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Introducing Azure CLI 1.4.0: Unlocking New Capabilities for Azure Load Testing

SaloniAgrawal12's avatar
Jan 15, 2025

We’re excited to announce the release of Azure CLI version 1.4.0, bringing powerful new capabilities of Azure Load Testing to CLI!

This latest update empowers you to easily create load tests and analyze results with enhanced insight. This CLI release now includes features like those previously available in Azure Portal or CI/CD. The following is a list of capabilities included in this CLI update:

Multi-Region Load Testing

Scale your tests globally with the new multi-region support! This feature allows you to distribute load across up to eight regions, helping you assess application performance under real-world, distributed traffic scenarios.

Command Example:

az load test create --test-id sample-test-id --load-test-resource sample-alt-resource --resource-group sample-rg --engine-instances 3 --regionwise-engines eastus=1 westus2=1 germanywestcentral=1 --test-plan sample-jmx.jmx

Highlights:

  • Specify load generation per region with key-value pairs.
  • Validate regional distribution while keeping the total engine count in sync.

Advanced URL Tests

Easily create and update load tests using URL-based test plans in JSON format, without requiring JMeter scripts.

Command Example:

az load test create --test-id sample-test-id --load-test-resource sample-alt-resource --resource-group sample-rg --test-plan ~/resources/sample-url-requests.json --test-type URL

Highlights:

  • Simplified test creation using URL-based test definitions.
  • Upload JSON-based plans directly via the CLI.

Download Dashboard Reports

Generate and download comprehensive test result reports directly from the CLI to analyze your load test outcomes offline.

Command Example:

az load test-run download-files --load-test-resource sample-alt-resource --resource-group sample-rg --test-run-id sample-test-run-id --path ~/Downloads/OutputArtifacts --input --log --result –report

Highlights:

  • Get ZIP files of detailed dashboards.
  • Easily share test results with your team.

Test Run Debug Mode

Debugging complex load tests is now simpler. Use debug mode to get detailed log files for error-free and large-scale testing. 

Command Example:

az load test-run create --load-test-resource sample-alt-resource --resource-group sample-rg --test-id sample-test-id --test-run-id sample-test-run-id --debug-mode

Highlights:

  • Debug mode enables detailed test execution logs.
  • Ideal for troubleshooting and fine-tuning test scenarios.

Get Artifacts SAS URL

Retrieve secure SAS URLs to access test artifacts directly from your storage account.

Command Example:

az load test-run get-artifacts-url --load-test-resource sample-alt-resource --resource-group sample-rg --test-run-id sample-test-run-id

Highlights:

  • Simplified artifact retrieval.
  • SAS URL ensures secure access to large test data.

Convert URL Test to JMX

Seamlessly convert your URL-based test plans into JMeter-compatible JMX files for advanced test configurations.

Command Example:

az load test convert-to-jmx --load-test-resource sample-alt-resource --resource-group sample-rg --test-id sample-existing-test-id

Highlights:

  • Easy migration to JMX format.
  • Leverage JMeter’s extensive capabilities.

Set Baseline and View Trends

Track performance trends over time and set baselines to compare new test results against historical data.

Command Examples:

  1. Set a Baseline:

az load test set-baseline --load-test-resource sample-alt-resource --resource-group sample-rg --test-id sample-existing-test-id --test-run-id sample-associated-test-run-id

  1. View Trends:

az load test compare-to-baseline --load-test-resource sample-alt-resource --resource-group sample-rg --test-id sample-existing-test-id -o table

Highlights:

  • Establish performance benchmarks for your applications.
  • Monitor improvements or regressions across multiple test runs.

Get Started Today!

To leverage these features, update to Azure CLI version 1.4.0 by running:

az upgrade

For more details, visit our Azure CLI documentation.

We’re eager to hear your feedback! Let us know how these new capabilities are enhancing your Azure Load Testing experience by sharing your thoughts in the comments below.

Updated Jan 15, 2025
Version 4.0
  • pdebruin's avatar
    pdebruin
    Brass Contributor

    Version number 1.4.0 for Azure CLI is a bit confusing. My az cli is at 2.68. Was this article written long ago and recently updated? Then when I enter az load, it says 'load' is misspelled or not recognized. The extension does load when I enter az load create. Hope that helps