Random Data in JMeter Performance Tests

In a related post, we discussed how to parameterize your JMeter tests from a CSV source file. In this article we will take things a step further, and show you how to introduce variability into your requests by pulling from your CSV source file to have random data in your JMeter performance tests. Random CSV Data Set Config Plugin Building upon the functionality of the CSV Data Set Config plugin that ships with JMeter, there isRead More →

filter the JMeter Dashboard Report

When you run a JMeter load test on RedLine13 with output files enabled, a JMeter Dashboard Report is automatically generated. The results complement the RedLine13 test results page. In certain use cases it may be necessary to filter the data displayed and recreate the report on a subset of that data. In this post, we will cover how the report is generated, and how to filter the JMeter Dashboard Report to display customized results. How isRead More →

Protecting Sensitive Data

One of the primary functions of a load test is to vet target test applications to see how well they can hold up to production conditions. In that endeavor it is sometimes necessary to provide login credentials and other protected information to be used in conjunction with these tests. This can present a challenge in protecting sensitive data when load testing in the cloud. In this post, we will cover how to test with JMeter inRead More →

A Guide to JMeter Preprocessors and Postprocessors

When building your JMeter test, samplers provide the core functionality. They are responsible for sending the actual HTTP requests and handling those responses. However, as your test becomes more complex and sophisticated, it may be desirable to add conditional logic to your requests. Furthermore, you may wish to dynamically process the inputs and outputs to these. JMeter provides this functionality though a host of preprocessors and postprocessors. This brief post will serve as a guide toRead More →

JMeter Timers Primer

Some of the most versatile components in JMeter are timers. Without JMeter timers, elements of a JMeter test plan are executed sequentially without pausing. This can potentially overwhelm your target test application by generating too many requests in a short period of time. In this brief post, we will cover most of the available types of timers that can be used in JMeter test plans. You can find all available timer elements under the “Timers” submenuRead More →

JMeter Dashboard Report Total Row

The JMeter Dashboard Report can be displayed from any RedLine13 test which has output files enabled.  One question we frequently get from customers using JMeter is how the JMeter Dashboard Report Total row is calculated. Found within the Summary table for this report, the Total row is displayed in a non-intuitive way. Without knowledge of what this line represents, the design of the report with regard to the Total row can be confusing. Depending on what informationRead More →

Schedule a load test

Once some users have written their load tests, they want to schedule a load test to run at a particular time or as part of a continuous integration build process. Or even run a recurring test at the same time on a schedule.  The RedLine13 API makes this all possible. A Practical Example In a previous post we showed how to get started using the RedLine13 API. Building upon this, you can use your scripting languageRead More →

Troubleshooting Common Issues with Selenium Tests on RedLine13

Many RedLine13 customers have a need for full-browser testing. This is something we support with Selenium WebDriver. In this brief post we will cover common issues encountered with Selenium WebDriver tests and when scaling load testing on RedLine13. Test Never Completes Occasionally we encounter a Selenium WebDriver test that otherwise appears to run as expected, however never completes. One possible explanation is a simple one, where the driver.quit() statement is omitted. const main = () =>Read More →

Extracting Metadata from Load Generator Instances

RedLine13 load generator instances are backed by AWS EC2 instances. AWS exposes a special locally-addressable endpoint that returns metadata about that instance. Using this, you can ascertain such things as the region in which your instance resides, private and public addresses, and instance tags amongst other useful data points. A specific example of where this would be useful is where you have defined a load test to run in multiple regions, with a number of EC2-backedRead More →

Pitfalls of Selenium Load Testing

Tests created with Selenium WebDriver replicate the user experience from the perspective of the UI.  It can be thought of as a top-down approach whereby it accurately replicates the behavior of an end user. Running through a browser instance such as Chrome or Firefox, the test process itself interacts with the actual user interface elements of a target test application. This is in contrast to many other testing frameworks.  One of the most popular is JMeter,Read More →