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1
2Revamp of Automatic VirtualBox Testing
3======================================
4
5
6Introduction
7------------
8
9This is the design document for a revamped automatic testing framework.
10The revamp aims at replacing the current tinderbox based testing by a new
11system that is written from scratch.
12
13The old system is not easy to work with and was never meant to be used for
14managing tests, after all it just a simple a build manager tailored for
15contiguous building. Modifying the existing tinderbox system to do what
16we want would require fundamental changes that would render it useless as
17a build manager, it would therefore end up as a fork. The amount of work
18required would probably be about the same as writing a new system from
19scratch. Other considerations, such as the license of the tinderbox
20system (MPL) and language it is realized in (Perl), are also in favor of
21doing it from scratch.
22
23The language envisioned for the new automatic testing framework is Python. This
24is for several reasons:
25
26 - The VirtualBox API has Python bindings.
27 - Python is used quite a bit inside Sun (dunno about Oracle).
28 - Works relatively well with Apache for the server side bits.
29 - It is more difficult to produce write-only code in Python (alias the
30 we-don't-like-perl argument).
31 - You don't need to compile stuff.
32
33Note that the author of this document has no special training as a test
34engineer and may therefore be using the wrong terms here and there. The
35primary focus is to express what we need to do in order to improve
36testing.
37
38This document is written in reStructuredText (rst) which just happens to
39be used by Python, the primary language for this revamp. For more
40information on reStructuredText: http://docutils.sourceforge.net/rst.html
41
42
43Definitions / Glossary
44======================
45
46sub-test driver
47 A set of test cases that can be used by more than one test driver. Could
48 also be called a test unit, in the pascal sense of unit, if it wasn't so
49 easily confused with 'unit test'.
50
51test
52 This is somewhat ambiguous and this document try avoid using it where
53 possible. When used it normally refers to doing testing by executing one or
54 more testcases.
55
56test case
57 A set of inputs, test programs and expected results. It validates system
58 requirements and generates a pass or failed status. A basic unit of testing.
59 Note that we use the term in a rather broad sense.
60
61test driver
62 A program/script used to execute a test. Also known as a test harness.
63 Generally abbreviated 'td'. It can have sub-test drivers.
64
65test manager
66 Software managing the automatic testing. This is a web application that runs
67 on a dedicated server (tindertux).
68
69test set
70 The output of testing activity. Logs, results, ++. Our usage of this should
71 probably be renamed to 'test run'.
72
73test group
74 A collection of related test cases.
75
76testbox
77 A computer that does testing.
78
79testbox script
80 Script executing orders from the test manager on a testbox. Started
81 automatically upon bootup.
82
83testing
84 todo
85
86TODO: Check that we've got all this right and make them more exact
87 where possible.
88
89See also http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/testing%20types
90and http://www.aptest.com/glossary.html .
91
92
93
94Objectives
95==========
96
97 - A scalable test manager (>200 testboxes).
98 - Optimize the web user interface (WUI) for typical workflows and analysis.
99 - Efficient and flexibile test configuration.
100 - Import test result from other test systems (logo testing, VDI, ++).
101 - Easy to add lots of new testscripts.
102 - Run tests locally without a manager.
103 - Revamp a bit at the time.
104
105
106
107The Testbox Side
108================
109
110Each testbox has a unique name corresponding to its DNS zone entry. When booted
111a testbox script is started automatically. This script will query the test
112manager for orders and execute them. The core order downloads and executes a
113test driver with parameters (configuration) from the server. The test driver
114does all the necessary work for executing the test. In a typical VirtualBox
115test this means picking a build, installing it, configuring VMs, running the
116test VMs, collecting the results, submitting them to the server, and finally
117cleaning up afterwards.
118
119The testbox environment which the test drivers are executed in will have a
120number of environment variables for determining location of the source images
121and other test data, scratch space, test set id, server URL, and so on and so
122forth.
123
124On startup, the testbox script will look for crash dumps and similar on
125systems where this is possible. If any sign of a crash is found, it will
126put any dumps and reports in the upload directory and inform the test
127manager before reporting for duty. In order to generate the proper file
128names and report the crash in the right test set as well as prevent
129reporting crashes unrelated to automatic testing, the testbox script will
130keep information (test set id, ++) in a separate scratch directory
131(${TESTBOX_PATH_SCRATCH}/../testbox) and make sure it is synced to the
132disk (both files and directories).
133
134After checking for crashes, the testbox script will clean up any previous test
135which might be around. This involves first invoking the test script in cleanup
136mode and the wiping the scratch space.
