Set Your API Performance on Fire With BlazeMeter

BlazeMeter, continuous testing platform,  is a perfect solution for your performance needs. BlazeMeter is an open-source tool that supports Web, Mobile and API implementations. You can perform large scale load and performance testing with the ability to tweak parameters to suit your needs.

We will learn step by step process on using BlazeMeter for API testing.

Register for BlazeMeter

Enter your information on the BlazeMeter site to register and get started

Configure Your First Scenario

The first time you login, you will be taken to default view of BlazeMeter with default workspace and project. Let us start configuring a new scenario.

Create a New Project

1. Select Projects -> Create new project
2. Name project
3. Select Create Test
4. Select Performance Test
5. Now you are taken to configuration tab

Update Your Scenario

1. The left section here has your test specifications
2. Tap on Edit link and start updating your project name, let it be “FirstLoadTest”
3. You can define scenario and test data in Scenario Definition section
4. For this Demo we will configure API endPoint, tap on Enter URL/API calls (see picture below)
5. In Scenario Definition enter “https://api.demoblaze.com/entries“. So we are load testing this endpoint with GET call
6. Lets Name this scenario “DemoWithoutParameters”
7. Tap on three dots next to Scenario definition and duplicate the scenario
8. Name this as “DemoWithParameters”

Create TestData

Revolutionize Your Business With Generative AI

From product design and software development to virtual agents, content creation, and reporting, GenAI is transforming business. Our AI experts help you unlock GenAI’s full potential and drive growth.

Let’s Get Started

1. Next to Scenario Definition we have TestData section, tap on it
2. You can choose from options available, for this demo we will go with “Create New Data Entity”
3. Lets name it “DemoTestData” and Add it
4. Tap on + icon next to entity created for parameterization options
5. In this example we will select New CSV File
6. You will be taken to a data table. Rename “variableName1” to “Parameter1” and “variableName2” to “Parameter2″(our variable names are “Parameter1” and “Parameter”)
7. Enter values as “Value1” and “Value2” and Save
8. Configure these parameters in Query Parameters section (See picture below)
9. Now we have successfully completed building a scenario with two endpoints, you can configure one or more endpoints in one scenario

Configure Your First Test Run

1. Scroll down the scenario definition window to see Load Configuration section
2. Enter Total Users, Duration, Ramp up Time. For now we can just test with 2 users, Duration: 1minute, RampupTime: 0
3. Once you update these details observe the graphical representation of how your Load Test is going to be in the graph displayed in this section.
4. We can also limit Requests Per Second(RPS) by enabling the toggle button for “Limit RPS” and select requests you need to limit per second
5. We can also change number of users at run time, but this is available with only Enterprise Plan.
6. Lets configure LoadDistribution now in “Load Distribution” section which is right below the “Load Configuration” section
7. Select the location from where you need the requests to trigger.
8. We can select multiple locations and distribute load across different locations, but again this feature is available with only enterprise plan
9. For now, lets proceed by selecting one location

Failure Criteria

1. Failure Criteria is the best approach to immediately know your LoadTest Results
2. Do you have your failure criteria defined? If yes, you can configure that in this section. This is optional, you can skip if you don’t have failure criteria defined.
3. You can configure multiple failure criteria as well
4. Enable “1-min slide window eval” for evaluating your loudest prior to execution
5. Select “Stop Test?” checkbox if you want to stop the execution in case of failure
6. Select “Ignore failure criteria during rampup” to ignore the failures during ramp-ups
7. You can add one or more failure criteria and select this option uniquely for each criteria
8. Select the option “Enable 1-min slide window eval for all” on top right of this section to enable for all provided failure criteria

Test Your Scenario

1. Run your scenario by clicking on “RunTest”
2. Wait for launch Test window to load completely
3. Now click on “Launch Servers” button
4. Click on “Abort Test” to abort your execution any time
5. Observe your execution go through different stages (Pending, Booting, Downloading and Ready)
6. Once it reaches Ready you can see your execution progress
7. Once the execution is done you can view the summary with status as passed/failed

Analyze Your LoadTest Results

1. The important part of performance test is to analyze your KPIs
2. You can see different KPIs in test results summary
3. To understand more navigate to “Timeline Report” section, bottom left you can see “KPI Panel”,this panel contains different KPIS.These KPIs can be analyzed as required
4. By default it provides generalized view, you can select single endpoint to analyze KPIs for one particular endpoint

Schedule Your Load Tests

1. BlazeMeter is continuous Integration tool, you can schedule your executions and view results when required
2. Select your test from Tests Menu on top
3. On to left of project description window you can find SCHEDULE section
4. Tap on Add button next to it Schedule to see schedule window
5. Configure the scheduler with required timings and Save the scheduler
6. The new scheduler will be added to your project
7. Delete it by tapping on Delete icon
8. You can add multiple schedulers
9. Toggle on/off to activate/deactivate the schedulers

BlazeMeter Pros/Cons

If you are looking for a tool that services your performance needs, BlazeMeter is your best option. You can generate scripts with its scriptless UI, simulate loads and run your tests. You can also simulate the spinning up servers, script runs and results generated within seconds.

For more information about Perficient’s Mobile Solutions expertise, subscribe to our blog or contact our Mobile Solutions team today!