Accessing Test Environments

To get the most accurate test results, you must have a complete setup. Proper test configuration ensures the errors you receive are meaningful. For example, a staging server configuration that differs too much from Production or can’t support tester traffic doesn’t reflect user experience and could generate inaccurate results.

Following are things to keep in mind before running your tests.

Most Tests Should Be Run in a Staging or QA Environment

The environment where you execute your Rainforest tests should reflect Production as closely as possible. Items to check include:

• Infrastructure. Software versions and configuration.
• Realistic test data. Fake user accounts, products, and datasets.
• Application. Codebase and server configuration.

Testers Must Be Able to Access Your Testing Environment

When testing, you might discover one or more levels of security restricting access to your staging site. For information on checking your access, see How to Work with Web Application Security.

Account for Tester Load on Your Staging Server

Large test runs generate a lot of traffic on your staging site. Make sure your infrastructure can accommodate this traffic. Items to check include:

• CPU and memory
• Network bandwidth
• Firewall capacity
• Server capacity

If you have any questions, reach out to us at [email protected].