The document compares the load testing tools Apache Jmeter and HP LoadRunner. It outlines that Jmeter is open source and platform independent while LoadRunner has a larger market share. LoadRunner supports a greater number of protocols but is limited in load generation capacity, while Jmeter has unlimited capacity but is less developed. The document provides a feature-by-feature comparison of the tools' architectures, capabilities, and functional components.

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Apache Jmeter Vs HP LoadRunner
Head to Head
 Open source and free to use.
 Limited protocol support.
 Pure Java (works on any OS that supports a JVM).
 I have good industry support.
 JMeter has an unlimited load generation capacity.
 JMeter is technically less proficient.
 JMeter lacks in the user interface.
 Industry standard and product from HP.
 I have the greatest number of protocol support.
 C based Language, Java, Java Script and VB.
 70% Market Share.
 LoadRunner has a limited load generation capacity.
 LoadRunner is highly developed and complex.
 LoadRunner is impressive interface.

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Feature Comparison
Apache JMeter HP LoadRunner
Platform Java (Platform independent ) Microsoft Windows
(server parts require ASP.NET)
Tool Architecture Master: Jmeter GUI, control each slave.
Slave: Jmeter-server, receive command from the master and send a
request to server.
Target: web server under test, get request from slaves.
Virtual User Generator : Load script authoring
Analysis: Result Analysis
Controller: Load generator & Test Execution
Remote load
generators
Multiple Remote Load generators hosts are supported. Distributed (even multi-region) load generator hosts. Over-firewall
solutions.
Cloud-capability Third-party cloud-based testing is available.
E.g. BlazeMeter
Installing Load Generators on the cloud is available.
Resource monitoring Few/limited Supports a variety of platforms/applications.
Resource metrics can be conveniently tracked with other metrics in
the Analysis tool.
Documentation Apache website provides documentation.
Quality: mixed.
Context sensitive help (“press F1”)
Quality: good
Community Open source software community, mailing list. Official forum on HP site. Activity is low/medium.
Scripting A script is actually a graphical tree of nodes, with limited editing
capabilities.
Supports BeanShell for evaluations, checks, etc.
C (primarily) and Java.
TruClient protocol: JavaScript.
Recording HTTP Proxy HTTP Proxy for remote applications.
Network capture of local applications.
TCP dump for mobile/webservice protocols.
Scenario composition One script can contain multiple thread groups and form the scenario. Separate scripts can be configured to constitute a scenario
Protocol coverage Focus primarily on HTTP and Java-related protocols (JMS, JDBC).
Also supports FTP, LDAP, and SOAP.
Broad coverage from plain HTTP-based protocols through
proprietary enterprise products.
Extensibility Java plugins SDK

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Functional Comparison
Apache JMeter HP LoadRunner
Script Test Plan VuGen
Recording Workbench VuGen
Scenarios Thread Group Controller
Results Listener Result Analyser
Controller Logic Controller Transaction
Request Sampler Request
Settings Config Elements Runtime/Recording Settings
Timer Constant Timer
Uniform Random Timer
Gaussian Random Timer
Synchronizing Timer
Think Time
Rendezvous Point
Parameterization CSV Data set File or Table
XML Parameter Types
Internal Data Parameter Types
 Date/Time
 Group Name,
 Iteration Number
 Random Number
 Unique Number
 Vuser ID
User-Defined Function Parameters
Correlation Regular Extractor Expression Manual Correlation
Automatic Correlation
Check Points Response Assertion
Duration Assertion
Size Assertion
HTML Assertion
XML Assertion
Xpath Assertion
Text
Image

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Apache JMeter HP LoadRunner
File Extension .jmx (Script)
.jtl (Logs)
.usr (Script)
.lrs (Scenario)
.lrr (Results)