How to install JMeter and use it for testing

JMeter - Getting started

1. Download the latest production release from http://jakarta.apache.org/builds/jakarta-jmeter/release/
2. Install it - simply unzip the zip/tar file into the directory where you want JMeter to be installed
3. Requirements: JDK1.4 or higher installed and JAVA_HOME environment variable set
4. To run JMeter, run the jmeter.bat (for Windows) or jmeter (for Linux/Unix) file, which will be under bin directory. For testing from behind a firewall/proxy server, start jmeter with the required command line parameters (proxy server IP, port number, etc) as follows:
   

   jmeter -H my.proxy.server -P 8000 -u username -a password

5. To start testing, open an existing script (*.jmx) file and click Start under Run menu. JMeter lights up a green square in the upper-right-hand corner to indicate if a test is currently running.
6. Click any one of the Listeners such as Assertion Results to see the test results. Alternatively you can configure it to store in a file with extension, jtl, as an XML document.

JMeter - Elements of a Test Plan

• ThreadGroup is the starting point of any test plan, all elements of a test plan must be under a thread group (number of threads, number of times). Each thread represents a user. For functional testing, number of threads can be one.
• Samplers - a type of controller - used to send requests to a server (e.g, HTTP Request) - JMeter sends requests in the order that they appear in the test plan (tree).
• Logic Controllers - another type of controller - logic that JMeter uses to decide when to send requests.
• Listeners provide access to the information JMeter gathers about the test cases while JMeter runs (e.g., Assertion Results, View Results Tree).
• Assertions - to assert facts about responses received (e.g., Response Assertion that checks the text in the response).
• Configuration Elements - it can add to or modify requests.
• After adding all the required elements, save the test plan and then run it.

JMeter - Building a Web Test Plan

• Add Users - Add a Thread group specifying the number of threads, number of times, etc. Each thread represents a user. For functional testing, number of threads can be one.
• Add Default HTTP Request Properties.
• Add Cookie Support - add an HTTP Cookie Manager to each Thread Group, otherwise JMeter will ignore cookies and lose session data.
• Add HTTP Requests - JMeter sends requests in the order that they appear in the tree.
• Add Assertions - to assert facts about responses received (e.g., Response Assertion that checks the text in the response).
• Add a Listener to View Store the Test Results.
• After adding all the elements, save the test plan and then run it.

tags: testing  java  

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