Task: Structure Test Environment Configuration |
This task describes how to structure the test environment(s) needed to support the test effort.
Disciplines: Test
Relationships
Roles | Primary Performer: Test Designer | Additional Performers:
Inputs | Mandatory: Test Strategy [Technical Architecture] Architectural Decisions Component Model | Optional: Test Automation Architecture Test Data Test Environment Configuration Test Plan
Outputs | Test Environment Configuration
Steps
Examine Test Approach against Software Architecture
Reviewing the test approach, itemize and characterize the key aspects of the test approach. Using this information, review the software architecture and begin to formulate an understanding of the general environmental needs for the testing effort.
Identify each Specific Deployment Environment
Using the software architecture as a starting point, locate and review the deployment model and associated information. Identify each specific target environment that the software will be deployed on, and become familiar with the distinguishing characteristics of each.
Consolidate List of Necessary Environments
It is not usually practical to set up and administer a large number of test environments. Economies of scale usually force you to accepting a limited subset of the possible target environments that you could test. Make a list of all of the target environments that you have identified, and look for ways to consolidate and reduce the list to a manageable subset. It is typical for both base hardware and operating system software to be shared across multiple test environments.
For each Test Environment Configuration
For each Test Environment Configuration that you have identified that you should perform your testing against, identify and define the following details. #### Identify specific environment needs for each test technique Using the Test Plan, identify each technique that will be part of the Test Approach. For each technique, list the specific environmental requirements that will need to be satisfied to allow the testing to be undertaken. #### Define inventory of base hardware and software Using the requirements that you have identified, begin collating a list of both the hardware and software that will be require to conduct the testing. Try to find opportunities for consolidation. #### Define detailed inventory of hardware and software to support the test process Now gather the details for each configuration. Be as specific as possible. This may require the assistance of technical support or system administration resources. Try to find the minimum and maximum extremes for the possible environments. Often these extremes are enough to provide a sufficient breadth of environment experience. #### Define Test Environment management process requirements To set up, maintain, and manage a test environment is often a difficult and demanding undertaking. Give thought to the management procedures that you will adopt to keep the test environment in good working order.
Evaluate and Verify Your Results
You should evaluate whether your work is of appropriate quality, and that it is complete enough to be useful to those team members who will make subsequent use of it as input to their work. Where possible, use checklists to verify that quality and completeness are good enough. Have the people who perform the downstream tasks that rely on your work as input review your interim work. Do this while you still have time available to take action to address their concerns. You should also evaluate your work against the key input work products to make sure that you have represented them accurately and sufficiently. It may be useful to have the author of the input work product review your work on this basis.
More Information
Tool Mentors | Create a Test Project Using IBM Rational Functional Tester Create Configuration Record using CQTM Create Test Suite Record using CQTM Creating a Configured Test Case Record using CQTM Getting Started with Rational Functional Tester Extension for Terminal-based Applications (FTE) Saving a Connection Configuration with Rational Functional Tester Extension Setting Up Rational Functional Tester Extension Starting a Host Connection with Rational Functional Tester Extension Structuring the Test Environment using IBM Rational Quality Manager
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