Tests
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The ThousandEyes platform enables you to test networked assets that your organization owns, and test SaaS-based assets to which your organization subscribes. This article provides an overview of supported tests types as well as creating and managing tests.
For more information on working with Test Settings, see Working with Test Settings.
ThousandEyes collects data from various vantage points deployed around the internet and inside customer networks. For the most part, these vantage points are called "agents" (with the exception of routing layer tests). To learn more about agents, see Comparison of Agent Types. To learn more about Cloud and Enterprise Agents, see Getting Started with Cloud and Enterprise Agents.
ThousandEyes tests are classified into categories based on layers of operation, as shown in the following diagram:
For more information about the different test types, see Getting Started with Cloud and Enterprise Agent Tests.
Routing layer tests provide methods for collecting internet routing-related information. Routing layer tests measure metrics like routing path changes, reachability, and BGP updates.
Available tests include:
Network layer tests measures network performance and path between an agent and a target device. Video tutorials: Working with Network Tests and Working with Path Visualization. Network layer tests measure metrics like loss, latency, jitter, MTU, and path trace.
Available tests include:
Network layer tests can also include BGP Tests.
DNS layer tests provide record validation and service performance metrics. DNS server tests run queries against target servers, while DNS Trace tests run queries against target DNS resource records. The tests measure resolution time and availability for the target. DNSSEC tests provide keychain verification in a bottom-up manner. Upon selecting a specific domain and the servers to be queried, agents will run DNS and network layer performance metrics for all targeted servers. DNS layer tests measure metrics like domain availability, resolution time, domain trace, and DNSSEC. For more information, see Using the DNS Server View.
Available tests include:
This set of tests touches on various Web technologies starting from the most basic measurement of availability of web server all the way up to performing precision transactions on a target. Web tests target a web server, and measure availability, response time, throughput, redirects, and response codes (HTTP server) or time to load page objects (Page Load), including component count and providing a waterfall view of all page objects. Transaction tests perform a sequence of scripted actions from within an actual browser process, returning waterfall views of all the objects and pages loaded. FTP server tests target an FTP and measure availability, response time, throughput, and reply codes.
ThousandEyes also supports using Custom User-Agent Strings for Web layer based tests. Watch Working with Web Tests to get up-to-speed with Web Layer tests quickly.
Available tests include:
Web layer tests can also include Agent-to-server and BGP tests.
Voice Layer tests look at whether a connection can be established (SIP), as well as testing the exchange of packets after the connection is made (RTP). SIP stands for Session Initiation Protocol and RTP is an acronym for Real-time Transport Protocol. These two actions enable Voice over IP connections. VoIP is a method for delivering voice communications and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks. ThousandEyes provides a way to test the robustness and quality of these types of connections. Video tutorials: Configuring Voice Tests and Using Voice Test Views.
Available test include:
Voice layer tests can also include Agent-to-server and BGP tests.
As a new ThousandEyes user logging in for the first time, an intial setup screen offers the option to select and deploy templates. This allows you to get a few monitors set up quickly so you can get familiar with the platform and to get the most out of ThousandEyes. This onboarding experience is available until you deploy your first test.
A template is a suite of ThousandEyes resources designed for monitoring a target, based on the best practices for that particular type of target. To learn more about templates, see Templates.
Optional: Select areas where you'd like more visibility. This gives us more insight into how our platform can help you meet your monitoring goals.
Select from a list of templates for services you'd like to monitor. You can select more than one.
Continue to Deploying a Template.
After you have deployed your first test, you can use the Start Monitoring button for a similar experience. For more information, see Select a Template via Start Monitoring.
To create a new test, navigate to Cloud and Enterprise Agents > Test Settings. Select the Start Monitoring button in the upper left corner of the Test Settings page. From the Start Monitoring page you can create a single test, build your own template for deploying tests and other monitoring resources, set up monitoring based on auto-detected recommendations, or set up tests and other monitoring resources using templates.
A template is a suite of ThousandEyes resources designed for monitoring a target, based on the best practices for that particular type of target. To learn more about templates, see Templates.
To create a single test, select Start with a single test from the top of the page. This option allows you to manually configure a single test. For information on supported test types and how to configure them, see Getting Started with CEA Tests. For more detailed information on configuring a specific test type, refer to the relevant sub-section in Supported Test Types.
Under the Start with templates section, select one or more templates by clicking on them.
To find a specific template, you can use the Search box to filter available templates by name or certification type.
Templates can also be filtered by collections. Collections group templates by application or vendor.
Continue to Deploying a Template.
The following examples use Associated Service Recommendations. For other types of recommendations, see Test Recommendations.
Select any option under the Start with ThousandEyes based recommendations section. To see more recommendations, click the View all recommendations link to the far right.
To find a specific recommendation, after clicking the View all recommendations link, you can use the Search box to filter by integration or name.
Select the recommendations option you want, and follow the instructions on the screen. These may be different for each recommendations option. To find the appropriate documentation for your selected recommendation, see Test Recommendations.
Continue to Deploying Tests From a Template.
The next step in the dialog shows the Global Settings tab.
Your settings in the Global Settings tab will apply to all the tests you are creating to the template you just selected.
Fill out the fields in the form.
Make sure to give your template a name. The name you provide here will be used as the test label that the template creates, which is applied to all the tests that the template creates.
Included tests are listed on the left. You can use the toggle to the right of the test description to deselect any tests you don't want to create.
Click Review Package.
On the last screen of the Deploy Template dialog, review the components you are about to create. Click Confirm and Deploy.
Look for the confirmation message that your template is successfully deployed.
You can view your template's newly created test components by navigating to Cloud & Enterprise Agents > Test Settings > Tests. To make changes to your test settings, see Working with Test Settings.
To view your updated dashboard, navigate to Dashboards. To learn more about managing dashboards, see Dashboards.
To configure alert notifications to receive alerts through third party tools, see Alert Notifications.
User-defined templates allow you create a set of tests, alert rules, dashboards, and tags from a single template configuration file that you define. For more information, see User-defined Templates.
To configure tests manually, refer to the specific documentation for the test types listed below:
Network Layer Tests: Network Tests
Routing Layer Tests: BGP Tests
DNS Layer Tests
Web Layer Tests: HTTP Server Tests and Web Layer Tests
Voice Layer Tests: Voice Tests
For more information on playing with test settings, see Working With Test Settings.
Transferring tests between Account Groups or Organizations: Changing Ownership of Test.
The test data can also be shared by a public link as described in Sharing Test Data.
ThousandEyes also offers alert notification when a configured event occurs. See Alerts.
Retaining Data Beyond the 90-Day Limit explains how to permanently save events of interest.
