Why BlazeMeter for Mainframe Application Testing?
Many people are unaware that they can and should test applications that reside on the mainframe.
BlazeMeter can be used to perform both functional and performance tests on the mainframe.
Greater Agility
Run tests automatically after every build to ensure system performance from your mainframe applications. Find errors early, and release quickly with peace of mind.
Higher Quality
Ensure your mainframe is always performing regardless of the load placed on it, eliminate downtime, and fix bugs quickly to ensure timely and smooth releases.
Cost Effective
Save your mainframe resources. Cut development time, administrative overhead, maintenance costs, infrastructure and more. BlazeMeter Service Virtualization saves costs (when you don’t want to access mainframe resources for testing) and also helps to achieve higher quality applications.
High Velocity
Run more tests in less time. Run automated performance tests in parallel with test data provided, and by working together within teams. That’s faster than using standalone applications or tools from a Center of Excellence.
Open Source-Based
Democratize without anarchy, stay up to date and enjoy open-source innovation and spearheading technology.
Testing Mainframe Environments Using Open-Source Tools
BlazeMeter has a plugin that enables performance testing the mainframe with Apache JMeter™. Previously, mainframe system testing could only be conducted through legacy tools and was dependent on dedicated engineers in Performance Centers. Now, everyone can use JMeter’s easy to use GUI to run a load or functional performance test on mainframe servers.
The RTE plugin, which can be found through JMeter plugins, supports IBM mainframe protocols and server protocols TN5250 and TN3270. The JMeter RTE plugin simulates a mainframe terminal sending actions and keystrokes to the mainframe server. The terminal types that can be simulated are:
TN5250:
IBM - 3179 -2: 24x80
IBM - 3477 -FC: 27x132
TN 3270:
IBM - 3278 -M2: 24x80
IBM - 3278 -M2-E: 24x80
IBM - 3278 -M3: 32x80
IBM - 3278 -M3-E: 32x80
IBM - 3278 -M4: 43x80
IBM - 3278 -M4-E: 43x80
IBM - 3278 -M5: 27x132
IBM - 3278 -M5-E: 27x132
Experience BlazeMeter Mainframe Application Testing in Action
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Frequently Asked Questions
Mainframe performance testing evaluates how mainframe applications perform under expected and high levels of user activity. With BlazeMeter, teams can run performance and functional tests against mainframe applications to identify issues earlier and improve application reliability before release.
Yes. BlazeMeter supports both performance and functional testing for applications that reside on the mainframe. Teams can automate testing as part of their development workflow, run tests in parallel, and validate application performance under load.
Yes. BlazeMeter supports mainframe testing with Apache JMeter through the JMeter RTE plugin. The plugin enables teams to use JMeter to run load and functional performance tests against mainframe servers rather than relying exclusively on legacy testing tools.
Yes. The JMeter RTE plugin supports IBM mainframe server protocols including TN3270 and TN5250. It simulates a mainframe terminal sending actions and keystrokes to the mainframe server, allowing teams to create realistic mainframe testing scenarios.
BlazeMeter helps bring mainframe testing into modern continuous testing workflows by supporting automated performance and functional testing with open-source technology such as JMeter. Teams can test earlier and more frequently instead of depending solely on specialized legacy testing environments.
BlazeMeter is designed to embed performance validation into continuous delivery workflows. Internal BlazeMeter messaging specifically highlights CI/CD integration with Jenkins, GitHub, and Azure DevOps, along with quality gates and baseline comparisons that help teams catch performance regressions before production.
BlazeMeter Service Virtualization can simulate mainframes and other unavailable or unstable dependencies so development and QA teams can continue testing without waiting for the actual backend system. This can remove environment bottlenecks and make earlier, parallel testing possible.
BlazeMeter Service Virtualization can help teams test when they do not want to access mainframe resources directly. By virtualizing unavailable systems such as mainframes, teams can reduce dependency on constrained test environments while continuing application testing.