a holistic view of your desktop environment.</li> <li><strong>Document and Compare Results</strong>: Record your benchmarking results. Over time, this will help you track performance trends and make informed decisions about hardware upgrades.</li> </ul> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-real-world-example-login-enterprise-used-to-determine-how-to-boost-vdi-performance-with-intel-flex-140-gpus-and-xeon-platinum-cpus"><strong>Real-World Example: Login Enterprise Used to Determine How to Boost VDI Performance with Intel Flex 140 GPUs and Xeon Platinum CPUs</strong></h2> <p>Recently, Intel asked the Futurum Group Labs to <a href="https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/content-details/818284/vmware-horizon-with-intel-data-center-gpu-flex-series-lab-insights.html">evaluate the performance</a> and price/performance of several different CPU/GPU configurations using VMware Horizon VDI and Login VSI’s Login Enterprise product. </p> <p>Login Enterprise offers customizable workloads that can be created to match what a company might see in terms of typical usage generated on their systems by users. The Login Enterprise profiles used were the standard Knowledge Worker (KW) profile, with the addition of the GPU Reference Workload.</p> <p>The testing done with Login Enterprise showed that integrating Intel’s 5th-generation Xeon Platinum CPUs (8562Y+) with Intel Flex 140 GPU cards in virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) environments achieved significant performance improvements. The Platinum 8562Y+ CPU provides better cost efficiency and performance than previous models, enabling businesses to run more users and handle CPU-intensive applications more effectively.</p> <p>By adding Intel Flex 140 GPUs, organizations can enhance graphics performance, particularly for users handling graphic-intensive workloads. The GPU integration reduces CPU usage by approximately 40%, while individual users experience a nearly 4x increase in FPS. These enhancements come at a minimal cost increase (around 1% of the total configuration cost), making it a highly cost-effective solution for improving CPU and GPU performance in VDI environments.</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ready-to-optimize-your-gpu-performance"><strong>Ready to Optimize Your GPU Performance?</strong></h2> <p>By identifying performance issues, optimizing configurations, and making data-driven decisions on hardware investments, you can improve user experience, productivity, and cost efficiency. Whether you’re deploying a large VDI or managing a smaller environment, using Login Enterprise for GPU benchmarking gives you the insights you need to ensure smooth, efficient, and scalable performance.If you’re serious about improving GPU performance and ensuring a seamless virtual desktop experience, don’t wait! <a href="https://euc.loginvsi.com/login-enterprise-talk-to-sales">Get a demo</a> of Login Enterprise today to see how easy it is to benchmark and optimize your GPU resources.</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/gpu-benchmarking-with-login-enterprise-a-comprehensive-guide/">GPU Benchmarking with Login Enterprise: A Comprehensive Guide</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com">Login VSI</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Scaling Out vs. Scaling Up: Which is Best for Your Server?</title> <link>https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/scaling-out-vs-scaling-up-which-is-best-for-your-server/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Courtney James]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 15 Oct 2024 13:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Lifecycle Optimization]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Scalability Testing]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.loginvsi.com/?post_type=resource&p=21839</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>As IT professionals understand, server performance needs can fluctuate over time, driven by factors like company growth, seasonal spikes, or reduced-demand periods. Whether dealing with more users, bigger data, or higher demands on your systems, scaling your server is crucial to keeping things running smoothly.  But how do you choose between scaling out (adding more […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/scaling-out-vs-scaling-up-which-is-best-for-your-server/">Scaling Out vs. Scaling Up: Which is Best for Your Server?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com">Login VSI</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ <p>As IT professionals understand, server performance needs can fluctuate over time, driven by factors like company growth, seasonal spikes, or reduced-demand periods. Whether dealing with more users, bigger data, or higher demands on your systems, scaling your server is crucial to keeping things running smoothly. </p> <p>But how do you choose between scaling out (adding more servers) or scaling up (making one server more powerful)?</p> <p>This article will <a href="https://www.cockroachlabs.com/blog/vertical-scaling-vs-horizontal-scaling/">explore the differences</a> between these options, their pros and cons, and strategies to help you make the right choice for your business. Let’s break it down!</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-scaling-up"><strong>What Is Scaling Up?