137
138When reporting for duty the script will submit information about the host: OS
139name, OS version, OS bitness, CPU vendor, total number of cores, VT-x support,
140AMD-V support, amount of memory, amount of scratch space, and anything else that
141can be found useful for scheduling tests or filtering test configurations.
142
143
144
145Testbox Script Orders
146---------------------
147
148The orders are kept in a queue on the server and the testbox script will fetch
149them one by one. Orders that cannot be executed at the moment will be masked in
150the query from the testbox.
151
152Execute Test Driver
153 Downloads and executes the a specified test driver with the given
154 configuration (arguments). Only one test driver can be executed at a time.
155 The server can specify more than one ZIP file to be downloaded and unpacked
156 before executing the test driver. The testbox script may cache these zip
157 files using http time stamping.
158
159Abort Test Driver
160 Aborts the current test driver. This will drop a hint to the driver and give
161 it 60 seconds to shut down the normal way. If that fails, the testbox script
162 will kill the driver processes (SIGKILL or equivalent), invoke the
163 testdriver in cleanup mode, and finally wipe the scratch area. Should either
164 of the last two steps fail in some way, the testbox will be rebooted.
165
166Idle
167 Ask again in X seconds, where X is specified by the server.
168
169Reboot
170 Reboot the testbox. If a test driver is current running, an attempt at
171 aborting it (Abort Test Driver) will be made first.
172
173Update
174 Updates the testbox script. The order includes a server relative path to the
175 new testbox script. This can only be executed when no test driver is
176 currently being executed.
177
178
179Testbox Environment: Variables
180------------------------------
181
182COMSPEC
183 This will be set to C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe on Windows.
184
185PATH
186 This will contain the kBuild binary directory for the host platform.
187
188SHELL
189 This will be set to point to kmk_ash(.exe) on all platforms.
190
191TESTBOX_NAME
192 The testbox name.
193 This is not required by the local reporter.
194
195TESTBOX_PATH_BUILDS
196 The absolute path to where the build repository can be found. This should be
197 a read only mount when possible.
198
199TESTBOX_PATH_RESOURCES
200 The absolute path to where static test resources like ISOs and VDIs can be
201 found. The test drivers knows the layout of this. This should be a read only
202 mount when possible.
203
204TESTBOX_PATH_SCRATCH
205 The absolute path to the scratch space. This is the current directory when
206 starting the test driver. It will be wiped automatically after executing the
207 test.
208 (Envisioned as ${TESTBOX_PATH_SCRIPTS}/../scratch and that
209 ${TESTBOX_PATH_SCRATCH}/ will be automatically wiped by the testbox script.)
210
211TESTBOX_PATH_SCRIPTS
212 The absolute path to the test driver and the other files that was unzipped
213 together with it. This is also where the test-driver-abort file will be put.
214 (Envisioned as ${TESTBOX_PATH_SCRATCH}/../driver, see above.)
215
216TESTBOX_PATH_UPLOAD
217 The absolute path to the upload directory for the testbox. This is for
218 putting VOBs, PNGs, core dumps, crash dumps, and such on. The files should be
219 bzipped or zipped if they aren't compress already. The names should contain
220 the testbox and test set ID.
221
222TESTBOX_REPORTER
223 The name of the test reporter back end. If not present, it will default to
224 the local reporter.
225
226TESTBOX_TEST_SET_ID
227 The test set ID if we're running.
228 This is not required by the local reporter.
229
230TESTBOX_MANAGER_URL
231 The URL to the test manager.
232 This is not required by the local reporter.
233
234TESTBOX_XYZ
235 There will probably be some more of these.
236
237
238Testbox Environment: Core Utilities
239-----------------------------------
240
241The testbox will not provide the typical unix /bin and /usr/bin utilities. In
242other words, cygwin will not be used on Windows!
243
244The testbox will provide the unixy utilties that ships with kBuild and possibly
245some additional ones from tools/*.*/bin in the VirtualBox tree (wget, unzip,
246zip, and so on). The test drivers will avoid invoking any of these utilites
247directly and instead rely on generic utility methods in the test driver
248framework. That way we can more easily reimplement the functionality of the
249core utilites and drop the dependency on them. It also allows us to quickly
250work around platform specific oddities and bugs.
251
252
253Test Drivers
254------------
255
256The test drivers are programs that will do the actual testing. In addition to
257run under the testbox script, they can be executed in the VirtualBox development
258environment. This is important for bug analysis and for simplifying local
259testing by the developers before commiting changes. It also means the test
260drivers can be developed locally in the VirtualBox development environment.
261
262The main difference between executing a driver under the testbox script and
263running it manually is that there is no test manager in the latter case. The
264test result reporter will not talk to the server, but report things to a local
265log file and/or standard out/err. When invoked manually, all the necessary
266arguments will need to be specified by hand of course - it should be possible
267to extract them from a test set as well.
