Tests

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.

Agents

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.

Supported Test Types

ThousandEyes tests are classified into categories based on layers of operation, as outlined below:

Layers

Tests

Routing

BGP

Network

Agent to Server, Agent to Agent

DNS

DNS Server, DNS Trace, DNSSEC

Web

HTTP Server, Page Load, Transaction, FTP Server, API

Voice

SIP Server, RTP Stream

For more information about the different test types, see Getting Started with Cloud and Enterprise Agent Tests.

Routing Layer 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

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

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:

Web Layer Tests

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

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.

Onboarding

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.

  1. 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.

  1. Select from a list of templates for services you'd like to monitor. You can select more than one.

  1. 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.

Creating Tests

To create a new test, navigate to Network & App Synthetics > 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.

Create a Single Test

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.

Set Up Tests Using Templates

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.

Set Up Tests From Recommendations

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.

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.

  1. 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 click the checkbox to the right of the test description to deselect any tests you don't want to create.

  1. Click Review Package.

  2. On the last screen of the Deploy Template dialog, review the components you are about to create. Click Confirm and Deploy.

  3. Look for the confirmation message that your template is successfully deployed.

You can view your template's newly created test components by navigating to Network & App Synthetics > 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.

Create Your Own Template

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.

Editing Tests

Once configured, tests are available under Network & App Synthetics > Test Settings. You can edit a single test or edit multiple tests by submitting a batch job. See Searching for Tests for more information on how to refine your search using keywords and filters.

To edit a single test, click on the name of the test from the list of tests on the Test Settings page.

To edit multiple tests, select the checkbox to the left of the test names you want to modify. One helpful shortcut for working with this list is to use filters to limit the list to a specific set of tests so only the ones you want show up in the list. You can then click the box at the top of the checkboxes to select all tests in that list.

Deleting Multiple Tests

To delete multiple tests, select the checkbox to the left of the test names you want to delete. Click on the "Edit" menu at the bottom of the Test Settings page and select Delete. A side panel opens from the right that lists the tests you want to delete. After reviewing the tests, click the Delete button at the bottom of the panel. This submits the job for processing. When complete, you will be notified by an alert via the Bell icon in the upper right of the ThousandEyes app.

Enabling or Disabling Multiple Tests

To enable or disable multiple tests, select the checkbox to the left of the test names you want to delete. Click on the Enable or Disable button at the bottom of the Test Settings page. A side panel opens from the right that lists the tests you want to enable or disable. After reviewing the tests, click the Enable or Disable button at the bottom of the panel. This submits the job for processing. When complete, you will be notified by an alert via the Bell icon in the upper right of the ThousandEyes app.

Searching for Tests

The Test Settings page offers a keyword search and several filters to help you find specific tests. In the Test Settings interface, these fields appear as dropdown menus or search boxes to the right of the main search field. Use the “Add Filter” button for additional values. Selecting values (e.g., “Type: HTTP Server” or “Status: Enabled”) updates the test list dynamically. To clear filters, you can use the “Reset Filters” option. These filters are especially useful for managing large numbers of tests across complex environments.

Type

Type refers to the type of the test, indicating what aspect of the network or application is being monitored. This can include:

  • Agent-to-Agent

  • Agent-to-Server

  • API

  • DNS Server

  • DNS Trace

  • DNSSEC

  • FTP Server

  • HTTP Server

  • Page Load

  • RTP Stream

  • SIP Server

  • Transaction

Filtering by Type lets you narrow down tests to a specific test type.

Test Labels

Labels are user-defined tags assigned to tests for organizational purposes. They help group related tests (e.g., “Production”, “East Coast”, or “Critical Apps”). You can filter by these labels to view tests associated with a specific category or project you’ve defined.

Status

Indicates the current state of the test. This can include:

  • Enabled: The test is actively running and collecting data.

  • Disabled: The test is configured but not running.

  • Deleted: The test has been removed but may still appear for recovery.

Filtering by Status helps you focus on active, paused, or recoverable tests.

Agents

Refers to the ThousandEyes agents (Cloud or Enterprise) assigned to run the test. You can filter by specific agent names, locations, or groups (e.g., “Paris Cloud Agent” or “NYC Enterprise Agent”). This is useful for finding tests running from particular vantage points.

Target

The destination or endpoint the test is monitoring, such as a URL, IP address, domain, or another agent (for agent-to-agent tests). For example:

  • An HTTP test might target “https://www.thousandeyes.com”.

  • A Network test might target an IP like “192.168.1.1”.

Filtering by Target lets you find tests monitoring a specific resource.

Name

The user-defined name that was given to the test when it was created (e.g., “Website Availability Check” or “Database Latency Test”). Filtering by Name allows you to search for tests based on the descriptive titles you assigned.

Interval

The frequency at which the test runs, measured in minutes or hours (e.g., every 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 30 minutes, or 1 hour). Filtering by Interval helps you identify tests running at a specific cadence, which can impact data granularity and resource consumption.

Shared By

Indicates the account group that created or shared the test. This is relevant in multi-user or multi-account environments where tests can be shared across teams. Filtering by Shared By shows tests originated by a specific person or group.

Shared With

Specifies the account groups with whom the test has been shared for visibility or collaboration. Filtering by Shared With helps you find tests accessible to specific teams or stakeholders.

Modified By

Identifies the user who last edited the test’s configuration (e.g., changed the target, interval, or alert rules). This filter can help you track recent changes or audit who updated a test.

Alert Rules

Refers to the alert rules assigned to the test, which define conditions for triggering notifications (e.g., “HTTP response time > 500ms” or “Packet loss > 5%”). You can filter by specific alert rule names to find tests tied to particular monitoring thresholds or notification settings.

Advanced Test Configuration

To configure tests manually, refer to the specific documentation for the test types listed below:

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