</strong></h2> <p>Scaling up (also known as vertical scaling) means upgrading your current server by adding more resources, like more memory (RAM), better processors (CPUs), or more storage space. Essentially, you’re making a single server more powerful.</p> <p>This method is straightforward because it doesn’t require adding new servers to your system. You’re just boosting the performance of the one you already have. However, there are limits to how much you can improve a single machine, and costs can quickly increase as you need more advanced hardware.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-is-scaling-out"><strong>What Is Scaling Out?</strong></h2> <p>Scaling out (or horizontal scaling) means adding more servers to share the workload. Instead of improving just one machine, you distribute tasks across multiple servers. For example, if your website starts handling more traffic than one server can manage, scaling out allows you to add more servers to handle the additional users.</p> <p>This approach is great for flexibility. As your business demand grows, you can add servers to meet demand. However, managing a network of servers can be more complicated than handling just one powerful machine.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-would-you-choose-scaling-up"><strong>Why Would You Choose Scaling Up?</strong></h2> <p>Scaling up has some clear advantages:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Simplicity</strong>: There’s only one server to manage, which makes it easier for your team. You don’t need to worry about coordinating multiple machines or balancing the load between servers.</li> <li><strong>Performance Boost</strong>: You get a quick and powerful improvement in performance, which can be helpful if you need immediate results.</li> <li><strong>Less Complexity</strong>: Since you’re only dealing with one server, there are fewer points of failure, and software management is simpler.</li> </ul> <p>However, there are downsides:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Limited Growth</strong>: Eventually, no matter how much you upgrade, one server will reach its maximum potential. There’s a limit to how far you can push one machine.</li> <li><strong>Higher Costs</strong>: High-performance hardware, like top-tier CPUs or large amounts of RAM, can be expensive. As your needs grow, the cost of scaling up increases significantly.</li> </ul> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-would-you-choose-scaling-out"><strong>Why Would You Choose Scaling Out?</strong></h2> <p>Scaling out brings a different set of benefits:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>More Flexibility</strong>: Adding more servers as your business grows makes it easier to handle fluctuating workloads.</li> <li><strong>Redundancy</strong>: If one server fails, others can pick up the slack, making your system more reliable and resilient. This reduces downtime and ensures your business continuity.</li> <li><strong>Cost Distribution</strong>: Instead of spending a lot on one powerful server, you can gradually spread the cost across multiple servers, adding them as your needs increase.</li> </ul> <p>Of course, scaling out isn’t perfect either:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>More Management</strong>: With more servers comes more complexity. You’ll need to manage a larger network of machines, which may require more time, effort, and specialized skills.</li> <li><strong>Potential for Bottlenecks</strong>: If your system isn’t set up correctly, problems could arise with how tasks are distributed across servers, leading to inefficiencies.</li> </ul> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-cost-differences-scaling-up-vs-scaling-out"><strong>Cost Differences: Scaling Up vs. Scaling Out</strong></h2> <p>When it comes to cost, both options have different structures:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Scaling Up</strong>: In the short term, it may be cheaper to upgrade one machine. But as your needs grow, the cost of keeping up with advanced hardware can balloon.</li> <li><strong>Scaling Out</strong>: You can start smaller and add servers over time, making managing costs easier. However, the overall cost of maintaining and managing multiple servers might increase in the long run.</li> </ul> <p>Choosing between the two depends on your business’s immediate and future needs and your budget.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-which-is-better-for-performance"><strong>Which Is Better for Performance?</strong></h2> <p>Scaling up is often the faster solution if you need a quick performance boost. Adding more RAM or upgrading your CPU can give you an immediate improvement. But if your business is growing fast or you expect many more users in the future, scaling out may be the better long-term strategy.</p> <p>By adding more servers, you distribute the workload more evenly. This is especially important for businesses that experience sudden spikes in traffic or need to support many users simultaneously.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-login-enterprise-can-help-you-decide"><strong>How Login Enterprise Can Help You Decide</strong></h2> <p>Choosing between scaling up and scaling out can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re unsure how your server will handle future growth. That’s where Login Enterprise can help.</p> <p>Login Enterprise offers a testing platform that simulates real-world scenarios on your server. Using <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/platform/pre-production-visibility/?">virtual user load testing</a>, the platform can help you understand how your current setup will perform under different conditions. It can also test both scaling methods to see which performs best for your environment.