Cloud Execution with k6
Explore running k6 tests in the cloud for distributed load generation and advanced reporting.
Cloud Execution with k6 is a free Load Testing & Performance Benchmarking (JMeter & k6) lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 3 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Load Testing & Performance Benchmarking (JMeter & k6) learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
Run k6 Tests in the Cloud
Welcome to cloud execution with k6! So far, you've run k6 tests locally on your machine. While great for development, local tests have limits.
When you need to simulate thousands of users or test from different global locations, running tests from a single machine isn't enough. This is where k6 Cloud comes in!
Cloud Advantages for Load Tests
Running your k6 tests in the cloud offers several key benefits:
- Scalability: Easily generate massive loads beyond what a single machine can handle.
- Global Distribution: Simulate users from various geographic regions (load zones).
- Managed Infrastructure: No need to set up or maintain your own load generators.
- Advanced Reporting: Get rich, real-time dashboards and historical data analysis.
- Collaboration: Share test results and collaborate with your team easily.
Connect to k6 Cloud
To get started with k6 Cloud, you'll need an account. Once you sign up, you'll obtain an API Token from your k6 Cloud dashboard. This token authenticates your k6 CLI with the cloud service.
You can set it as an environment variable or use the k6 login cloud command in your terminal.
Execute Tests Remotely
Running a k6 script in the cloud is straightforward. Instead of using k6 run, you'll use the k6 cloud command followed by your script's filename.
This command uploads your local script to the k6 Cloud, where it's then executed by the managed load generators. You'll get a URL to view your live test results.
Your First Cloud Test
Let's take a simple k6 script and run it in the cloud. This script makes a single HTTP GET request to a test site.
To run it, save it as cloud_test.js, then execute k6 cloud cloud_test.js in your terminal.
import http from 'k6/http';
import { sleep } from 'k6/execution';
export const options = {
vus: 1,
duration: '10s',
};
export default function () {
http.get('https://test.k6.io');
sleep(1);
}Global Load Generation
A powerful feature of k6 Cloud is the ability to generate load from multiple geographic locations, known as load zones. This lets you test how your application performs for users around the world.
You can specify which load zones to use directly in your k6 script, ensuring your tests accurately reflect your user base.
Define Your Load Zones
You can configure load zones within the options object of your k6 script. Under ext.cloud.load_zones, you define the VUs and max VUs for each desired zone.
This example sends load from Ashburn (USA) and London (UK) simultaneously.
import http from 'k6/http';
import { sleep } from 'k6/execution';
export const options = {
ext: {
cloud: {
load_zones: {
'ashburn': {
vus: 5,
max_vus: 10,
duration: '30s',
},
'london': {
vus: 5,
max_vus: 10,
duration: '30s',
},
},
},
},
};
export default function () {
http.get('https://test.k6.io/public/crocodiles/');
sleep(1);
}Insights from Cloud Reports
After running a test in k6 Cloud, you'll get a link to a detailed web dashboard. This dashboard provides:
- Real-time Metrics: See response times, throughput, and error rates as the test runs.
- Trend Analysis: Compare current test runs with historical data.
- Detailed Breakdowns: Drill down into individual request performance.
- Visualizations: Graphs and charts make it easy to spot performance bottlenecks.
Organize Cloud Tests
k6 Cloud helps you keep your tests organized. You can group tests into projects, making it easier to manage different applications or teams.
Each test run is saved, allowing you to review historical data, track performance over time, and collaborate with team members by sharing access to your test results.
Cloud Execution Benefits
Which of the following are key benefits of running k6 tests in the cloud?
Summary: Cloud Testing
Congratulations! You've learned about the power of running k6 tests in the cloud.
k6 Cloud allows you to overcome the limitations of local testing by providing scalable, globally distributed load generation, managed infrastructure, and rich reporting. You can easily push your scripts to the cloud and configure load zones for realistic global testing. This makes it an essential tool for comprehensive performance validation.
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Cloud Execution with k6” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Cloud Execution with k6” is free to read here on the web, and the Load Testing & Performance Benchmarking (JMeter & k6) course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Load Testing & Performance Benchmarking (JMeter & k6) course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “Cloud Execution with k6”?
Explore running k6 tests in the cloud for distributed load generation and advanced reporting. You practise Load Testing & Performance Benchmarking (JMeter & k6) with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start Load Testing & Performance Benchmarking (JMeter & k6)?
No prior experience is required. Load Testing & Performance Benchmarking (JMeter & k6) on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 3 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Cloud Execution with k6” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this Load Testing & Performance Benchmarking (JMeter & k6) lesson?
Yes. Every Load Testing & Performance Benchmarking (JMeter & k6) lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.
All lessons in this course
- Virtual User Scenarios (VUs)
- Data Parameterization in k6
- Cloud Execution with k6
- Custom Metrics and Trends in k6