How to record a JNLP/ Java Web Start application with JMeter

Question

I need to do a performance test for JNLP accessible application.

I used WireShark and see that the jnlp generates only TCP traffic.

I read all the post related with jnlp perf testing and I tried with Apache JMeter + UbikLoadPack Java Serialization plugin but jmeter does not capture the traffic.

Is it my only option capture the TCP traffic and work with that ?

Regards, Jaime

Answer 1

If traffic is HTTP(s), as per documentation of UbikLoadPack bundle, You need to follow the instructions of paragraphs:

1/Add JMeter certificate authority to the cacerts file used by Java:

See in documentation "Configuring Application for HTTPS" (Pages 7/8). This will allow your application to work when using JMeter as proxy if traffic is HTTPS

Steps are the following:

• Start JMeter

• Use File > Templates... Menu item, then select "Recording" Template and click Create

• Start HTTP(S) Test Script Recorder by clicking on Start Button

• JMeter will generate a Certificate Authority in 2 formats in jmeter/bin folder:

  • ApacheJMeterTemporaryRootCA.crt
  • ApacheJMeterTemporaryRootCA.usr
• Find cacerts file used by your system, it should be in JAVA_HOME/jre/lib/security/cacerts
• Run:

keytool -keystore cacerts -importcert -alias jmeter_ca -file <path to jmeter>/bin/ApacheJMeterTemporaryRootCA.crt

• keystore password is usually "changeit"
• enter "yes" for "Trust this certificate?" question

References:

• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/java-add-certificate-ca-store
• https://stackoverflow.com/a/11937940/460802
• https://stackoverflow.com/a/8980460/460802

2/To set JMeter as proxy of JNLP:

• Open the Java Control Panel

• Click Network Settings. The Network Settings dialog box opens.

• Select Use proxy server, enter the proxy server name (localhost), and port number (8888 for JMeter).

• Click Advanced and check "Use same proxy server for all protocols":

- Click Apply - Restart your application again

See reference documentation:

• https://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/technotes/guides/jweb/networking/proxie_config.html
• Force java web start to use a proxy like Fiddler without touching code

If it’s not HTTP, the plugin does not support it.