</p> <p>Login Enterprise gives your IT team valuable insights by measuring key metrics like:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Latency</strong>: How long it takes for your server to respond to user requests.</li> <li><strong>Resource Usage</strong>: How much CPU, RAM, or storage your server uses under different loads.</li> <li><strong>Performance at Scale</strong>: How well your system handles more users or tasks, whether you scale up or scale out.</li> </ul> <p>With this information, you can make data-driven decisions on whether scaling up or scaling out is the right path for your business. Instead of guessing, you’ll know exactly how each option affects your infrastructure.</p> <p>Login Enterprise helps you compare scaling strategies and <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/solutions/proactive-issue-detection/">identifies potential bottlenecks</a> or issues before they become a problem. This means optimizing your server’s performance and avoiding costly downtime or slowdowns. By running these tests, IT can ensure your business can handle growth without compromising performance or spending more than necessary.</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-choosing-the-right-scalability-option"><strong>Choosing the Right Scalability Option</strong></h2> <p>Choosing between scaling up and scaling out depends on your business’s unique needs. Scaling up might be the right choice if you’re looking for simplicity and immediate performance improvements. However, scaling out is often the better long-term solution if you want flexibility, better redundancy, and room for growth.</p> <p>No matter which option you choose, using <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/platform/">Login Enterprise</a> to test your infrastructure’s limits ensures you make the best decision based on real-world performance data. By taking a proactive approach, you’ll be ready for whatever growth comes your way without unnecessary costs or performance issues.</p> <p>Want to learn more about how Login Enterprise can help you optimize your infrastructure? <a href="https://euc.loginvsi.com/login-enterprise-talk-to-sales"><strong>Get your demo now! </strong></a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/scaling-out-vs-scaling-up-which-is-best-for-your-server/">Scaling Out vs. Scaling Up: Which is Best for Your Server?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com">Login VSI</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Why Persona-Based Workloads Are Critical for Optimizing Windows Endpoints </title> <link>https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/why-persona-based-workloads-are-critical-for-endpoints/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Courtney James]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 04 Oct 2024 13:00:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Endpoints Performance]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.loginvsi.com/?post_type=resource&p=21822</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>Endpoint functionality and performance testing, during changes and updates, is critical for both virtual and physical devices to function smoothly, deliver optimal user experiences, and prevent costly downtime.   One aspect of this testing is the type of workload (steps within the applications) used to simulate user activity. While our standard Knowledge Worker workloads offer a […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/why-persona-based-workloads-are-critical-for-endpoints/">Why Persona-Based Workloads Are Critical for Optimizing Windows Endpoints </a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com">Login VSI</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ <p>Endpoint functionality and performance testing, during changes and updates, is critical for both virtual and physical devices to function smoothly, deliver optimal user experiences, and prevent costly downtime. </p> <p>One aspect of this testing is the type of workload (steps within the applications) used to simulate user activity. While our standard Knowledge Worker workloads offer a one-size-fits-all approach, persona-based workloads deliver a more nuanced, targeted simulation of your users’ behavior. But why does this matter? </p> <p>Let’s explore the importance of persona-based workloads and how they can elevate performance testing for virtual and physical endpoints. </p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-limits-of-general-workloads-nbsp-nbsp"><strong>The Limits of General Workloads </strong> </h2> <p>General workloads are the traditional method for testing virtual and physical endpoints. Our Knowledge Worker workloads are designed to simulate the activity of a typical user using Office products and a browser. They are often used when companies want to measure baseline performance metrics and detect system bottlenecks or failures. While this approach works to some extent, it has notable limitations. </p> <p>These scripts assume a simple application base and homogeneous user use of the applications. They tend to overlook the unique workflows, software requirements, and usage patterns of different user groups within an organization. </p> <p>For example, a marketing team might rely heavily on multimedia applications and cloud storage, while a finance team focuses on data-intensive applications like spreadsheets and analytics software. A one-size-fits-all script will fail to capture these differences, leading to a mismatch between testing results and real-world performance. </p> <p>By focusing on the “average” user, general workloads can mask the real-world complexities various teams face. This can result in unoptimized endpoints, especially for more demanding use cases, leading to performance issues that could have been avoided. </p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-persona-based-workloads-nbsp"><strong>What Are Persona-Based Workloads?