Patent ID: 8135816

Claim:
A method, by a driving device, of applying a desired load to a system under test, the method comprising: emulating a plurality of virtual users, each virtual user in communication with a system under test and configured to perform a sequence of load testing tasks to apply a desired load to the system under test; performing, by each virtual user, the load testing tasks until a predetermined rendezvous point is reached and stopping the performing of the load testing tasks in response to reaching the predetermined rendezvous point; determining if all respective virtual users have reached the predetermined rendezvous point; wherein if the driving device comprises the only one driving device: in response to determining that all respective virtual users have reached the predetermined rendezvous point, releasing the virtual users to continue performing the load testing tasks; wherein if the driving device comprises one of more than one driving device: in response to determining that all respective virtual users have reached the predetermined rendezvous point, notifying a controlling device that all respective virtual users have reached the predetermined rendezvous point; in response to a determination by the controlling device that all driving devices have notified the controlling device, receiving from the controlling device a notification to release the virtual users to continue performing the load testing tasks; and in response to receiving the notification, releasing the virtual users to continue performing the load testing tasks.