Monitor scheduling in Postman

Introduction

Monitor scheduling helps you run your API tests automatically at set times. This way, you can check your API health without doing it manually.

You want to check if your API is working every hour.

You need to test your API after every deployment automatically.

You want to get alerts if your API stops working during the night.

You want to run performance tests daily without manual effort.

You want to share test results regularly with your team.

Syntax

Postman

In Postman app or Postman web:
1. Go to Monitors tab.
2. Click 'Create a monitor'.
3. Select the collection to run.
4. Set the schedule (e.g., every 1 hour, daily at 9 AM).
5. Configure environment and notifications.
6. Save and start the monitor.

You can schedule monitors to run at intervals like minutes, hours, or days.

Monitors run your saved collections automatically and show results in Postman.

Examples

This runs your API tests twice every hour automatically.

Postman

Schedule monitor to run every 30 minutes

This runs your tests once a day early in the morning.

Postman

Schedule monitor to run daily at 8:00 AM

This runs your tests once a week to check API health regularly.

Postman

Schedule monitor to run weekly on Monday at 10:00 AM

Sample Program

This example shows how to set up a monitor to run your API tests every hour automatically. You don't need to run tests manually anymore.

Postman

1. Open Postman.
2. Create a collection with API requests.
3. Go to Monitors tab.
4. Click 'Create a monitor'.
5. Select your collection.
6. Set schedule to run every 1 hour.
7. Choose environment if needed.
8. Save the monitor.

Expected result:
- Monitor runs every hour.
- Test results appear in Postman Monitor dashboard.
- You get notified if tests fail.

Important Notes

Make sure your collection has valid tests to get meaningful monitor results.

You can add email or Slack notifications for monitor failures.

Monitors use your Postman environment variables if selected.

Summary

Monitor scheduling automates running API tests at set times.

It helps catch issues early without manual testing.

Set schedules easily in Postman Monitors tab.

Practice

1. What is the main purpose of Monitor scheduling in Postman?

easy

A. To run API tests automatically at set times

B. To manually trigger API tests whenever needed

C. To write new API test scripts

D. To share API collections with team members

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand what monitor scheduling does

   Monitor scheduling runs API tests automatically without manual intervention.

2. Step 2: Compare options with this purpose

   Only To run API tests automatically at set times describes automatic running at set times, matching monitor scheduling.

3. Final Answer:

   To run API tests automatically at set times -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Monitor scheduling = automatic test runs [OK]

Hint: Remember: scheduling means automatic timing [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing manual triggering with scheduling
• Thinking scheduling creates tests
• Mixing sharing collections with scheduling

2. Which of the following is the correct way to set a monitor schedule in Postman?

easy

A. Schedule monitors only via Postman desktop app settings

B. Write a script in the Tests tab to schedule the monitor

C. Use the Runner tab to schedule monitor runs

D. Go to Monitors tab, select collection, then set frequency and time

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify where scheduling is set in Postman

   Scheduling is done in the Monitors tab by selecting a collection and setting frequency/time.

2. Step 2: Check other options for correctness

   The other options are incorrect because scheduling is not done via desktop app settings, scripts, or the Runner tab.

3. Final Answer:

   Go to Monitors tab, select collection, then set frequency and time -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Monitors tab = schedule location [OK]

Hint: Set schedules only in Monitors tab [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to schedule in Runner tab
• Writing scripts to schedule
• Looking for schedule in desktop app settings

3. Consider this monitor schedule set to run every day at 9:00 AM UTC. If today is Monday 8:00 AM UTC and you create the monitor now, when will the first run happen?

medium

A. Immediately after creation

B. Tuesday at 9:00 AM UTC (next day)

C. Monday at 9:00 AM UTC (in 1 hour)

D. Monday at 8:00 AM UTC (now)

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the schedule timing

   The monitor runs daily at 9:00 AM UTC. Current time is Monday 8:00 AM UTC.

2. Step 2: Calculate next run time

   Since 9:00 AM is 1 hour ahead, the first run will be Monday at 9:00 AM UTC.

3. Final Answer:

   Monday at 9:00 AM UTC (in 1 hour) -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Next run = next scheduled time after now [OK]

Hint: Next run is next scheduled time after current time [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming immediate run on creation
• Choosing next day instead of same day if time not passed
• Confusing current time with scheduled time

4. You set a monitor to run every 2 hours but notice it only runs once a day. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. The schedule frequency was set incorrectly to daily instead of every 2 hours

B. The API collection has no tests, so monitor skips runs

C. Postman monitors cannot run more than once a day

D. You need to restart Postman app to apply schedule changes

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the monitor schedule setting

   If monitor runs only once a day despite setting every 2 hours, likely the frequency was set wrong.

2. Step 2: Evaluate other options

   API collection without tests still runs; Postman supports multiple runs per day; restarting app not needed.

3. Final Answer:

   The schedule frequency was set incorrectly to daily instead of every 2 hours -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Check schedule frequency matches intended run rate [OK]

Hint: Verify schedule frequency matches your expectation [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming no tests stops runs
• Thinking Postman limits runs per day
• Restarting app fixes schedule issues

5. You want to monitor an API that updates every weekday at 6 PM UTC. Which schedule setup in Postman Monitor will best fit this requirement?

hard

A. Set monitor to run every hour and add a test to skip weekends

B. Set monitor to run daily at 6 PM UTC and disable weekends

C. Set monitor to run weekly on Friday at 6 PM UTC

D. Set monitor to run daily at 6 PM UTC without any weekend restrictions

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the required schedule

   The API updates every weekday at 6 PM UTC, so monitor should run only Monday to Friday at that time.

2. Step 2: Match options to requirement

   Set monitor to run daily at 6 PM UTC and disable weekends sets daily at 6 PM and disables weekends, matching exactly. Set monitor to run every hour and add a test to skip weekends runs too often and relies on tests to skip. Set monitor to run weekly on Friday at 6 PM UTC runs only once a week. Set monitor to run daily at 6 PM UTC without any weekend restrictions runs on weekends too.

3. Final Answer:

   Set monitor to run daily at 6 PM UTC and disable weekends -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Schedule matches update days and time [OK]

Hint: Disable weekends to run only on weekdays [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Running monitor on weekends unnecessarily
• Using tests to skip runs instead of schedule
• Setting weekly instead of daily schedule