</strong> </h2> <p>Persona-based workloads are essentially scripts that are designed to simulate the activities of specific types of users or personas. These scripts account for the individual behaviors, application usage, and network needs of different user groups within an organization. Businesses can perform more accurate and relevant testing by creating multiple personas—such as remote workers, data-heavy users, customer service agents, or IT admins. Or these scripts can be broken out by business unit or even groups within a specific part of an organization. </p> <p>For instance, a persona-based script for a graphic designer may simulate large file transfers, rendering operations, and the use of multiple screens or graphics software. Meanwhile, a remote worker’s persona might test a lighter workload but place more emphasis on video conferencing tools, VPN access, and cloud applications. </p> <p>Persona-based scripts reflect the unique demands of each user group, allowing businesses to fine-tune both virtual and physical endpoints for optimal performance. This ensures that every employee type has the resources and infrastructure they need to be productive. </p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-enhancing-real-world-accuracy-in-testing-nbsp"><strong>Enhancing Real-World Accuracy in Testing</strong> </h2> <p>One key advantage of persona-based scripts is that they bring real-world accuracy to endpoint performance testing. Every organization has a diverse set of users, and each user group interacts with systems and applications differently. General scripts tend to miss these nuances, which is why organizations often encounter issues after deployment that were not identified during testing. </p> <p>With persona-based testing, businesses can replicate the full spectrum of user behaviors, ensuring that no corner case is overlooked. This level of detail is fundamental in environments where different personas have different performance needs. </p> <p> For example, a healthcare organization may have clinicians who need fast access to patient records, while administrative staff rely on enterprise resource planning (ERP) software. The testing environment must reflect these differences to identify and address any potential performance bottlenecks before they impact real users. </p> <p>Incorporating persona-based scripts in testing helps to uncover issues like application performance degradation, insufficient resource allocation, or network instability that might only occur for specific types of users. </p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-meeting-the-needs-of-hybrid-workforces-nbsp"><strong>Meeting the Needs of Hybrid Workforces</strong> </h2> <p>In the modern workplace, hybrid work models have become increasingly prevalent. This shift has created a growing demand for endpoint performance that can accommodate both remote and on-site employees. Here again, persona-based scripts prove invaluable. A hybrid workforce includes diverse user types, each with unique resource demands and usage patterns. </p> <p>For example, remote workers may depend heavily on cloud services, video conferencing, and VPNs, while on-site employees may rely more on local software installations and shared network resources. Using persona-based testing ensures that the specific needs of both remote and on-site workers are met without compromising performance or productivity. </p> <p>By tailoring testing to the actual workflows and activities of these different personas, organizations can ensure consistent performance across the board—regardless of where users are located or what devices they’re using. </p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-improving-user-experience-with-persona-based-testing-nbsp"><strong>Improving User Experience with Persona-Based Testing</strong> </h2> <p>One of the greatest benefits of persona-based scripts is their ability to enhance user satisfaction. By accounting for the specific needs of different user groups, IT teams can optimize endpoints in a way that directly impacts employee productivity and satisfaction. Testing for various personas ensures that each employee type receives a customized, high-quality experience. </p> <p>Consider an enterprise where the IT team uses persona-based scripts to test the different needs of a software development team versus a customer service team. Developers may require high-powered workstations, fast internet, and access to multiple testing environments, while customer service agents might need robust telephony tools and fast CRM systems. Persona-based testing ensures that each team has the necessary resources to work efficiently, resulting in fewer performance complaints and a more streamlined workflow. </p> <p>By proactively identifying and resolving performance issues for each persona, companies can avoid