268
269For the early implementation stages, an implementation of the reporter interface
270that talks to the tinderbox base test manager will be needed. This will be
271dropped later on when a new test manager is ready.
272
273As hinted at in other sections, there will be a common framework
274(libraries/packages/classes) for taking care of the tedious bits that every
275test driver needs to do. Sharing code is essential to easing test driver
276development as well as reducing their complexity. The framework will contain:
277
278 - A generic way of submitting output. This will be a generic interface with
279 multiple implementation, the TESTBOX_REPORTER environment variable
280 will decide which of them to use. The interface will have very specific
281 methods to allow the reporter to do a best possible job in reporting the
282 results to the test manager.
283
284 - Helpers for typical tasks, like:
285 - Copying files.
286 - Deleting files, directory trees and scratch space.
287 - Unzipping files.
288 - Creating ISOs
289 - And such things.
290
291 - Helpers for installing and uninstalling VirtualBox.
292
293 - Helpers for defining VMs. (The VBox API where available.)
294
295 - Helpers for controlling VMs. (The VBox API where available.)
296
297The VirtualBox bits will be separate from the more generic ones, simply because
298this is cleaner it will allow us to reuse the system for testing other products.
299
300The framework will be packaged in a zip file other than the test driver so we
301don't waste time and space downloading the same common code.
302
303The test driver will poll for the file
304${TESTBOX_PATH_SCRIPTS}/test-driver-abort and abort all testing when it sees it.
305
306The test driver can be invoked in three modes: execute, help and cleanup. The
307default is execute mode, the help shows an configuration summary and the cleanup
308is for cleaning up after a reboot or aborted run. The latter is done by the
309testbox script on startup and after abort - the driver is expected to clean up
310by itself after a normal run.
311
312
313
314The Server Side
315===============
316
317The server side will be implemented using a webserver (apache), a database
318(postgres) and cgi scripts (Python). In addition a cron job (Python) running
319once a minute will generate static html for frequently used pages and maybe
320execute some other tasks for driving the testing forwards. The order queries
321from the testbox script is the primary driving force in the system. The total
322makes up the test manager.
323
324The test manager can be split up into three rough parts:
325
326 - Configuration (of tests, testgroups and testboxes).
327 - Execution (of tests, collecting and organizing the output).
328 - Analysis (of test output, mostly about presentation).
329
330
331Test Manager: Requirements
332==========================
333
334List of requirements:
335
336 - Two level testing - L1 quick smoke tests and L2 longer tests performed on
337 builds passing L1. (Klaus (IIRC) ment this could be realized using
338 test dependency.)
339 - Black listing builds (by revision or similar) known to be bad.
340 - Distinguish between build types so we can do a portion of the testing with
341 strict builds.
342 - Easy to re-configure build source for testing different branch or for
343 testing a release candidate. (Directory based is fine.)
344 - Useful to be able to partition testboxes (run specific builds on some
345 boxes, let an engineer have a few boxes for a while).
346 - Interation with ILOM/...: reset systems.
347 - Be able to suspend testing on selected testboxes when doing maintance
348 (where automatically resuming testing on reboot is undesired) or similar
349 activity.
350 - Abort testing on seleced testboxes.
351 - Scheduling of tests requiring more than one testbox.
352 - Scheduling of tests that cannot be executing concurrently on several
353 machines because of some global resource like an iSCSI target.
354 - Jump the scheduling queue. Scheduling of specified test the next time a
355 testbox is available (optionally specifying which testbox to schedule it
356 on).
357 - Configure tests with variable configuration to get better coverage. Two modes:
358 - TM generates the permutations based on one or more sets of test script arguments.
359 - Each configuration permuation is specified manually.
360 - Test specification needs to be flexible (select tests, disable test, test
361 scheduling (run certain tests nightly), ... ).
362 - Test scheduling by hour+weekday and by priority.
363 - Test dependencies (test A depends on test B being successful).
364 - Historize all configuration data, in particular test configs (permutations
365 included) and testboxes.
366 - Test sets has at a minimum a build reference, a testbox reference and a
367 primary log associated with it.
368 - Test sets stores further result as a recursive collection of:
369 - hierachical subtest name (slash sep)
370 - test parameters / config
371 - bool fail/succ
372 - attributes (typed?)
373 - test time
374 - e.g. throughput
375 - subresults
376 - log
377 - screenshots, video,...
378 - The test sets database structure needs to designed such that data mining
379 can be done in an efficient manner.
