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Run a performance test with the Test Builder

This tutorial shows how to create and run a performance test in Grafana Cloud k6 using the Test Builder.

In this tutorial you will:

• Create a performance test using the Test Builder.
• Run a performance test.
• Learn how to use Scenarios to simulate different traffic patterns.
• Learn how to view the performance test you create in the Test Builder as a script.

Before you begin

To run a performance test, you will need:

• A Grafana Cloud account.
• Permission to run load tests on an endpoint.
  • You have permission to run load tests on the https://test.k6.io website, if you don’t have a website you can test or if you’re just trying out Grafana Cloud k6.

Create a test with the test builder

The Test Builder is a graphical interface that can help you create a performance test with a GUI, instead of having to write a script. It provides a quick way to prototype tests and learn the basic functionality of the k6 API.

To learn how to make a test, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your Grafana Cloud instance.

2. Open the menu and select Performance testing.

3. Select Start testing if you haven’t created any projects.

   1. Select Default project if you have already initialized Performance testing in your Grafana Cloud instance.

4. Select Create new test.

5. Select Start building in the Test Builder box.

6. In the first field, name the test as Test demo.

7. Select Request.

8. Create your test logic:

   • In the Name field, enter Get homepage.
   • In the Request fields, select GET and enter the URL you want to test, or use https://test.k6.io.

   Now you have the basics of a test set up, and you can already run it. But k6 doesn’t only make requests, it also models load, or traffic patterns. These load patterns are modeled in test scenarios.

   Configure your scenario to model 10 users trying to access the homepage 100 times:

9. In Scenarios, select Options.

10. For Executor, select Shared iterations.

11. Enter the following load pattern:

    VUS	10
    Iterations	100

12. Select Run test.

You just started your first load test. The app presents the results in near real time, When it finishes, you can look at granular data for all results output.

Model ramping traffic from multiple geographies

Grafana Cloud k6 provides many options to simulate realistic load. You can modify the same test so that the volume of traffic “ramps up”, which means it increases the number of active virtual users, and comes from multiple load zones, which are locations around the world.

To configure the test for ramping logic, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Performance Testing application in your Grafana Cloud account.
2. Select the test you created in the previous section.
3. Click Configure.
4. Under Scenarios, click Options.
5. To configure a ramping load, find Executor, and select Ramping VUs.
6. You can use the default values for Target VUs and Duration.

   Target VUs	Duration
   20	1m
   20	3m30s
   0	1m

This load configuration starts with 0 virtual users, ramps up to 20 over a minute, remains at this level for 3 minutes and 30 seconds, then ramps back down to 0.

Now, distribute the geography of the load with these steps:

1. Go to Options > Load zones.
2. Keep Ashburn, US as the first option.
3. Click Add new load zone and select London, GB. Repeat the process with Sydney, AU.
4. Click Save and Run.

As the test runs, a panel shows values for request rate (traffic), response time (latency), and error rate (availabilty).

Next steps

This tutorial provides an overview of building tests using the Test Builder. For more details, refer to Use the Test Builder.

For a next step, you can:

• Learn how to run a cloud test from the CLI.
• Learn how to schedule a test.