post-deployment problems and consistently provide an excellent user experience. </p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-login-vsi-implements-persona-based-testing-nbsp"><strong>How Login VSI Implements Persona-Based Testing</strong> </h2> <p>At Login VSI, we understand the importance of precise, detailed testing for endpoint optimization. That’s why we fully support persona-based testing across both virtual and physical endpoints. Our performance testing platform, Login Enterprise, allows organizations to create specific scripts for the personas within their environment, ensuring that performance is optimized for every type of user. </p> <p>Whether it’s testing for a healthcare clinician, a finance officer, or a remote worker, our platform provides the tools needed to identify bottlenecks, optimize resource allocation, and maintain high user satisfaction. Our approach ensures that physical devices and virtual environments are tested thoroughly, creating a unified performance management strategy across the entire workspace environment. </p> <p><a href="https://euc.loginvsi.com/login-enterprise-get-a-demo">Get a live Demo today</a> and discover the power persona-based testing with Login Enterprise.</p> <p></p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/why-persona-based-workloads-are-critical-for-endpoints/">Why Persona-Based Workloads Are Critical for Optimizing Windows Endpoints </a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com">Login VSI</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>How to Turn Hardware Headaches into IT Success</title> <link>https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/how-to-turn-hardware-headaches-into-it-success/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Courtney James]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 23 Sep 2024 17:30:00 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Endpoints Performance]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.loginvsi.com/?post_type=resource&p=21785</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>When hardware starts acting up, it can feel like an endless cycle of frustration—sluggish performance, unexpected crashes, and downtime can wreak havoc on productivity and profitability. But with the right tools and strategies, these challenges don’t have to be a dead end. In fact, they can become opportunities for streamlining operations and driving success. Let’s […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/how-to-turn-hardware-headaches-into-it-success/">How to Turn Hardware Headaches into IT Success</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com">Login VSI</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ <p>When hardware starts acting up, it can feel like an endless cycle of frustration—sluggish performance, unexpected crashes, and downtime can wreak havoc on productivity and profitability. But with the right tools and strategies, these challenges don’t have to be a dead end. In fact, they can become opportunities for streamlining operations and driving success. </p> <p>Let’s explore how!</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-understanding-hardware-headaches"><strong>Understanding Hardware Headaches</strong></h2> <p>No matter the size of your business, hardware issues are inevitable. From outdated machines and slow boot times to insufficient processing power and failing components, the range of problems is vast. Managing a wide array of physical endpoints—desktops, laptops, servers, and network devices—adds further complexity to IT operations.</p> <p>For many IT professionals, these issues feel like recurring headaches that linger no matter what solutions are applied. A slow computer might seem like a minor inconvenience at first, but when multiple workstations or servers are affected, the impact on productivity can be catastrophic. It’s not just about resolving individual problems but about addressing the broader implications.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-common-hardware-issues-it-teams-face"><strong>Common Hardware Issues IT Teams Face</strong></h2> <p>Here’s a look at some of the most common hardware-related challenges IT teams encounter:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>Slow system performance:</strong> Aging hardware or misconfigured systems can lead to sluggish operations.</li> <li><strong>Frequent crashes:</strong> Unpredictable reboots or freezing disrupt workflows and increase the risk of data loss.</li> <li><strong>Connectivity issues:</strong> Faulty network hardware (like routers or switches) can cut off access to critical resources.</li> <li><strong>Outdated components:</strong> <a href="https://tagsolutions.com/how-outdated-hardware-can-seriously-harm-your-business">Older systems</a> may struggle to run the latest software, causing compatibility headaches.</li> </ul> <p>The consequences of persistent hardware problems extend far beyond the IT department. A malfunctioning device doesn’t just slow down one employee—it creates bottlenecks across teams and departments. Worse, repeated failures increase repair costs and can lead to full-scale outages, affecting customer service and your company’s reputation.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-hidden-cost-of-downtime-and-performance-issues"><strong>The Hidden Cost of Downtime and Performance Issues</strong></h2> <p>When hardware fails, businesses face two significant problems: lost productivity and increased costs. While replacing or repairing equipment is an obvious expense, the hidden costs—such as downtime and damaged employee morale—are even more detrimental.