380 - Presentation/analysis: graphs!, categorize bugs, columns reorganizing
381 grouped by test (hierarchical), overviews, result for last day.
382
383
384
385Test Manager: Configuration
386===========================
387
388
389Testboxes
390---------
391
392Configuration of testboxes doesn't involve much work normally. A testbox
393is added manually to the test manager by entering the DNS entry and/or IP
394address (the test manager resolves the missing one when necessary) as well as
395the system UUID (when obtainable - should be displayed by the testbox script
396installer). Queries from unregistered testboxes will be declined as a kind of
397security measure, the incident should be logged in the webserver log if
398possible. In later dealings with the client the System UUID will be the key
399identifier. It's permittable for the IP address to change when the testbox
400isn't online, but not while testing (just imagine live migration tests and
401network tests). Ideally, the testboxes should not change IP address.
402
403The testbox edit function must allow changing the name and system UUID.
404
405One further idea for the testbox configuration is indicating what they are
406capable of to filter out tests and test configurations that won't work on that
407testbox. To examplify this take the ACP2 installation test. If the test
408manager does not make sure the testbox have VT-x or AMD-v capabilities, the test
409is surely going to fail. Other testbox capabilities would be total number of
410CPU cores, memory size, scratch space. These testbox capabilities should be
411collected automatically on bootup by the testbox script together with OS name,
412OS version and OS bitness.
413
414A final thought, instead of outright declining all requests from new testboxes,
415we could record the unregistered testboxes with ip, UUID, name, os info and
416capabilities but mark them as inactive. The test operator can then activate
417them on an activation page or edit the testbox or something.
418
419
420Testcases
421---------
422
423We use the term testcase for a test.
424
425
426Testgroups
427----------
428
429Testcases are organized into groups. A testcase can be member of more than one
430group. The testcase gets a priority assigned to it in connection with the
431group membership.
432
433Testgroups are picked up by a testbox partition (aka scheduling group) and a
434prioirty, scheduling time restriction and dependencies on other test groups are
435associated with the assignment. A testgroup can be used by several testbox
436partitions.
437
438(This used to be called 'testsuites' but was renamed to avoid confusion with
439the VBox Test Suite.)
440
441
442Scheduling
443----------
444
445The initial scheduler will be modelled after what we're doing already on in the
446tinderbox driven testing. It's best described as a best effort continuous
447integration scheduler. Meaning, it will always use the latest build suitable
448for a testcase. It will schedule on a testcase level, using the combined
449priority of the testcase in the test group and the test group with the testbox
450partition, trying to spread the test case argument varation out accordingly
451over the whole scheduilng queue. Which argument variation to start with, is
452not undefined (random would be best).
453
454Later, we may add other schedulers as needed.
455
456
457
458The Test Manager Database
459=========================
460
461First a general warning:
462
463 The guys working on this design are not database experts, web
464 programming experts or similar, rather we are low level guys
465 who's main job is x86 & AMD64 virtualization. So, please don't
466 be too hard on us. :-)
467
468
469A logical table layout can be found in TestManagerDatabaseMap.png (created by
470Oracle SQL Data Modeler, stored in TestManagerDatabase.dmd). The physical
471database layout can be found in TestManagerDatabaseInit.pgsql postgreSQL
472script. The script is commented.
473
474
475Data History
476------------
477
478We need to somehow track configuration changes over time. We also need to
479be able to query the exact configuration a test set was run with so we can
480understand and make better use of the results.
481
482There are different techniques for archiving this, one is tuple-versioning
483( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuple-versioning ), another is log trigger
484( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Log_trigger ). We use tuple-versioning in
485this database, with 'effective' as start date field name and 'expire' as
486the end (exclusive).
487
488Tuple-versioning has a shortcomming wrt to keys, both primary and foreign.
489The primary key of a table employing tuple-versioning is really
490'id' + 'valid_period', where the latter is expressed using two fields
491([effective...expire-1]). Only, how do you tell the database engine that
492it should not allow overlapping valid_periods? Useful suggestions are
493welcomed. :-)
494
495Foreign key references to a table using tuple-versioning is running into
496trouble because of the time axsis and that to our knowledge foreign keys
497must reference exactly one row in the other table. When time is involved
498what we wish to tell the database is that at any given time, there actually
499is exactly one row we want to match in the other table, only we've no idea
500how to express this. So, many foreign keys are not expressed in SQL of this
501database.
502
503In some cases, we extend the tuple-versioning with a generation ID so that
504normal foreign key referencing can be used. We only use this for recording
505(references in testset) and scheduling (schedqueue), as using it more widely
506would force updates (gen_id changes) to propagate into all related tables.
