Reuters

Project 1 – News2Web 4.0 (Wave 3) Media Centre London

Assigned to validate performance improvements for News2Web (a news content management and delivery system). The system under test translated data in legacy (System 77) NTM format to NewsML prior to storage (in Oracle/Documentum servers) and subsequent delivery to Next News Generation (NNG). To achieve this it was necessary to:

Analyze system throughput and agree (sign-off) the Performance Requirements Specification,

Document and configure the solution architecture (Click here to see diagram) and develop low-level TCP/IP scripts emulating predicted peak system traffic flow and

Use a VB framework with system listeners to interface and synchronize events between SilkPerformer and Tibco (Reuters message protocol)

Configure Development, Integration and Pre-production environments, undertake respective test execution and present test results using:

   a)      Customized reports for key performance quality parameters (Click here             for an example) and
   b)      Silkperformer Repository reports for percentile achievement against             throughput.

Optimize performance for Processor speed/capacity, Oracle indexes, WebLogic cluster/throttle settings and the Documentum capacity threshold.

The offshore company, Mphasis, together with Reuters formally signed off a complete set of documentation (describing this project and project 2 below) for use with a new News2Web 5.0 Desktop. The New2Web 4.0 was commissioned in April 2005 and is performing satisfactorily.

Reuters Project 2 – News2Web 4.0 (Wave 2) Media Centre London

SilkPerformer scripts, written by Segue especially for Reuters, used advanced techniques and were highly complex – 21 user profiles using 58 functions together with event synchronization (using the VB framework above). Additional, specialist assistance was requested when the existing test team was unable to apply the scripts. To achieve this assignment it was necessary to:

Agree key performance quality parameters, analyze journalist’s global work characteristic and subsequent update of the corresponding business model

Undertake in depth technical analysis of existing scripts and develop new (and enhance existing) SilkPerformer scripts

Define the test environment + software upgrades + Segue user configuration management, execute tests and present result documentation

Document the performance test audit trail (requirements, business model, scripts/results) and recommend/gain business acceptance of News2Web server side performance

Advice test management regarding operational readiness testing

Reuters Project 3 – Trader Global Technology Centre Geneva

Assigned the principal role for evaluating performance of Reuter’s financial intelligence tool -Trader. To achieve this it was necessary to:

Conduct a proof of concept with scripts written in London and subsequently re-run at the Geneva Technology Centre.

Carry out additional business/technical analysis, in Geneva, to establish the scope of testing and devise a test strategy.

Write and test SilkPerformer technical scripts using a variety of protocols (including media streaming, http, html, tcp and xml).

Build a throughput over time model to explore system performance under concurrent function loads (up to 1000 users against twenty functions) and build an increasing load model to stress test the transaction gateway.

Present customized performance results (i.e. results organized for clarity/ease of use).

The above work provided the confidence needed to commence the release of Reuter’s Trader and allowed objective resolution of several subtle but significant performance issues. Finally, the scripts were secured, documented and appropriate training given prior to a formal handover.
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