Customers often ask:

Which is the best AWS instance for load testing?

It’s a great question. However it never has a direct answer:)

As an AWS Advanced Technology Partner, we’ve had a lot of experience with AWS. Here’s how we respond.

1 – First, it depends on what kind of testing framework you’re using, whether it’s JMeter, Gatling, Selenium or something else. For simple HTTP endpoint test or simple PHP/Python, start with T class. For other environments, start with M5 class machines.  Also, we do suggest trying to use SPOT instances to keep the cost down. See this AWS Primer on Spot vs. On-Demand instances.

2 – Once your test is ready, start it on a small size instance and see how many users you can simulate without impacting the test. Check CPU of the load agent. We provide a graph of that during the test run. From there you can scale up machine size and user count. NOTE: Smaller size instances in AWS limit network throughput – we provide that graph as well.

Here are some other resources that will help you when using AWS for load testing.

Amazon EC2 Instance Types

Load Testing with Different AWS EC2 Instance Types Gives Different Results

AWS Per Second Billing – Save More with AWS and Redline13 Load Testing!

Can You Load Test an AWS Hosted Site with AWS Load Generators?

Better Load Testing with AWS Instance Tagging

Unavailable AWS Instance Types and Instance Pricing Help

RedLine13 Announces Support for New AWS T3 Instances

JMeter Pro Tip – Extracting AWS Meta Data For your JMeter Test

We always like feedback. What have you found is the best AWS instance for your load testing? And tell us why.

And if you haven’t run a load test with RedLine13, run your own RedLine13 test now.