</p> <p>Imagine a critical system going offline. Employees can’t access essential tools, and customers are left waiting. Every minute of downtime represents lost revenue, and for large companies, these costs can skyrocket quickly.</p> <p>Even when systems are operational, slow PCs or buggy apps can cause frustration and erode confidence in IT. Over time, this leads to demotivated staff and dissatisfied customers who may take their business elsewhere.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-outdated-approaches-to-handling-hardware-problems"><strong>Outdated Approaches to Handling Hardware Problems</strong></h2> <p>Traditionally, many businesses have taken a reactive approach to hardware issues, waiting for something to break before addressing it. This ‘fix-it-when-it-happens’ method, while common, is neither efficient nor cost-effective.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-typical-hardware-troubleshooting"><strong>Typical Hardware Troubleshooting</strong></h3> <p>The standard response to hardware failure involves IT teams diagnosing the problem, replacing faulty components, or upgrading systems. While these methods might work in the short term, they are reactive by nature, focusing on treating symptoms rather than addressing the root cause. For instance, replacing a hard drive may solve a single issue, but it won’t prevent future crashes if the system’s underlying infrastructure is unstable.</p> <p>Moreover, frequent hardware replacements or upgrades can become a financial drain, especially without a clear understanding of the overall system’s performance.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-revolutionizing-hardware-management-with-modern-tools"><strong>Revolutionizing Hardware Management with Modern Tools</strong></h2> <p>Relying solely on reactive fixes isn’t enough. Modern businesses need proactive solutions that anticipate problems before they disrupt operations—and this is where advanced IT tools come into play.</p> <p>Automation is a game-changer in <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/solutions/agent-impact-analysis/">hardware management</a>. By automating <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/an-introduction-to-smart-automated-maintenance/">routine tasks</a> and continuously monitoring the health of physical endpoints, IT teams can catch performance issues early. Proactive monitoring identifies subtle signs of degradation that might not be noticeable to end users, allowing for fixes before they become critical.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-choose-login-enterprise-for-endpoint-management"><strong>Why Choose Login Enterprise for Endpoint Management?</strong></h2> <p>As businesses increasingly rely on a broad range of physical endpoints, the need for reliable performance management tools has grown. <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/introducing-login-enterprise-for-endpoints/">Login Enterprise</a> stands out as one of the leading platforms for optimizing hardware performance and eliminating the headaches associated with traditional endpoint management.</p> <p>Here’s how Login Enterprise can revolutionize your hardware management strategy:</p> <h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-accelerate-windows-patching"><strong>Accelerate Windows Patching</strong></h4> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Validate application and system functionality after Windows updates.</li> <li>Speed up updates with automated performance and regression testing.</li> <li>Monitor system performance over time to identify trends and prevent slowdowns.</li> </ul> <h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-measure-security-impact-on-performance"><strong>Measure Security Impact on Performance</strong></h4> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Evaluate the performance impact of security tools (e.g., EDR, DLP) and ensure they don’t hog resources.</li> <li>Pinpoint which agents are causing performance issues.</li> <li>Track performance trends over time as security updates accumulate.</li> </ul> <h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ensure-critical-application-performance"><strong>Ensure Critical Application Performance</strong></h4> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>Capture real-world application workflows to ensure automated tests reflect actual usage.</li> <li>Validate performance before deployment, reducing risk and minimizing disruptions.</li> <li>Monitor app performance across all sites and generate SLA reports to ensure compliance.</li> </ul> <p>Login Enterprise seamlessly integrates with your existing IT infrastructure, making it easy to implement and scale as your business grows. With this tool, your IT team can maintain consistent performance and security across all endpoints, driving greater productivity and cost savings.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-transform-your-hardware-management-strategy"><strong>Transform Your Hardware Management Strategy</strong></h2> <p>In the modern IT landscape, addressing hardware problems before they escalate is key to maintaining smooth operations. With tools like Login Enterprise, businesses can embrace a proactive approach to managing physical endpoints—ensuring faster updates, improved security, and optimized performance across all devices.