JMeter vs LoadRunner – Which Tool is Right for You_.pdf

JMeter vs LoadRunner – Which Tool
is Right for You?
JMeter vs LoadRunner is a widely used performance testing tool in the
market. With LoadRunner being the most commonly used tool in large
enterprises, JMeter gaining ground and being more popular among
smaller and mid-sized organizations.
According to the 2021 World Quality Report, URL: World Quality
Report 2022 23 Fourteenth Edition (microfocus.com) LoadRunner has
a market share of 42%, while JMeter’s market share has increased to
23%. However, a survey conducted by BlazeMeter in 2020 found that
76% of respondents used JMeter for performance testing, while 24%
used LoadRunner. This indicates that popularity of JMeter vs Load
Runner where the former is more popular among smaller
organizations, while latter is the preferred choice for larger
enterprises.

Both tools have their strengths and weaknesses, and the choice
between JMeter vs LoadRunner ultimately depends on the specific
needs of the organization and the project at hand.
JMeter vs LoadRunner — Introduction
Apache JMeter is a free and open-source tool that users can use for
load testing, performance testing, and functional testing of web
applications. It is a Java-based tool widely used to test websites, web
applications, and other HTTP-based services. It allows users to
simulate real-world scenarios and measure the application’s
performance under different load conditions.
On the other hand, LoadRunner is a proprietary tool developed by
Micro Focus that is used for stress testing, load testing, and
performance testing of web and mobile applications.
LoadRunner supports many technologies and protocols, such as
HTTP, HTTPS, SOAP, etc. LoadRunner can simulate thousands of
users and measure the application’s performance under various load
conditions.
Many experts consider the debate “JMeter vs LoadRunner” to be a
never-ending war, as both tools have their passionate supporters who
swear by their superiority, and the choice between them ultimately
depends on the specific needs and preferences of the organization
and the project at hand. Lets understand “JMeter vs LoadRunner” in
brief

What is JMeter?
Apache JMeter is an open-source tool used for load testing,
performance testing, and functional testing of web applications. It was
initially developed for testing web applications but has since evolved
to support testing protocols and technologies such as FTP, SMTP,
JDBC, and more.
It is a Java-based tool that can be used on any platform that supports
Java. It supports multiple threads, allowing users to simulate multiple
users simultaneously. In addition, users can configure the number of
threads and the ramp-up time to gradually increase the application
load.
It’s user-friendly GUI allows users to create and configure test plans
easily. In addition, it supports various types of samplers, controllers,
listeners, and assertions that would enable users to simulate
real-world scenarios and measure the application’s performance
under different load conditions.
It also provides extensive reporting and analysis capabilities, allowing
users to generate various reports, such as summary reports, graphs,
and charts. It also supports distributed testing, allowing users to
distribute the load across multiple machines to simulate many users.
Overall, it is a flexible and powerful tool well-suited for load testing of
web applications and other services. In addition, it’s open-source
nature and wide community support make it a popular choice today.
}
GET http://example.com/
Response Assertion:
– Text Response: ${__P(ExpectedText)}

In the above example (Bash), JMeter sends an HTTP GET request to
the URL “http://example.com/”. The “Response Assertion” component
is then used to check if the response from the server contains a
specific text string, specified by the “__P(ExpectedText)” function.
Advantages of JMeter:
JMeter vs LoadRunner tools can be compared based on their
user-friendly approach, versatility of reporting and how tests are
executed.
● Open source: It is an open-source tool that is free to use and can
be easily customized and extended by developers.
● Protocol support: Supports a wide range of protocols and
technologies, including HTTP, HTTPS, SOAP, REST, FTP, and
more, making it a versatile tool for load testing of various types of
applications.
● User-friendly GUI: Has a user-friendly GUI that allows users to
easily create and configure test plans.
● Flexible test execution: Allows users to execute load tests using
various load profiles, including constant load, ramp-up, and step
load.
● Customizable reporting: Provides customizable reporting
options, allowing users to generate reports that meet their needs.
● Large community support: It has a large and active community of
users who contribute to its development and provide resources
for support and troubleshooting.

