How To: Extend the Network Types for a Visual Studio Load Test

Out-of-the-box Visual Studio allows testers to define a network mix for load tests with the following network profiles:

  • LAN
  • T3 6.0 Mps
  • T1
  • Cable/DSL 1.5Mbps
  • Cable/DSL 768k
  • Cable/DSL 384k
  • Dial-up 56k
  • Dial-up 33.6k
  • Dial-up 28.8k

If we want to add an additional entry, say "Dial-up 128k", we'll have to add a new network profile definition file.

These files can be found in the following folder:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 9.0\Common7\ide\Templates\LoadTest\Networks

Just select an appropriate file (say "Dial-up 56k.network"), copy and rename it (to "Dial-up 128k.network") and edit it's contents accordingly:

 <Network Name="Dial-up 128k" BandwidthInKbps="128">
</Network>

You'll have to close all Visual Studio instances and re-open them so that it can reload all network profiles.

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