Apache JMeter tool and its Significance

Introduction to JMeter: 

JMeter is an Apache Jakarta Open source tool that can be used as an automated performance load testing tool for analyzing and measuring the performance of web applications.

 It is a 100% Java desktop application designed to load test non-functional behavior and measure performance. It was originally designed for testing Web Applications but has since expanded to other test functions.

It can be used to simulate a heavy load on a server, network or object to test its strength or to analyze overall performance under different load types.

One can use it to make a graphical analysis of performance. Overall it can also be used to test performance both on static and dynamic resources like files, Servlets, Perl scripts, Java Objects, Database Queries, FTP Servers and more.

JMeter Request Processing Mechanism

Features of JMeter

1. Complete portability and 100% Java purity.

2. Full Swing and lightweight component support (precompiled JAR uses packages javax.swing.*).

3. Full multi-threading framework allows concurrent sampling by many threads and simultaneous sampling of different functions by separate thread groups.

4. Careful GUI design allows faster operation and more precise timings.

5. Caching and offline analysis/replaying of test results.

6. It can load and performance test HTTP and FTP servers as well as arbitrary database queries (via JDBC)

Limitations of JMeter

1.    Can support only HTTP, Web Services and FTP Protocols.

2. Cannot record HTTPS (Secure traffic).

3. Cannot intercept the AJAX traffic.

4. Reporting component has very few features

Installing JMeter

1.    Launch http://jakarta.apache.org/site/downloads/downloads_jmeter.cgi for download and follow the below steps to install the latest version of JMeter.

2.    Click on the zip file of Binary version.

3.    A window appears to open or save the file.

4.    Select the location or path where you want to install the JMeter.

5.    Now unzip the file.

Uninstalling JMeter

JMeter can be uninstalled by deleting the JMeter folder from the system.

Some of the key differences between LoadRunner and JMeter

1)   LoadRunner is a commercial tool which is licensed version but Jmeter is open source and free tool.

2)   LoadRunner will support multiple protocols such as Ajax, Web, citrix, RDP protocols...Etc but JMeter only supports Http, Web services, FTP, JDBC protocols.

3)   LoadRunner is commercial tool which is having support as JMeter is open source does not have support only through open forums

4)   LoadRunner has a highly securable features to protect the confidential data for any applications, JMeter just runs on proxy to secure data, in turn chances are more to attack security vulnerabilities.