blazemeter - JMeter cloud testing

I've been using Apache's performance test tool JMeter for many years now, but struggle to find enough time and resource to create a decent distributed network of JMeter engines that can simulate large and realistic load. Today I stumbled upon http://blazemeter.com/ which allows just that. Its a cloud based performance test service that gives you access to multiple instances of JMeter that are geographically distributed on a variety of different server types.

To use blazemeter you either upload your own JMeter scripts or give blazemeter a url and let it write the script for you, you then create your scenarios before finally executing your test. Blazemeter has many great features, including some detailed analysis and test management capabilities that make this a compelling option when it comes to investing in performance testing.

Blazemeter operates a similar business model to browsermob.com (now Neustar Web Performance), where you pay for the number of test engines, different server types, on demand usage, etc.

There is a comprehensive free trial available that will allow you to experiment with features and tests for a couple of weeks.

For more information on JMeter visit http://jmeter.apache.org/.

Cloud testing

You might not be able to get permanent test resource into your organisation, but a relatively small one off project cost might be acceptable to your business. Several cloud based test services have gained popularity recently providing on demand testing for individual or multiple projects.

Neustar Web Performance (Formerly BrowserMob )

This is a performance test service that allows you to test your applications from various geographical locations using selenium scripts.

The interface allows you a good degree of control over the test, and gives you plenty of analytics both during and after the test.

This is a great tool for those teams with a limit budget that need high performance but can’t step up and invest in dedicated performance test environments.

UTest

UTest offers a global community of testers that are paid by the test or number of defects that they find.

With features like bug tracking and test planning, and a seemingly endless list of possible platforms on which to test, this type of service is set to become big business during 2012.