</p> <p>Ready to learn more about the power of Login Enterprise for Endpoints? <a href="https://euc.loginvsi.com/login-enterprise-talk-to-sales"><strong>Get a demo today!</strong></a></p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/how-to-turn-hardware-headaches-into-it-success/">How to Turn Hardware Headaches into IT Success</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com">Login VSI</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>My Month with a Virtual User: An Experiment in System Responsiveness</title> <link>https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/my-month-with-a-virtual-user-an-experiment-in-system-responsiveness/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Brian Martynowicz]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 10 Sep 2024 11:56:53 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[Endpoints Performance]]></category> <category><![CDATA[EUX Score]]></category> <category><![CDATA[GPU]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://heavy-wing.flywheelsites.com/?post_type=resource&p=21756</guid> <description><![CDATA[<p>I shared my workstation with a virtual user for a month, and frankly, it was a strange experience. Sometimes, during Teams meetings, the virtual user would take control of my mouse and keyboard to assess the system’s responsiveness. Thankfully, with a bit of ingenuity, I managed to avoid looking unprofessional—for the sake of science, of […]</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/my-month-with-a-virtual-user-an-experiment-in-system-responsiveness/">My Month with a Virtual User: An Experiment in System Responsiveness</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com">Login VSI</a>.</p> ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[ <p>I shared my workstation with a virtual user for a month, and frankly, it was a strange experience. Sometimes, during Teams meetings, the virtual user would take control of my mouse and keyboard to assess the system’s responsiveness. Thankfully, with a bit of ingenuity, I managed to avoid looking unprofessional—for the sake of <em>science</em>, of course. Along the way, I made some interesting observations, which I’ll share below.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image"><img decoding="async" src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcboioxvqQI93NJVbqbcBlu_B4K9Wgz7RK7E_Xg2WYGp2ns7tYVJzZVpgzs-vmWOFlovZFhQEFbVWX49QXr-jPGqtbglKAH_m2vhakpdRhLR8zfcYIpAGIUnadahpKguhwFewFSD8_HILY9u3P-8LrxJg79?key=1Ig-9OUUXnJ_8sNrr3qD6w" alt=""/></figure> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-key-learnings-from-the-experiment"><strong>Key Learnings from the Experiment</strong></h2> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-virtual-environments-vs-physical-desktops"><strong>Virtual Environments vs. Physical Desktops</strong></h3> <p>Physical desktops often turn their screens off to conserve power and benefit the environment. This doesn’t happen as frequently in virtualized environments. From my experience, when results were displayed in Login Enterprise’s continuous test, the EUX score would register a “0.”</p> <p>Why? Because the user interface never fully “creates” while a screen saver is active. Why should it? This leads to the virtual user being unable to complete some of the EUX calculations. While we registered a zero for certain timers, other measurements were still gathered and are shared below.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-mouse-control-challenges"><strong>Mouse Control Challenges</strong></h3> <p>I noticed that sometimes when I competed for mouse control during the user input scoring, it could cause challenges with the collected timer. By monitoring my system for an extended period, I can confidently proclaim I would benefit from additional memory. I typically operated at 80% memory occupancy, and any system changes or additional tasks quickly consumed the remaining overhead.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-application-performance-and-visibility-gaps"><strong>Application Performance and Visibility Gaps</strong></h3> <p>Interestingly, when my EUX score was particularly high, I sometimes encountered issues with specific applications or parts of my workflow. I implemented additional application workflows to address this, even though I initially resisted. While I was comfortable with Login Enterprise’s virtual user interacting with my system in a limited capacity, I didn’t want it reading my emails or modifying blog posts—like the one you’re reading right now!</p> <p>The virtual user can recognize applications like Outlook when certain criteria are met. For example, if Outlook is already running, it will attempt to reattach and continue the workflow instead of failing.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-unproven-hypotheses-and-early-insights"><strong>Unproven Hypotheses and Early Insights</strong></h3> <p>An interesting pattern emerged during data collection: a noticeable difference between the measured responsiveness of the “My Documents” and “Local Appdata” tests. The interactions were the same, and both data locations were stored on the same physical disk. Yet, there was a clear performance difference.