What is the difference between testing a system under peak and overload conditions?

System testing under peak loads (limit loads) checks how the system operates at the maximum allowable load level, which it should withstand without failures. The goal is to ensure that the system functions stably under conditions close to the maximum declared requirements.

Stress testing aims to verify the system's behavior under loads exceeding its design limits. This helps identify failure points, resilience to failures, and the ability to recover after overload.

In summary:

• Limit load — the maximum load at which the system should operate correctly.
• Exceeding load — a load above the maximum, at which the system may start to degrade or fail, which is important for assessing stability.