507
508See also:
509 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slowly_changing_dimension
510 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Change_data_capture
511 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temporal_database
512
513
514
515Test Manager: Execution
516=======================
517
518
519
520Test Manager: Scenarios
521=======================
522
523
524
525#1 - Testbox Signs On (At Bootup)
526---------------------------------
527
528The testbox supplies a number of inputs when reporting for duty:
529 - IP address.
530 - System UUID.
531 - OS name.
532 - OS version.
533 - CPU architecture.
534 - CPU count (= threads).
535 - CPU VT-x/AMD-V capability.
536 - CPU nested paging capability.
537 - Chipset I/O MMU capability.
538 - Memory size.
539 - Scratch size space (for testing).
540 - Testbox Script revision.
541
542Results:
543 - ACK or NACK.
544 - Testbox ID and name on ACK.
545
546After receiving a ACK the testbox will ask for work to do, i.e. continue with
547scenario #2. In the NACK case, it will sleep for 60 seconds and try again.
548
549
550Actions:
551
5521. Validate the testbox by looking the UUID up in the TestBoxes table.
553 If not found, NACK the request. SQL::
554
555 SELECT idTestBox, sName
556 FROM TestBoxes
557 WHERE uuidSystem = :sUuid
558 AND tsExpire = 'infinity'::timestamp;
559
5602. Check if any of the information by testbox script has changed. The two
561 sizes are normalized first, memory size rounded to nearest 4 MB and scratch
562 space is rounded down to nearest 64 MB. If anything changed, insert a new
563 row in the testbox table and historize the current one, i.e. set
564 OLD.tsExpire to NEW.tsEffective and get a new value for NEW.idGenTestBox.
565
5663. Check with TestBoxStatuses:
567 a) If there is an row for the testbox in it already clean up change it
568 to 'idle' state and deal with any open testset like described in
569 scenario #9.
570 b) If there is no row, add one with 'idle' state.
571
5724. ACK the request and pass back the idTestBox.
573
574
575Note! Testbox.enabled is not checked here, that is only relevant when it asks
576 for a new task (scenario #2 and #5).
577
578Note! Should the testbox script detect changes in any of the inputs, it should
579 redo the sign in.
580
581Note! In scenario #8, the box will not sign on until it has done the reboot and
582 cleanup reporting!
583
584
585#2 - Testbox Asks For Work To Do
586---------------------------------
587
588
589Inputs:
590 - The testbox is supplying its IP indirectly.
591 - The testbox should supply its UUID and ID directly.
592
593Results:
594 - IDLE, WAIT, EXEC, REBOOT, UPGRADE, UPGRADE-AND-REBOOT, SPECIAL or DEAD.
595
596Actions:
597
5981. Validate the ID and IP by selecting the currently valid testbox row::
599
600 SELECT idGenTestBox, fEnabled, idSchedGroup, enmPendingCmd
601 FROM TestBoxes
602 WHERE id = :id
603 AND uuidSystem = :sUuid
604 AND ip = :ip
605 AND tsExpire = 'infinity'::timestamp;
606
607 If NOT found return DEAD to the testbox client (it will go back to sign on
608 mode and retry every 60 seconds or so - see scenario #1).
609
610 Note! The WUI will do all necessary clean-ups when deleting a testbox, so
611 contrary to the initial plans, we don't need to do anything more for
612 the DEAD status.
613
6142. Check with TestBoxStatuses (maybe joined with query from 1).
615
616 If enmState is 'gang-gathering': Goto scenario #6 on timeout or pending
617 'abort' or 'reboot' command. Otherwise, tell the testbox to WAIT [done].
618
619 If enmState is 'gang-testing': The gang has been gathered and execution
620 has been triggered. Goto 5.
621
622 If enmState is not 'idle', change it to 'idle'.
623
624 If idTestSet is not NULL, CALL scenario #9 to it up.
625
626 If there is a pending abort command, remove it.
627
628 If there is a pending command and the old state doesn't indicate that it was
629 being executed, GOTO scenario #3.
630
631 Note! There should be a TestBoxStatuses row after executing scenario #1,
632 however should none be found for some funky reason, returning DEAD
633 will fix the problem (see above)
634
6353. If the testbox was marked as disabled, respond with an IDLE command to the
636 testbox [done]. (Note! Must do this after TestBoxStatuses maintainance from
637 point 2, or abandoned tests won't be cleaned up after a testbox is disabled.)
638
6394. Consider testcases in the scheduling queue, pick the first one which the
640 testbox can execute. There is a concurrency issue here, so we put and
641 exclusive lock on the SchedQueues table while considering its content.