Disadvantages of JMeter:
1. Steep learning curve: It has a steep learning curve, and users
may require significant technical expertise to configure and use
the tool effectively.
2. Limited scripting options: It’s scripting language, BeanShell, has
limited options compared to other load-testing tools.
3. Resource-intensive: It can be resource-intensive, and users may
require a powerful machine to run tests effectively.
4. Limited integrations: It has limited integrations with other tools,
which may make it less suitable for organizations with complex
testing environments.
Note: These are just a few examples of the advantages and
disadvantages of using JMeter. It’s important to remember that a tool’s
suitability depends on the specific requirements of your load-testing
project.
You may need to use it if you want to perform load testing,
performance testing, or functional testing of web applications or other
types of services. It is particularly useful when you need to simulate
real-world scenarios and measure the performance of the application
under different load conditions.
It is also a good choice when you want to perform distributed testing,
where the load is distributed across multiple machines to simulate
many users. Its support for various protocols and technologies makes
it a versatile tool that can be used for testing different types of
applications and services.

Integrations and Plugins: JMeter — How Easy is it
to Integrate with Other Tools?
JMeter supports many integrations that allow users to extend the
tool’s functionality. Some popular integrations include:
1. Plugins: It has a large community of developers who have
created various plugins to extend the tool’s functionality. Plugins
can add new samplers, controllers, listeners, and other
components to it.
2. CI/CD tools: It can be integrated with various CI/CD tools such
as Jenkins, Travis CI, and CircleCI to automate the testing
process and integrate load testing into the build pipeline.
3. Cloud services: It can be used with cloud-based load testing
services to perform load testing on a large scale.
4. Monitoring tools: It can be integrated with monitoring tools such
as Grafana and InfluxDB to collect and analyze performance
metrics during load testing.
What is LoadRunner?
Understand “JMeter vs LoadRunner” — LoadRunner is a proprietary
tool developed by Micro Focus that is used for load testing, stress
testing, and performance testing of web and mobile applications. It
supports many technologies and protocols like HTTP, HTTPS, SOAP,
and more. It can simulate thousands of users and measure the
performance of the application under various load conditions.
It comprises several components, including the Virtual User Generator
(VUGen), Controller, and Analysis. VUGen is used to create scripts

that simulate user actions on the application. The Controller is used to
manage and execute load tests, while Analysis is used to analyze the
results of the load tests.
Action()
{
lr_start_transaction(“Transaction Name”);
web_url(“Web URL”,
“URL=http://example.com/”,
“Resource=0”,
“RecContentType=text/html”,
“Referer=”,
“Snapshot=t1.inf”,
“Mode=HTML”,
LAST);
lr_end_transaction(“Transaction Name”, LR_AUTO);
return 0;
}LoadRunner sends an HTTP GET request
In this example, LoadRunner sends an HTTP GET request to the URL
“http://example.com/”. The “lr_start_transaction” and
“lr_end_transaction” functions measure the time taken to complete the
request and calculate the response time. The “web_url” function is
used to simulate a user clicking a link in a web page, and the “LAST”
parameter indicates that this is the last parameter for this function call.
LoadRunner Features:
LoadRunner offers a wide range of features for performance and load
testing, including:
1. Protocol support: LoadRunner supports many protocols,
including HTTP, HTTPS, SOAP, REST, and more.

2. Scripting: LoadRunner offers a user-friendly scripting
environment that allows users to create scripts that simulate user
actions on the application.
3. Test execution: LoadRunner allows users to execute load tests
using a wide range of load profiles, including constant load,
ramp-up, and step load.
4. Monitoring: LoadRunner offers real-time monitoring of
performance metrics such as response time, throughput, and
error rate.
5. Analysis: LoadRunner provides extensive analysis capabilities,
including graphs, charts, and reports, to help users analyze the
results of the load tests.
6. Integrations: LoadRunner can be integrated with tools such as
ALM (Application Lifecycle Management), Jenkins, and Docker
to streamline the testing process and integrate load testing into
the build pipeline.
It is a powerful tool offering a wide range of performance and
load-testing features. Its support for a wide range of protocols,
real-time monitoring, and extensive analysis capabilities make it a
popular choice. However, its proprietary nature and cost may make it
less accessible for smaller teams or organizations.
Advantages of LoadRunner:
1. Protocol support: Supports many protocols and technologies,
including HTTP, HTTPS, SOAP, REST, and more, making it a
versatile tool.

