This topic describes the billable items, and activation method of Performance Testing Service (PTS).
Billable items
Billing unit
Alibaba Cloud PTS uses the Virtual User Minute (VUM) unit. VUM is a core metric that calculates the resources consumed during a stress testing in PTS.
Calculation method
VUM = Number of used IP addresses × 500 × Stress testing duration (minutes) × (1+Log sampling rate)
Parameter description:
Parameter | Description | Example |
Parameter | Description | Example |
Number of used IP addresses | If you do not use the IP extension feature: In concurrency mode: Number of used IP addresses = Maximum number of concurrent users during the stress testing/500 (rounded up) In requests per second (RPS) mode: Number of used IP addresses = Maximum RPS during the stress testing/4000 (rounded up)
| In concurrency mode: If the maximum number of concurrent users during a stress testing is 1,200, the number of used IP addresses is 3 (1200/500=2.4, rounded up). In RPS mode: If the maximum RPS during a stress testing is 10,000, the number of used IP addresses is 3 (10,000/4000=2.5, rounded up).
|
If you use the IP extension feature, the number of used IP addresses is the specified number of IP addresses. | If you specify 5 IP addresses, the number of used IP address is 5. |
500 | Number of concurrent users: The number of concurrent virtual users for each IP address is set to 500, unrelated to the number of concurrent users configured for a stress testing. | The value is fixed as 500. |
Stress testing duration | The stress testing duration is measured in minutes. If the duration is less than 1 minute, the duration is converted into minutes in proportion. | For example, if the total stress testing duration in your current stress testing scenario is 5 minutes and 40 seconds, the 40 seconds must be converted into minutes in proportion, that is, 0.67 minutes. Therefore, the total stress testing duration is 5.67 minutes. |
Log sampling rate | Sampling rate of stress testing logs (default value: 1%). If you specify a log sampling rate more than 1%, additional VUM consumption incurs. | If you set a log sampling rate to 20%, the total VUM consumption is 1.2 times the original VUM consumption. If you set the log sampling rate to 100% (maximum value), the total VUM consumption is twice the original VUM consumption. |
Example
If you use the default value of the log sampling rate, and the duration of a stress testing is 20 minutes, the VUM consumption of 500 concurrent users: 1× 500 × 20 × 1= 10,000 VUM.
Free quota and discount
From May 11, 2023, if you activate PTS for your account for the first time, a free quota of 5000 VUMs whose validity period is one month is provided.
The VUM quota automatically becomes invalid 30 days after you activate PTS.
The VUM consumption in a stress testing task is preferentially deducted from the VUM quota. After the free quota is used up, the VUM consumption is charged based on the pay-as-you-go billing method.
If the number of concurrent users does not exceed 1,000, you are not charged. You are charged for the stress testing tasks whose number of concurrent users exceeds 1,000 based on the pay-as-you-go billing method.
Billing methods
Scenarios: This billing method is suitable for short-term, infrequent or burstable test requirements.
Pricing: The unit price is higher than that of the resource plan. You are billed by the VUM that you actually consume.
Get started with PTS
Activate PTS
Log on to the PTS page by using your Alibaba Cloud account. Read and agree to the PTS Terms of Service, and then click Activate Now.
Start testing
Log on to the PTS console after the PTS is activated, and Start a stress test within one minute.
Note
By default, the Pay-as-you-go billing method automatically takes effect. After a stress testing task is complete, the system settles the VUM consumption fees generated by the task and automatically deducts the fees from your account balance.
Cost optimization suggestions
Estimate VUM requirements: You can plan your stress testing scale in advance.
Simplify stress testing scenarios: You can reduce redundant connection and simplify scripts.
Real-time monitoring: During a stress testing, you can monitor the bandwidth usage in the PTS console and adjust the number of IP addresses at the earliest opportunity.
Stop testing at the earliest opportunity: After a stress testing is complete, make sure the test automatically ends or you manually stop the task, so that the billing can stop.
Elastic Compute Service (ECS)
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