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Load Testing & Performance Benchmarking (JMeter & k6) · Lesson

k6 with Cloud & Kubernetes

Learn to containerize and orchestrate k6 tests using Docker and Kubernetes for scalable execution.

k6 with Cloud & Kubernetes 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.

Scaling k6 for Big Loads

When performance testing, especially for high-traffic applications, a single machine might not generate enough load. This is where distributed load testing comes in!

Instead of running k6 on your local machine, you'll want to distribute your test across multiple machines or leverage cloud infrastructure to simulate massive user loads.

The Power of Containers

Containers, like those created with Docker, provide a consistent and isolated environment for your applications and tests.

  • Isolation: Your k6 test runs in its own environment, free from host system conflicts.
  • Portability: A containerized k6 test runs the same way everywhere – on your laptop, a server, or in the cloud.
  • Scalability: Easily spin up multiple identical k6 test instances.

Your k6 Dockerfile

A Dockerfile is a script that contains instructions for building a Docker image. For k6, it typically involves installing k6 and adding your test script.

Here's a simple Dockerfile to containerize a k6 test:

FROM grafana/k6
COPY script.js /opt/k6/script.js
ENTRYPOINT ["k6", "run", "/opt/k6/script.js"]

Dockerizing a k6 Script

Before building our Docker image, let's create a simple k6 test script. This script will be copied into our Docker image.

Try running this basic k6 script locally:

import http from 'k6/http';
import { sleep } from 'k6';

export default function () {
  http.get('https://test.k6.io');
  sleep(1);
}

Building the k6 Docker Image

Once you have your Dockerfile and script.js (from the previous scene) in the same directory, you can build your Docker image.

Open your terminal in that directory and run:

docker build -t my-k6-test .

This command builds an image tagged my-k6-test using the current directory's Dockerfile.

Running k6 in Docker

After building the image, you can run your k6 test inside a Docker container. This executes the ENTRYPOINT command defined in your Dockerfile.

To run your containerized k6 test:

docker run my-k6-test

You'll see the k6 test output directly in your terminal, just as if you ran it locally!

Orchestrating with Kubernetes

While Docker helps you package k6, Kubernetes (K8s) helps you manage and orchestrate multiple Docker containers at scale.

Kubernetes is an open-source system for automating deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. It's perfect for running many k6 instances simultaneously!

k6 in a K8s Pod

The smallest deployable unit in Kubernetes is a Pod. A Pod can contain one or more containers. Here's how you might define a Pod for a k6 test:

apiVersion: v1
kind: Pod
metadata:
  name: k6-test-pod
spec:
  containers:
  - name: k6-container
    image: my-k6-test
    imagePullPolicy: Never # Use if image is local
  restartPolicy: Never

K8s Jobs for k6 Tests

For performance tests, you often want a container that runs a task to completion and then stops. A Kubernetes Job is ideal for this.

A Job creates one or more Pods and ensures that a specified number of them successfully terminate. Once the k6 test finishes, the Job records its completion.

apiVersion: batch/v1
kind: Job
metadata:
  name: k6-load-test-job
spec:
  template:
    spec:
      containers:
      - name: k6-container
        image: my-k6-test
        imagePullPolicy: Never # Use if image is local
      restartPolicy: Never
  backoffLimit: 4

Check Your Understanding

Why is containerizing k6 tests with Docker and orchestrating them with Kubernetes beneficial for large-scale performance testing?

Summary: Scalable k6

Great job! You've learned how to leverage Docker and Kubernetes to take your k6 performance tests to the next level.

  • Docker packages k6 tests into portable, isolated containers.
  • Kubernetes orchestrates these containers, allowing you to run distributed tests at massive scale using Pods and Jobs.

This approach is crucial for simulating realistic load on modern applications and infrastructure!

Frequently asked questions

Is the “k6 with Cloud & Kubernetes” lesson free?

Yes — the full text of “k6 with Cloud & Kubernetes” 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 “k6 with Cloud & Kubernetes”?

Learn to containerize and orchestrate k6 tests using Docker and Kubernetes for scalable execution. 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 “k6 with Cloud & Kubernetes” 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

  1. Why Distributed Testing Matters
  2. JMeter Distributed Setup
  3. k6 with Cloud & Kubernetes
  4. Aggregating and Synchronizing Distributed Results
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