Load testing is a way of ensuring that software works well under real-world scenarios.
A load testing tool is used to recreate the behavior of real users on a variety of software applications using virtual users (VUs). It can simulate anywhere between one and several million VUs, depending on the nature and requirements of the load test. This ability to reproduce so many users makes it an indispensable tool – as it is not possible for humans to conduct this kind of testing on such a large scale.
The tool can be used on-premise or in the Cloud. For extreme tests, where a large quantity of VUs is needed, many servers are required. In this case, testing in the Cloud is the better option as it is more easily scalable than an on-premise solution. A load testing tool is used to:
Using a load testing tool can identify and solve bottlenecks the system might experience in different scenarios. This helps prevent problems from occurring in a live production environment – which might negatively impact the business.
By conducting testing in realistic scenarios, the load testing tool helps protect against poor software performance – including unsavory response time. It can also be adapted to help manage and monitor performance levels in a live production environment.
A load testing tool is used by a number of different professionals:
Settings organizations should consider when making your decision.
Functional Description
Create realistic test scripts.
Design tests quickly, including complex ones.
Features and Benefits
For performance engineers: To create complex test scripts that simulate the diversity of real-world use cases.
For developers: To quickly generate API tests with code.
Functional Description
Support a variety of Web protocols – HTTP, Java, etc.; older protocols such as SAP GUI and Oracle Forms.
Features and Benefits
Provide extended protocol support so testers can test all their current applications.
Simulate complex protocol behaviours to create realistic tests.
Provide early support for emerging protocols.
Functional Description
Simulate mobile users.
Features and Benefits
Mobile behaviors are different from those of desktop. They must be isolated and simulated realistically – considering the specifics of mobile network conditions and different devices.
Functional Description
Generate on-premise and cloud loads – or a combination.
Features and Benefits
An on-premise testing tool that is easy to install, but requires investing in your loading infrastructure
The cloud is more suitable for generating extreme load tests (those with thousands of VUs). It can create loads outside firewalls to simulate realistic conditions
Depending on the application being tested, it might be appropriate to adopt a combination of VUs using on-premise and cloud infrastructure.
Functional Description
Manage/reserve load infrastructure.
Features and Benefits
In large organizations, it can be challenging to manage load infrastructure
Enable teams to collaborate and share test resources (such as load generators and VU licenses).
Functional Description
Scale to thousands or even millions of VUs.
Features and Benefits
Not all load testing tools can scale to accommodate significant tests with thousands or even millions of VUs
Generate millions of VUs – either on-premise or in the Cloud
Synchronize tens or many hundreds of controllers to ensure that load generators are synchronized
Create test reports and analyses that aggregate this data for multiple controllers and load generators.
Functional Description
Analyze tested applications and identify bottlenecks
Features and Benefits
Must have its own monitoring capability or at least be capable of importing monitoring data for analysis
Must be able to provide actionable decision-making information to identify and help resolve bottlenecks
Functional Description
Integrate with Continuous Integration servers to automate performance testing
Features and Benefits
Does it provide standard integration with the most popular CI/CD servers?
Does it offer an API that enables integration with third parties?
Does it permit code-based testing for the integration of performance testing into a fully automated process?
Does it provide an automated success/failure SLA result, so that the test result can be fully automated?
Functional Description
Integrate with other functional testing devices (e.g., Selenium)
Features and Benefits
Through integration with other tools the device lets you reuse existing, functional test scripts for load testing – speeding up the design phase.
Use “browser-based” performance indicators for the end-user experience
Functional Description
Enable different teams to collaborate on performance testing process and results analysis
Features and Benefits
Must let you share test resources (scripts, results, etc.) as well as the test infrastructure itself, including load generators and VU licenses.
Must support teams working together.
Functional Description
Ensure the security of the data being created (user logins and personal info, etc.).
Features and Benefits
Must encrypt the data it handles.
Must be completely secure, with absoutely no backdoors that could compromsie the safety of the data.
Functional Description
Support its customers in a variety of situations (different protocols and custom applications, etc.).
Features and Benefits
Testers must be able to customise protocols based on VUs to create realistic tests
Integrate performance testing into CI/CD pipelines to enable automation
Must provide testers with best practice guidance.
There are several types of load testing tools, with varying yet complementary approaches:
Load testing tools also come in different categories:
Description
The leading load testing tool.
What need(s) are satisfied?
Suitable for all testing requirements – from API testing to individual application testing. Designed for the enterprise market and excellence test centers, as well as Agile/DevOps teams.
Description
Widely used in large organizations.
What need(s) are satisfied?
Meets the needs of large organizations. Supports complex use cases, but are dedicated for use by experts because they are just as complex to use.
Both are expensive to implement/maintain.
Description
The Open Source load testing tool
What need(s) are satisfied?
Well suited to the basic requirements of load testing, but does not support legacy protocols such as SAP GUI. Requires third-party business tools for cloud and mobile testing.
Description
Based on JMeter
What need(s) are satisfied?
Provides reporting and cloud computing capabilities in addition to the open source capabilities of JMeter.
Limited support for JMeter’s capabilities under complex testing conditions.