Running Tests from Visual Studio vs. A Remote Computer

 Here’s a tip for running tests that will free up your machine from running tests out of Visual Studio.

Test Controller / Agent Setup

First you’ll need a free computer or virtual machine to install the MS Test Controller and Test Agent software on.

Here are the settings I’ve used for the Test Controller and Test Agent(I’ve registered the Test Agent against the Test Controller which is on the same machine):

 

 
















Visual Studio Setup

Now in Visual Studio you will need to configure alternative test settings to use for running tests remotely. To edit test settings go to Test >> Edit Test Settings >> Trace and Test Impact. You can toggle between test settings used by going to Test >> Select Active Test Settings in Visual Studio.  Under Roles add the name of the machine you’ve installed the Test Controller on, in my example I’ve used my QA-Test machine:

 

And that’s it, you’re now free of sitting and watching tests run.