Using JMeter for performance testing

JMeter is a useful tool for performance testing and profiling of your web applications, determining problematic pages, and identifying the realistic amount of traffic your site can be expected to handle. On the downside, in the Drupal space, it's an outside tool and oftentimes something that is - as a result - less approachable. On the positive side, there's always time to learn, and JMeter knowledge is applicable outside of the Drupal market.

JMeter provides a GUI utility for building and executing test plans as well as a command line that makes triggering test plans from another system (or systems) simple and straightforward.

I'll be presenting later this week at SandCamp on this JMeter, so I'll fill in more details later in the week, but for now, here are some links to get started on the right foot:

• Apache JMeter:
  • Go here to download the JMeter app
  • http://jmeter.apache.org/download_jmeter.cgi
• PerfMon JMeter Plugin
  • Add-on that provides server-side statistics for Apache during JMeter Test Plan execution
  • http://code.google.com/p/jmeter-plugins/downloads/list
• Sample Drupal Test Plan
  • Jacob Singh's Drupal test plan; it's a good starting place for writing your own, more involved Test Plans
  • https://github.com/jacobSingh/Drupal-Performance-Testing-Suite
• JMeter Best-Practices (in their words)
  • High-level information to provide direction in creating Test Plans that accomplish the desired end-goal. 16.1, 16.6, and 16.10 deserve particular review and understanding.
  • http://jmeter.apache.org/usermanual/best-practices.html
• JMeter tips
  • Provides information on how to improve your JMeter scripts.
  • http://www.javaworld.com/javaworld/jw-07-2005/jw-0711-jmeter.html
• JMeter book
  • Despite the negative reviews, provides a good entry-level explanation of JMeter and the basics you need to get started; don't buy it to learn advanced techniques, but good if you're new to JMeter it provides a good overview.
  • http://www.amazon.com/Apache-JMeter-ebook/dp/B005DKRGYA/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UT...

If you want to know more, please stop by my SandCamp session. If you already know or use JMeter, please stop by and share your expertise. See you Saturday.

SandCamp Session Saturday at 2:15pm on JMeter and XHProf: www.sandcamp.org/i-profile-you-should-too-jmeter-and-xhprof