Internet of Things (IoT) Performance Testing

Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of interconnected devices, vehicles, and other electronic devices that collect and exchange data.A typical IoT system consists of applications, networks, databases, and sensors. This is a unique ecosystem that poses previously uninspected challenges to the testing procedures and guidelines.Just look at the list of IoT protocols – CoAP, XMPP, Zigbee, MQTT, IoTivity, etc.The main reason why IoT load and performance testing is different is that it involves multiple components and endpoints, all unique and independent entities that have to work in tandem without compromising performance, speed, and accuracy.Hardware performance, interface performance, and network performance are just a few of the parameters in question.IoT architecture consists of three main layers:

• The Endpoints and the Gateway –  As the name suggests, endpoints are essentially thousands (or millions) of hardware devices in the field that your customers are using 24/7. How do the endpoints send signals and messages to the IoT platform? Via the IoT gateway, which records and stores data for use (using data link protocols) as soon as the endpoint goes online.
• The Platform – This is the middle layer that handles all collected data
• The Application – This is the software ecosystem where all the magic happens. This layer also includes end-user and third-party applications.

Furthermore, testing IoT ecosystems in ideal lab scenarios is not enough.IoT load and performance testing require the simulation of network parameters, virtual gateways, and fluctuating workloads.With such complex environments that are full of sensors, machines, and software, you need to be able to simulate real-life conditions to understand the robustness of your IoT product.

Courtesy: Apposite-Tech

It’s not just customer satisfaction we are talking about here.Regarding healthcare or transportation, personal safety can be jeopardized due to the life-critical tasks the IoT products are performing on an ongoing basis.Let’s take a closer look at the challenges.

To provide a connection between the app and devices, vendors use protocols.Unfortunately, there is no standard for protocol usage, which means that your provider might use any protocol like HTTP, MQTT, AMQP, etc.IoT technology is still not mature, and protocols are being developed on the go.Due to the absence of standardized sets of protocols, niche testing tools might not cover your needs.Developers use APIs to enable smoother interaction with the device.As testers utilize API and protocol for their tests, the testing tool must support them effectively.The IoT market needs to come up with consistent protocol regulations.

Performance testing to a wide range of various devices and ensuring that performance remains consistent is truly challenging.Testers need to understand the architecture of the app/s and make sure that devices and software correspond with the correct version.Especially if the application is integrated with third-party services, it is vital to keep track of their performance and possible changes.

Network Connectivity Limitations and Constraints

Emulation is extremely challenging today because thousands and millions of sensors on endpoints send data to gateways at predefined (and varying) intervals.Additional problems arise because these endpoints are connected to restricted networks, leading to packet losses and latency issues.The workflow has to be understood clearly before any IoT load or performance testing is performed.

Creating Realistic Scenarios

The diversity of devices makes it harder to create realistic test scenarios.To get anywhere close to the real-world conditions, the QA team might need to simulate millions of various devices, which is highly difficult and expensive.Furthermore, before even starting the testing, it’s also essential to understand the dynamics of the IoT architecture, from the endpoints all the way to the app layer.

The scale of the testing work for an IoT application is overwhelming.An IoT solution includes millions of interconnected devices that are hooked up to the cloud or on-premise servers.Creating tests that cover all of the parts of such complex infrastructure is always a difficult endeavor.Furthermore, the devices and servers connect via the public internet, making them slower and more vulnerable.As IoT grows and evolves, it benefits the industry and gives more ammunition to hackers, who are always finding new ways to penetrate IoT ecosystems.Ensuring the overall safety of the app gets even more difficult.