Think times are used to simulate human behavior that causes people to wait between interactions with a Web site. Think times occur between requests in a Web test and between test iterations in a load test scenario. Using think times in a load test can be useful in creating more accurate load simulations. You can change whether think times are used or ignored in load tests.

The think profile is a setting that applies to a scenario in a load test. The setting determines whether the think times saved in the individual Web tests are used during the load test. If you want to use think times in some Web tests but not in others, you must place them in different scenarios. For more information about scenarios, see About Scenarios.

Initially, you set whether you use think times in your load tests when you create the load test using the Load Test Wizard. For more information, see How to: Specify Scenarios.

You change whether think times are used in your load tests in the Load Test Editor. For more information, see How to: Change the Think Profile.

The Think Profile options are described in the following list:

Off

Think times are ignored. Use this setting when you want to generate maximum load to heavily stress your Web server. Do not use it when you are trying to create more realistic user interactions with a Web server.

On

Think times are used exactly as they were recorded in the Web test. Simulates multiple users running the Web tests exactly as recorded. Because a load test simulates multiple users, using the same think time could create an unnatural load pattern of synchronized virtual users.

Normal Distribution

Think times are used, but varied on a normal curve. Provides a more realistic simulation of virtual users by slightly varying the think time between requests.