</p> <p>This may be due to antivirus (AV) scanning behaviors in user-oriented storage locations, while general system file locations typically require elevated permissions and are less affected. While this is purely speculative, it could be worth investigating further by gathering more performance counters or process monitoring data. </p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-experiment-log"><strong>Experiment Log</strong></h3> <p>Here’s a brief timeline of notable events during the experiment:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><strong>7/12</strong> – Started running the experiment at 8 p.m. EST. Registered a 9.2 EUX score.</li> <li><strong>7/15</strong> – At 11:33 a.m., I experienced poor user performance. Applications were slow to load, and deleting Outlook messages was painstakingly slow. The task manager also took a while to open. Despite this, the EUX score remained 9.2. This highlights the importance of monitoring specific applications rather than relying solely on overall system data.</li> <li><strong>7/16</strong> – At 12:58 p.m., I launched EUX while recording a video with Nick. The machine’s performance seemed fine, but I wondered how resource availability affected EUX task responses.</li> <li><strong>7/24</strong> – This week and next, I’ll be traveling and not always plugged in, so some EUX scores may reflect my laptop running in balanced power mode instead of performance mode.</li> </ul> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1464" height="654" src="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/figure-1a.png" alt="" class="wp-image-21772"/></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1469" height="652" src="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/figure-1b.png" alt="" class="wp-image-21773"/></figure> <p><em>Figure </em><em>1</em><em>. CPU utilization percentages in July indicate that during the execution of the virtual user workload, you would see, on average, around 40% utilization. </em></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1475" height="652" src="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/figure-2.png" alt="" class="wp-image-21775"/></figure> <p><em>Figure </em><em>2</em><em>. We follow a similar pattern in August. However, at the beginning of August, you see a few periods of elevated processor utilization %. </em></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1472" height="651" src="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/figure-3.png" alt="" class="wp-image-21776"/></figure> <p><em>Figure </em><em>3</em><em>. The pattern of memory utilization is that, on average, around 70% of the system’s memory was occupied at the time of virtual user execution during July. </em></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1477" height="650" src="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/figure-4.png" alt="" class="wp-image-21777"/></figure> <p><em>Figure </em><em>4</em><em>. Looking at August data shows that, on average, 10 – 15% more memory occupied at time execution. This indicates a reduction of available memory overhead. </em></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1466" height="651" src="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/figure-4-1.png" alt="" class="wp-image-21778"/></figure> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1477" height="648" src="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/8-e1726002628817.png" alt="" class="wp-image-21789"/></figure> <p><em>Figure </em><em>5</em><em>. The CPU metric was collected while I was in the middle of a Teams meeting and presenting. </em></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1467" height="652" src="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/figure-5.png" alt="" class="wp-image-21779"/></figure> <p><em>Figure </em><em>6</em><em>. You’ll notice a growth in the gap between My Documents and Local AppData I/O scores. This is interesting. Seems whatever is causing the deviation (as the behavior is the exact same) is growing. As a note, this machine is running OneDrive and synchronizing the contents with Microsoft. AV software which is running is Windows Defender – </em></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1468" height="649" src="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/figure-6.png" alt="" class="wp-image-21780"/></figure> <p><em>Figure </em><em>7</em><em>. Speculation about the difference in performance is related to OS operations or AV operations against user storage locations vs. OS. </em></p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1099" height="805" src="https://www.loginvsi.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/figure-7.png" alt="" class="wp-image-21781"/></figure> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-final-observation"><strong>Final Observation</strong></h2> <p>Overall, the virtual user worked fairly well, aside from occasional interruptions. However, I learned that trying to “steal” focus from the virtual user during data gathering could disrupt the process of determining application performance measures.</p> <p>In conclusion, this experiment revealed the potential benefits and challenges of sharing a workstation with a virtual user. While it led to valuable insights, it also raised questions about system resources and performance visibility that warrant further investigation.</p> <p>The post <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com/resources/blog/my-month-with-a-virtual-user-an-experiment-in-system-responsiveness/">My Month with a Virtual User: An Experiment in System Responsiveness</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.loginvsi.com">Login VSI</a>.</p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> </channel> </rss>