Using JMeter for Performance Testing Live Streaming Applications

Presented by BlazeMeter a CA Technologies Company

Sep 6, 2017

AGENDA

• Intro• HLS Overview• HLS & JMeter Old Style• HLS & JMeter New Style• Q&A

What a long strange trip it’s been...

Dave Karow { Developer Advocate } @davekarow

Keynote Systems (7 years)- Load Testing- Synthetic Monitoring

dynatrace

SOASTA

BlazeMeter

CA Technologies Continuous Delivery

HLS Overview

HLS = HTTP Live Streaming• Uses only http/https (remember real media?)

– Proxy/firewall friendly– Served from any http server/CDN

• Adaptive Bitrate: Degrades instead of stalling– Multiple stream variants (by bandwidth/resolution)– Client chooses/re-chooses best stream

HLS Components

1. Encoding/Encapsulation: Transcoder

a. The “heavy lifting” (CPU intensive)

b. Outputs:

i. .m3u8 master index (list of variants)

ii. .m3u8 variant index (list of segments)

iii. .ts file containing each segment

HLS Components

1. Encoding/Encapsulation: Transcoder

2. Distribution: Web Server/CDN/Proxy

3. Client: Mobile Device, js in Browser, etc...

Our Focus Today

1. Get master playlist for “about_demo” videoGET http://hls.demoblaze.com/index.m3u8

2. Parse master playlist for list of variants, choose one(let’s assume low bandwidth environment, so lowest resolution to start)

3. Get variant playlist matching bandwidth/resolutionGET http://hls.demoblaze.com/about_demo_hls_600k.m3u8

4. Get and play fragment from variant playlistGET http://hls.demoblaze.com/about_demo_hls_600k00000.ts

5. If live: Go back to #1 to get new master playlist

HLS Playback Flow @ High Level

GET http://hls.demoblaze.com/index.m3u8

#EXTM3U

#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:PROGRAM-ID=1,BANDWIDTH=8674000,RESOLUTION=1024x576,CODECS="avc1.4d001f,mp4a.40.2"

about_demo_hls_2M.m3u8

#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:PROGRAM-ID=1,BANDWIDTH=7633000,RESOLUTION=960x540,CODECS="avc1.4d001f,mp4a.40.2"

about_demo_hls_1-5M.m3u8

#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:PROGRAM-ID=1,BANDWIDTH=3733000,RESOLUTION=640x360,CODECS="avc1.4d001f,mp4a.40.2"

about_demo_hls_1M.m3u8

#EXT-X-STREAM-INF:PROGRAM-ID=1,BANDWIDTH=2624000,RESOLUTION=480x270,CODECS="avc1.42001e,mp4a.40.2"

about_demo_hls_600k.m3u8

list of variants by bandwidth/resolution

The Master Playlist

GET http://hls.demoblaze.com/about_demo_hls_600k.m3u8

#EXTM3U

#EXT-X-VERSION:3

#EXT-X-MEDIA-SEQUENCE:0

#EXT-X-ALLOW-CACHE:YES

#EXT-X-TARGETDURATION:13

#EXTINF:12.066667,

about_demo_hls_2M00000.ts

#EXTINF:9.000000,

about_demo_hls_2M00001.ts

#EXTINF:9.000000,

about_demo_hls_2M00002.ts

list of fragments for that variant

Variant Playlist

GET http://hls.demoblaze.com/about_demo_hls_600k00000.ts

(ts = transport stream fragment)

Fragment

As Seen By BlazeMeter Chrome Extension

Master Playlist (m3u8)

Variant Playlist (m3u8)

Fragments (.ts)

Faster Variant Playlist

Fragments (.ts)

Let’s Do A Live Demo

Many Pieces...Scripting in JMeter: Old Style

HLS Sampler Plug-InScripting in JMeter: New Style

HLS Sampler Plug-InScripting in JMeter: New Style

Adding Assertions

Assertions can be raised against:• Master Playlist• Variant Playlist

Example Assertions:• Response Assertion• Duration Assertion

Adding Assertions

Wrapping Up

The HLS Sampler plugin is open-source.

Pull requests are welcomed!

1. Go to jmeter-plugins.org2. Search “hls”and click on “HLS Sampler”3. That puts you in Git-Hub: jump right in!

Q&A Time

Next Steps

● Add the HLS Sampler via Plugins Manager or by

visiting jmeter-plugins.org

● Create your free account at blazemeter.com

● Performance Testing Blog – blazemeter.com/blog

● Learning Resources – blazemeter.com/resources

● Quick Survey @ Webinar Exit – Thanks!