Scenario Matrix Template

About

A Scenario Matrix Template for Soak Testing is used to design and track test cases that evaluate a system’s long-term performance stability under sustained load. The objective is to detect performance degradation, memory leaks, database connection issues, and resource exhaustion that may not appear in short-duration tests.

This matrix ensures:

• The system maintains consistent performance over extended periods

• No gradual increase in response times, error rates, or resource usage occurs

• Long-term stability of memory, CPU, and network resources is validated

• System remains reliable under continuous operational load

Soak testing scenarios often simulate 24/7 operations, batch processing schedules, long-running background jobs, and sustained user traffic.

Template

Scenario ID	Scenario Description	Preconditions	Test Data / Inputs	Steps to Execute	Expected Result	Priority	Remarks
SOK-01	Long-duration steady load on main API	Monitoring tools active	Target TPS and payload	Run load for 24+ hours	Response times remain stable, no errors	High	Baseline endurance check
SOK-02	Sustained DB transaction load	DB populated with real-like data	Continuous transaction requests	Run DB queries continuously for test duration	No connection leaks, stable query times	High	Detects DB resource leaks
SOK-03	Long-running user sessions	Session management enabled	12+ hour user sessions	Keep sessions active under load	No unexpected session drops	High	Validates session handling
SOK-04	Background job execution under load	Application with scheduled jobs	Job schedules configured	Run jobs alongside continuous traffic	Jobs complete without delays or failures	Medium	Ensures job performance stability
SOK-05	Memory leak detection	Heap monitoring tools enabled	Normal user activity	Maintain load while tracking memory	Memory usage stays consistent, no leaks	High	Detects memory management issues
SOK-06	Network stability under prolonged traffic	Network monitoring in place	Normal data transfer	Maintain traffic for test duration	No packet loss or connection timeouts	Medium	Ensures stable communication
SOK-07	Error rate monitoring over time	Error tracking configured	Continuous load	Run test while monitoring error logs	Error rates remain within acceptable limits	Medium	Tracks long-term stability
SOK-08	Performance under business hours pattern	Traffic profile for work hours	User activity peaks and dips	Simulate daily traffic for multiple days	Consistent performance across cycles	Medium	Validates daily operational pattern
SOK-09	Resource utilization stability	CPU, memory, disk metrics collected	Normal workload	Monitor utilization trends during test	No upward drift in resource usage	High	Detects resource leaks
SOK-10	Recovery after long-duration load	Test completed	System under normal load	Stop load and observe system	No lingering performance degradation	High	Confirms post-soak stability