Virtual User Hour

A Virtual User Hour (VUH) represents one virtual user running for one hour. VUH provides flexibility when running tests that require more virtual users than your license includes. You can cover most scenarios with your license VUs and use a pay-as-you-go bucket for any extra needs. There are common VUH use cases, such as the following:

  • Exceeding license limits: Run tests with more virtual users than your license includes. For example, run a 2,500-VU test with a 1,000-VU license by consuming VUH.

  • Concurrent usage: Run tests when other team members are using the license VUs. For example, if 500 VUs out of a 1,000-VU license are leased, you can still run a 1,000-VU test by using VUH.

How to calculate your VUH

NeoLoad calculates VUH based on the maximum number of virtual users and the test duration. It applies the following calculation formula:

  • VUH=Maximum VUs×Test Duration (in seconds)3600,rounded up\text{VUH} = \frac{\text{Maximum VUs} \times \text{Test Duration (in seconds)}}{3600}, \text{rounded up}VUH=3600Maximum VUs×Test Duration (in seconds)​,rounded up

Let's say a test reaches 125 VUs and runs for 13 minutes and 25 seconds. Following the formula 125×(13×60+25)÷3600=27.95125 \times (13 \times 60 + 25) \div 3600 = 27.95125×(13×60+25)÷3600=27.95 it rounds up to 28 VUH.

NeoLoad provides an estimated VUH consumption before the test starts. After the test ends, NeoLoad calculates the actual usage based on the real duration and VU count. If the test ends early, the actual consumption may be lower than estimated. If the test runs longer or virtual users are added, the consumption may exceed the estimate.

VUH prioritization

When running tests, NeoLoad uses resources in the following order:

  1. Web VUs

  2. SAP VUs

  3. VUH

Let's say a 1,100-VU test with 1,000 Web VUs and 200 SAP VUs uses 1,000 Web VUs and 100 SAP VUs, then no VUH are required. But when a 1,300-VU test with the same license uses 1,000 Web VUs, 200 SAP VUs, and VUH for the remaining 100 VUs.

Where to use VUH

You can configure and use VUH in NeoLoad Web—SaaS or on-premises—when using it as the license server. The table below shows VUH availability based on your test setup:

Test launched from Load generation: Customer infrastructure Load generation: NeoLoad cloud infrastructure
NeoLoad Web SaaS Supported Supported
NeoLoad Web on-premises Supported Not supported
NeoLoad Controller Supported Supported

VUH availability for technologies

VUH supports specific testing technologies:

  • Supported: Web and Citrix tests

  • Not supported: SAP GUI tests