642
643 The cursor we open looks something like this::
644
645 SELECT idItem, idGenTestCaseArgs,
646 idTestSetGangLeader, cMissingGangMembers
647 FROM SchedQueues
648 WHERE idSchedGroup = :idSchedGroup
649 AND ( bmHourlySchedule is NULL
650 OR get_bit(bmHourlySchedule, :iHourOfWeek) = 1 ) --< does this work?
651 ORDER BY ASC idItem;
652
653 If there no rows are returned (this can happen because no testgroups are
654 associated with this scheduling group, the scheduling group is disabled,
655 or because the queue is being regenerated), we will tell the testbox to
656 IDLE [done].
657
658 For each returned row we will:
659 a) Check testcase/group dependencies.
660 b) Select a build (and default testsuite) satisfying the dependencies.
661 c) Check the testcase requirements with that build in mind.
662 d) If idTestSetGangLeader is NULL, try allocate the necessary resources.
663 e) If it didn't check out, fetch the next row and redo from (a).
664 f) Tentatively create a new test set row.
665 g) If not gang scheduling:
666 - Next state: 'testing'
667 ElIf we're the last gang participant:
668 - Set idTestSetGangLeader to NULL.
669 - Set cMissingGangMembers to 0.
670 - Next state: 'gang-testing'
671 ElIf we're the first gang member:
672 - Set cMissingGangMembers to TestCaseArgs.cGangMembers - 1.
673 - Set idTestSetGangLeader to our idTestSet.
674 - Next state: 'gang-gathering'
675 Else:
676 - Decrement cMissingGangMembers.
677 - Next state: 'gang-gathering'
678
679 If we're not gang scheduling OR cMissingGangMembers is 0:
680 Move the scheduler queue entry to the end of the queue.
681
682 Update our TestBoxStatuses row with the new state and test set.
683 COMMIT;
684
6855. If state is 'testing' or 'gang-testing':
686 EXEC reponse.
687
688 The EXEC response for a gang scheduled testcase includes a number of
689 extra arguments so that the script knows the position of the testbox
690 it is running on and of the other members. This means the that the
691 TestSet.iGangMemberNo is passed using --gang-member-no and the IP
692 addresses of the all gang members using --gang-ipv4-<memb-no> <ip>.
693 Else (state is 'gang-gathering'):
694 WAIT
695
696
697
698#3 - Pending Command When Testbox Asks For Work
699-----------------------------------------------
700
701This is a subfunction of scenario #2 and #5.
702
703As seen in scenario #2, the testbox will send 'abort' commands to /dev/null
704when it finds one when not executing a test. This includes when it reports
705that the test has completed (no need to abort a completed test, wasting lot
706of effort when standing at the finish line).
707
708The other commands, though, are passed back to the testbox. The testbox
709script will respond with an ACK or NACK as it sees fit. If NACKed, the
710pending command will be removed (pending_cmd set to none) and that's it.
711If ACKed, the state of the testbox will change to that appropriate for the
712command and the pending_cmd set to none. Should the testbox script fail to
713respond, the command will be repeated the next time it asks for work.
714
715
716
717#4 - Testbox Uploads Results During Test
718----------------------------------------
719
720
721TODO
722
723
724#5 - Testbox Completes Test and Asks For Work
725---------------------------------------------
726
727This is very similar to scenario #2
728
729TODO
730
731
732#6 - Gang Gathering Timeout
733---------------------------
734
735This is a subfunction of scenario #2.
736
737When gathering a gang of testboxes for a testcase, we do not want to wait
738forever and have testboxes doing nothing for hours while waiting for partners.
739So, the gathering has a reasonable timeout (imagine something like 20-30 mins).
740
741Also, we need some way of dealing with 'abort' and 'reboot' commands being
742issued while waiting. The easy way out is pretent it's a time out.
743
744When changing the status to 'gang-timeout' we have to be careful. First of all,
745we need to exclusively lock the SchedQueues and TestBoxStatuses (in that order)
746and re-query our status. If it changed redo the checks in scenario #2 point 2.
747
748If we still want to timeout/abort, change the state from 'gang-gathering' to
749'gang-gathering-timedout' on all the gang members that has gathered so far.
750Then reset the scheduling queue record and move it to the end of the queue.
751
752
753When acting on 'gang-timeout' the TM will fail the testset in a manner similar
754to scenario #9. No need to repeat that.
755
756
757
758#7 - Gang Cleanup
759-----------------
760
761When a testbox completes a gang scheduled test, we will have to serialize
762resource cleanup (both globally and on testboxes) as they stop. More details
763can be found in the documentation of 'gang-cleanup'.
