About Test Sessions
The test session is the object that executes a test. It is the repository for the overall test definition, and it generates the test control messages sent to the test server. The test definition includes the test cases to be run, the assignment of test cases to test servers, the duration of the test, and the sequence of test operations (Automation Control). A test session can house multiple test cases, and you can control the order and method in which the test cases are executed with the Automation Control feature. The Test Session window... is used to configure and execute a test session, and to work with the test results.
When the test session is executed (run), the TAS sends the test case definition and test control messages to the assigned test server. The test server interprets the test definition, creates the necessary emulators, and generates the specified control and optional bearer traffic from the emulators to the SUT. The emulators listen for response, control, or relayed bearer traffic from the SUT and act upon the messages received — replying to the SUT or sending control or bearer traffic to another emulator. As the test progresses, the test servers accumulate the measurements defined by the test cases. These measurements are periodically reported to the TAS, recorded in the test session, and displayed in the Test Session window. The test servers also report the test progress to the TAS, which compiles a test log that can be viewed in the Test Session window.
Your test sessions can run whether you are logged in to the system or not. You can set a test session to run for a number of days or iterations, run the session, and then disconnect from it. You can reconnect to the session at any time to monitor its progress. The test system will remind you of any disconnected sessions when you log in. API commands are also supported, allowing you to execute tests programmatically.
You can use the Test Session window to view the test measurements, graph selected measurements, or export the test measurements to an Excel spreadsheet for more detailed analysis. When the test is complete, the test results (measurements and log) are automatically saved on the TAS, and can be viewed or downloaded at any time.
A test session can be saved to the Test Session Library to preserve the test definition, and to make it available to other users on the system. You can also save the individual test cases in the library, and use them in other test sessions.