With unattended execution, you can execute graphical user interface tests with a locked screen. For example, you can use it to test keyboard or mouse operations without a user logged in to the agent computer.

When a Tosca Distribution Agent configured for unattended execution receives a test to execute, the Tosca RDP Server opens a remote desktop (RDP) connection to the agent. The Tosca RDP Server runs as a service on the same machine as the Tosca Distribution Agent, and it starts when you open an agent configured for RDP. Once the agent has executed the test, the system closes the RDP connection.

Opening and closing RDP connections may impact execution times. Tricentis recommends limiting the number of Distribution Agents configured for unattended execution.

Install unattended execution

Unattended execution is installed with Tosca Distributed Execution as part of the Tricentis Tosca standard installation. For more information, see chapter "Install Tosca Distribution Agent".

Set up unattended execution

To set up unattended execution for a Tosca Distribution Agent, follow the steps below:

1. Set up Tosca Distributed Execution.

2. The RDP connection needs a port open for outbound communication on the Tosca Distribution Agent. Port 3389 is the default port for Remote Desktop on Windows. If this port is not available on the agent machine, you need to specify a custom port for the RDP connection.

3. Start the Tosca Distribution Agent.

4. Set up a remote desktop connection on the Tosca Distribution Agent.

Once you have set up unattended execution for Tosca Distributed Execution, you can:

1. Create and execute your TestEvents.

2. Monitor the execution of your TestEvents with the Tosca Distributed Execution Monitor.

Configure unattended execution

Specify the timeout to open the RDP connection

The RDP connection is started by the Tosca Distribution Agent. The Tosca Distribution Agent tries to open a connection to the Tosca RDP Server for a set amount of time. If it cannot establish a connection within that time frame, it aborts. If needed, you can increase that time frame.

Specify the attempts to re-establish the RDP connection

By default, the Tosca RDP Server does not try to re-establish the connection to the Tosca Distribution Agent after the connection is lost.

This means that, by default, if you log in to a Tosca Distribution Agent on which unattended execution is running, the execution stops and cannot be resumed.

To configure the Tosca RDP Server to try to re-establish the RDP connection after it is lost, specify the reconnection attempts to the Tosca Distribution Agent.

Specify a custom port for the RDP connection

By default, the RDP connection uses port 3389 on the agent machine for outbound communication. If you want to use another port, specify a custom port for the RDP connection.