764
765So, the transition from 'gang-testing' is always to 'gang-cleanup'. When we
766can safely leave 'gang-cleanup' is decided by the query::
767
768 SELECT COUNT(*)
769 FROM TestBoxStatuses,
770 TestSets
771 WHERE TestSets.idTestSetGangLeader = :idTestSetGangLeader
772 AND TestSets.idTestBox = TestBoxStatuses.idTestBox
773 AND TestBoxStatuses.enmState = 'gang-running'::TestBoxState_T;
774
775As long as there are testboxes still running, we stay in the 'gang-cleanup'
776state. Once there are none, we continue closing the testset and such.
777
778
779
780#8 - Testbox Reports A Crash During Test Execution
781--------------------------------------------------
782
783TODO
784
785
786#9 - Cleaning Up Abandoned Testcase
787-----------------------------------
788
789This is a subfunction of scenario #1 and #2. The actions taken are the same in
790both situations. The precondition for taking this path is that the row in the
791testboxstatus table is refering to a testset (i.e. testset_id is not NULL).
792
793
794Actions:
795
7961. If the testset is incomplete, we need to completed:
797 a) Add a message to the root TestResults row, creating one if necesary,
798 that explains that the test was abandoned. This is done
799 by inserting/finding the string into/in TestResultStrTab and adding
800 a row to TestResultMsgs with idStrMsg set to that string id and
801 enmLevel set to 'failure'.
802 b) Mark the testset as failed.
803
8042. Free any global resources referenced by the test set. This is done by
805 deleting all rows in GlobalResourceStatuses matching the testbox id.
806
8073. Set the idTestSet to NULL in the TestBoxStatuses row.
808
809
810
811#10 - Cleaning Up a Disabled/Dead TestBox
812-----------------------------------------
813
814The UI needs to be able to clean up the remains of a testbox which for some
815reason is out of action. Normal cleaning up of abandoned testcases requires
816that the testbox signs on or asks for work, but if the testbox is dead or
817in some way indisposed, it won't be doing any of that. So, the testbox
818sheriff needs to have a way of cleaning up after it.
819
820It's basically a manual scenario #9 but with some safe guards, like checking
821that the box hasn't been active for the last 1-2 mins (max idle/wait time * 2).
822
823
824Note! When disabling a box that still executing the testbox script, this
825 cleanup isn't necessary as it will happen automatically. Also, it's
826 probably desirable that the testbox finishes what ever it is doing first
827 before going dormant.
828
829
830
831Test Manager: Analysis
832=======================
833
834One of the testbox sheriff's tasks is to try figure out the reason why something
835failed. The test manager will provide facilities for doing so from very early
836in it's implementation.
837
838
839We need to work out some useful status reports for the early implementation.
840Later there will be more advanced analysis tools, where for instance we can
841create graphs from selected test result values or test execution times.
842
843
844
845Implementation Plan
846===================
847
848This has changed for various reasons. The current plan is to implement the
849infrastructure (TM & testbox script) first and do a small deployment with the
8502-5 test drivers in the Testsuite as basis. Once the bugs are worked out, we
851will convert the rest of the tests and start adding new ones.
852
853We just need to finally get this done, no point in doing it piecemeal by now!
854
855
856Test Manager Implementation Sub-Tasks
857-------------------------------------
858
859The implementation of the test manager and adjusting/completing of the testbox
860script and the test drivers are tasks which can be done by more than one
861person. Splitting up the TM implementation into smaller tasks should allow
862parallel development of different tasks and get us working code sooner.
863
864
865Milestone #1
866------------
867
868The goal is to getting the fundamental testmanager engine implemented, debugged
869and working. With the exception of testboxes, the configuration will be done
870via SQL inserts.
871
872Tasks in somewhat prioritized order:
873
874 - Kick off test manager. It will live in testmanager/. Salvage as much as
875 possible from att/testserv. Create basic source and file layout.
876
877 - Adjust the testbox script, part one. There currently is a testbox script
878 in att/testbox, this shall be moved up into testboxscript/. The script
879 needs to be adjusted according to the specification layed down earlier
880 in this document. Installers or installation scripts for all relevant
881 host OSes are required. Left for part two is result reporting beyond the
882 primary log. This task must be 100% feature complete, on all host OSes,
883 there is no room for FIXME, XXX or @todo here.
884
885 - Implement the schedule queue generator.
886
887 - Implement the testbox dispatcher in TM. Support all the testbox script
888 responses implemented above, including upgrading the testbox script.
889
890 - Implement simple testbox management page.
891
892 - Implement some basic activity and result reports so that we can see
893 what's going on.
894
895 - Create a testmanager / testbox test setup. This lives in selftest/.
896
897 1. Set up something that runs, no fiddly bits. Debug till it works.
