Outlook Add-ins Test

Outlook add-ins are integrations built by third parties into Microsoft Outlook using the new web technologies based platform. Microsoft Outlook add-ins have three key aspects:

  • The same add-in and business logic works across desktop Microsoft Outlook for Windows and Mac, web (Office 365 and Outlook.com), and mobile.
  • Outlook add-ins consist of a manifest, which describes how the add-in integrates into Outlook (for example, a button or a task pane), and JavaScript/HTML code, which makes up the UI and business logic of the add-in.
  • Outlook add-ins can be acquired from the Office store or side-loaded by end-users or administrators.

The Outlook add-ins may be useful in connecting the business and social networks of the users. These add-ins when integrated with Microsoft Outlook simplifies the job of the users as they can stay up to date on the status and activities of their contacts by merely overlooking the Microsoft Outlook! When a user complains that it is taking too long to launch the add-ins of the Microsoft Outlook published on Microsoft RDS server, administrators must be able to quickly identify the add-ins that were loaded while the Microsoft Outlook is opened by the user, know how much time each add-in took to load, and thus pinpoint the add-in that is the slowest in loading. The Outlook Add-ins test provides these valuable insights to the administrators. This test auto-discovers all the add-ins integrated with the Microsoft Outlook published on the Microsoft RDS server, and for each discovered add-in, reports the number of times the add-in was loaded and the average and maximum time that add-in took to load. This way, the test points administrators to add-ins that are slow in loading.

This test is disabled by default. To enable the test, go to the enable / disable tests page using the menu sequence : Agents -> Tests -> Enable/Disable, pick the desired Component type, set Performance as the Test type, choose the test from the disabled tests list, and click on the < button to move the test to the ENABLED TESTS list. Finally, click the Update button.

Target of the test : A Microsoft RDS server

Agent deploying the test : An internal agent

Outputs of the test : One set of results for every outlook add-in integrated with the Microsoft Outlook published on the Microsoft RDS server being monitored

Configurable parameters for the test
Parameters Description

Test Period

How often should the test be executed.

Host

The host for which the test is to be configured.

Port

The port number at which the specified host listens to.

DD Frequency

Refers to the frequency with which detailed diagnosis measures are to be generated for this test. The default is 1:1. This indicates that, by default, detailed measures will be generated every time this test runs, and also every time the test detects a problem. You can modify this frequency, if you so desire. Also, if you intend to disable the detailed diagnosis capability for this test, you can do so by specifying none against DD Frequency.

Detailed Diagnosis

To make diagnosis more efficient and accurate, the eG Enterprise embeds an optional detailed diagnostic capability. With this capability, the eG agents can be configured to run detailed, more elaborate tests as and when specific problems are detected. To enable the detailed diagnosis capability of this test for a particular server, choose the On option. To disable the capability, click on the Off option.

The option to selectively enable/disable the detailed diagnosis capability will be available only if the following conditions are fulfilled:

  • The eG manager license should allow the detailed diagnosis capability
  • Both the normal and abnormal frequencies configured for the detailed diagnosis measures should not be 0.
Measurements made by the test
Measurement Description Measurement Unit Interpretation

Number of times loaded in last measure period

Indicates the number of times this outlook add-in was loaded during the last measurement period.

Number

The detailed diagnosis of this measure lists the time and duration for which the outlook add-in was loaded.

Compare the value of this measure across the add-ins to figure out the most/least popular add-in.

Average load time

Indicates the average time taken by this outlook add-in to load.

Secs

 

Maximum load time

Indicates the maximum time taken by this outlook add-in to load.

Secs

Compare the value of this measure across the add-ins to figure out the add-in that is the slowest to load.