How to run JMeter in Non GUI mode

Apache JMeter is an open source testing tool. JMeter functions to analyze and measure the performance of web applications with a variety of other services. The GUI mode of JMeter is perfect for adding and editing new configuration elements, thread groups, and samplers as a result of which you can view a number of different listeners helping for debugging.

However, the GUI mode does have a limitation which slows down the CPU utilization while running the recorded script. If we are running multiple listeners in a script, it affects the JMeter performance. To overcome such a situation, the script should be run in the non-GUI mode. There is a benefit to drive more requests per second out of JMeter in non-GUI mode.

Why to use JMeter in Non GUI/command line mode:

• Increasing threads (after certain limit) due to which JMeter crashes in the GUI mode.
• For heavy test scenarios (ex: shopping application: login-view product-add to cart-view bill-remove product-pay bill) JMeter consumes memory and CPU and it may affect your test results.
• To increase JMeter capabilities, i.e. to get more requests per second.

Running JMeter in command line mode:

Running JMeter using command line in non-GUI mode is very simple.

1. Open command prompt
2. Go into JMeter’s bin folder
3. Enter following command, jmeter -n –t test.jmx -l testresults.jtl

jmeter -n –t test.jmx -l testresults.jtl

-n: It specifies JMeter is to run in non-gui mode
-t: Name of JMX file that contains the Test Plan
-l: Name of JTL(JMeter text logs) file to log results
-j: Name of JMeter run log file

Other than these options, JMeter has several other parameters that can be used for running in the non-GUI mode.

-R: list of remote servers,

-H: proxy server hostname or ip address
-P: proxy server port

View test result:
Once your test is complete, you will see the following display:

After completing the test, a JTL file will be generated at jmeter2.12/bin folder

Follow below steps to view test results from the resultant JTL file.

• Open JMeter in GUI mode.
• Add any listener Eg. View Results Tree.
• Click Browse button of the file name field in listener.
• Open testresult.jtl file.
• You should be able to see the result in listener now.

Would love to address questions from the readers. Kindly post them in the comments section below.