When designing tests with JMeter, elements are organized into a hierarchical tree. Within this hierarchy, some elements act as containers and contain child elements. Other elements may appear side-by-side with other elements at the same level, with a typical test plan structure similar to below: While it may be intuitive to envision test plan execution to take place sequentially, there are several rules which JMeter applies to determine the order that test plan elements are executed.Read More →

The JMeter Synthesis Report

Ordinarily when a JMeter load test is run, request metrics are captured and stored in a JTL file. This format is CSV-compatible, which lends well to using spreadsheet applications or other data analysis tools to perform customized post-test analyses. In cases requiring specific advanced analysis, the Synthesis Report plugin can be leveraged to filter raw responses within the JTL file. Configuring the Synthesis Report Plugin As discussed in another recent post, the JMeter Plugins Manager canRead More →

Using the JMeter Plugins Manager

In the space of performance testing, designers have a range of tools at their disposal. Despite being first being introduced more than two decades ago, JMeter has retained a position of popularity. One reason this is true rests in the diverse extensibility of JMeter through the use of plugins. In this post, we will introduce the JMeter Plugins Manager and explain how you can easily add plugins to your test to best achieve your performance testing goals.Read More →

Using Test Fragments in JMeter Tests

Test plan design, while not always application programming per se, definitely shares some concepts of the latter. A common principle of software development is to minimize repeating code. In this article we will show you how Test Plan Fragments can be leveraged in JMeter test plans to reduce repeated elements. Basics of Test Plan Fragments In essence, Test Plan Fragments are groups of test logic which can be referenced by various JMeter controllers, that do notRead More →

Step-by-Step Guide to Testing with JMeter

If you are new to JMeter, you have come to the right place. In this post, we will walk you step-by-step through creating your first, functional JMeter test plan from scratch. We will guide you through how to install JMeter on your local device and navigate the user interface of the test plan editor. Starting from a blank canvas, we will create a basic test plan. From there, we will use RedLine13 to run your testRead More →

Functional Testing vs Performance Testing

Within the paradigm of application testing, there are two broad categories of tests which are often used to complement each other. While there are dedicated tools for each, there is considerable overlap and many of these tools can be used for either purpose. In particular, tools such as JMeter, while traditionally being more associated with performance tests, can be proposed to execute functional tests. In this article, we will describe what each test seeks to proveRead More →

A Gentle Introduction to Load Testing

Suppose you are suddenly tasked with the responsibility to prove application performance through load testing. You have never done this before. Where would you begin? In this article, we will discuss how to approach the planning, selection of tools, and architecture through the typical phases of load testing. Defining Capacity Metrics First, you would have some homework to do. Based on testing goals, there are a number of key performance metrics that should be defined. ItRead More →

Using the JMeter Counter Element

The Counter element is a built-in feature of JMeter which generates sequential reference numbers within the scope of a thread group. These sequential numbers can be useful in identifying or grouping requests originating from a discrete iteration within a recurring process. In this brief article, we will review the features of the Counter element and describe how it may be utilized in a JMeter load test. Configuring the Counter Element There are several parameters that mayRead More →

Getting a “Grounded” Test to Launch

RedLine13 makes it easy to scale your load tests in the cloud, but sometimes there are a few moving parts to coordinate. While it can be disappointing when a test fails to start, in most cases there are only a few common reasons preventing such a “grounded” test from launching. In this article, we will walk through some of these common scenarios. In each of these cases we will discuss troubleshooting steps and potential solutions. NetworkRead More →

The JMeter Loop Controller

Logical flow is an essential aspect of most performance tests. In previous posts we have explored conditional flow elements such as the If Controller, and deterministic test flow using Assertions. In other cases, we may simply want to have control over running a repeating set of requests. The JMeter Loop Controller is a built-in component providing this functionality, which will iterate over a collection of elements and execute them a predetermined number of times. In thisRead More →