2. Realistic simulation of users: Allows users to simulate many
virtual users to create real load scenarios that accurately reflect
real-world conditions.
3. Real-time monitoring: Provides real-time monitoring of
performance metrics such as response time, throughput, and
error rate allowing users to identify performance issues quickly.
4. Extensive analysis capabilities: It provides extensive analysis
capabilities, including graphs, charts, and reports, to help users
analyze the results of the load tests and identify performance
bottlenecks.
5. Integrations: It can be integrated with tools such as ALM
(Application Lifecycle Management), Jenkins, and Docker to
streamline the testing process and integrate into the build
pipeline.
Disadvantages of LoadRunner:
1. Cost: It is a commercial tool and can be expensive, making it
less accessible for smaller teams or organizations.
2. Steep learning curve: It has a steep learning curve, and users
may require significant technical expertise to configure and use
the tool effectively.
3. Resource-intensive: Can be resource-intensive, and users may
require a powerful machine to run tests effectively.
4. Limited scripting options: It’s scripting language, VuGen, has
limited options compared to other load testing tools.

5. Limited community support: Has a smaller user community than
open-source tools such as JMeter, and users may need more
resources for support and troubleshooting.
JMeter vs LoadRunner — LoadRunner offers integrations with a wide
range of CI tools, database platforms, and enterprise applications,
enabling users to streamline their performance testing process and
enhance their functionality.
When to use LoadRunner?
1. Complex applications: It is well-suited for load-testing complex
applications that may require a range of protocols and
technologies to be tested.
2. Large-scale tests: Can handle large-scale trials with thousands
of virtual users, making it suitable for load-testing applications
that expect heavy traffic.
3. Performance benchmarking: Establishes application
performance benchmarks, providing a baseline for future testing
and optimization.
4. Highly-regulated industries: Provides detailed reporting and
auditing capabilities, making it well-suited for highly-regulated
industries such as healthcare and finance.

Integrations and Plugins for LoadRunner — How
Easy is it to Integrate with Other Tools?
1. Application Lifecycle Management (ALM): Can be integrated with
ALM, allowing users to manage the entire testing process from a
single platform.
2. Jenkins: Can be integrated with Jenkins to automate the testing
process and integrate load testing into the build pipeline.
3. Docker: Can be combined with Docker to create an environment
for load testing that can be easily replicated and scaled.
4. Cloud services: Can be integrated with cloud services such as
Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure to perform
the testing from the cloud, providing greater flexibility and
scalability.
JMeter vs LoadRunner: Which Tool Should You Choose for
Your Testing Needs?
When it comes to JMeter vs LoadRunner, both are equally powerful
tools for performance and load testing. JMeter is an open-source tool
that provides flexibility, customization, and a large community of users
and contributors.
At the same time, LoadRunner is a proprietary tool with a more
user-friendly interface and comprehensive reporting capabilities.
Choosing the best tool amongst JMeter vs LoadRunner for a particular
user will depend on their specific needs, requirements, and technical
expertise.

Nevertheless when it comes to JMeter vs LoadRunner, performance
and load testing are essential for ensuring the scalability, reliability,
and efficiency of web applications, APIs, and databases in today’s
increasingly digital world.
Conclusion
In conclusion, both JMeter and LoadRunner are powerful load testing
tools, each with unique strengths. JMeter is ideal for open-source
flexibility and ease of use, while LoadRunner excels in enterprise-level
performance and comprehensive features. The right choice depends
on your project requirements, budget, and technical expertise.
Source: This article was originally published at testgrid.io.

JMeter vs LoadRunner – Which Tool is Right for You_.pdf

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JMeter vs LoadRunner – Which Tool is Right for You_.pdf