898 2. Create a setup that tests testgroup dependencies, i.e. real tests
899 depending on smoke tests.
900 3. Create a setup that exercises testcase dependency.
901 4. Create a setup that exercises global resource allocation.
902 5. Create a setup that exercises gang scheduling.
903
904 - Check that all features work.
905
906
907Milestone #2
908------------
909
910The goal is getting to VBox testing.
911
912Tasks in somewhat prioritized order:
913
914 - Implement full result reporting in the testbox script and testbox driver.
915 A testbox script specific reporter needs to be implemented for the
916 testdriver framework. The testbox script needs to forward the results to
917 the test manager, or alternatively the testdriver report can talk
918 directly to the TM.
919
920 - Implement the test manager side of the test result reporting.
921
922 - Extend the selftest with some setup that report all kinds of test
923 results.
924
925 - Implement script/whatever feeding builds to the test manager from the
926 tinderboxes.
927
928 - The toplevel test driver is a VBox thing that must be derived from the
929 base TestDriver class or maybe the VBox one. It should move from
930 toptestdriver to testdriver and be renamed to vboxtltd or smth.
931
932 - Create a vbox testdriver that boots the t-xppro VM once and that's it.
933
934 - Create a selftest setup which tests booting t-xppro taking builds from
935 the tinderbox.
936
937
938Milestone #3
939------------
940
941The goal for this milestone is configuration and converting current testscases,
942the result will be the a minimal test deployment (4-5 new testboxes).
943
944Tasks in somewhat prioritized order:
945
946 - Implement testcase configuration.
947
948 - Implement testgroup configuration.
949
950 - Implement build source configuration.
951
952 - Implement scheduling group configuration.
953
954 - Implement global resource configuration.
955
956 - Re-visit the testbox configuration.
957
958 - Black listing of builds.
959
960 - Implement simple failure analysis and reporting.
961
962 - Implement the initial smoke tests modelled on the current smoke tests.
963
964 - Implement installation tests for Windows guests.
965
966 - Implement installation tests for Linux guests.
967
968 - Implement installation tests for Solaris guest.
969
970 - Implement installation tests for OS/2 guest.
971
972 - Set up a small test deployment.
973
974
975Further work
976------------
977
978After milestone #3 has been reached and issues found by the other team members
979have been addressed, we will probably go for full deployment.
980
981Beyond this point we will need to improve reporting and analysis. There may be
982configuration aspects needing reporting as well.
983
984Once deployed, a golden rule will be that all new features shall have test
985coverage. Preferrably, implemented by someone else and prior to the feature
986implementation.
987
988
989
990
991Discussion Logs
992===============
993
9942009-07-21,22,23 Various Discussions with Michal and/or Klaus
995-------------------------------------------------------------
996
997- Scheduling of tests requiring more than one testbox.
998- Scheduling of tests that cannot be executing concurrently on several machines
999 because of some global resource like an iSCSI target.
1000- Manually create the test config permutations instead of having the test
1001 manager create all possible ones and wasting time.
1002- Distinguish between built types so we can run smoke tests on strick builds as
1003 well as release ones.
1004
1005
10062009-07-20 Brief Discussion with Michal
1007----------------------------------------
1008
1009- Installer for the testbox script to make bringing up a new testbox even
1010 smoother.
1011
1012
10132009-07-16 Raw Input
1014--------------------
1015
1016- test set. recursive collection of:
1017 - hierachical subtest name (slash sep)
1018 - test parameters / config
1019 - bool fail/succ
1020 - attributes (typed?)
1021 - test time
1022 - e.g. throughput
1023 - subresults
1024 - log
1025 - screenshots,....
1026
1027- client package (zip) dl from server (maybe client caching)
1028
1029
1030- thoughts on bits to do at once.
1031 - We *really* need the basic bits ASAP.
1032 - client -> support for test driver
1033 - server -> controls configs
1034 - cleanup on both sides
1035
1036
10372009-07-15 Raw Input
1038--------------------
1039
1040- testing should start automatically
1041- switching to branch too tedious
1042- useful to be able to partition testboxes (run specific builds on some boxes, let an engineer have a few boxes for a while).
1043- test specification needs to be more flexible (select tests, disable test, test scheduling (run certain tests nightly), ... )
1044- testcase dependencies (blacklisting builds, run smoketests on box A before long tests on box B, ...)
1045- more testing flexibility, more test than just install/moke. For instance unit tests, benchmarks, ...
1046- presentation/analysis: graphs!, categorize bugs, columns reorganizing grouped by test (hierarchical), overviews, result for last day.
1047- testcase specificion, variables (e.g. I/O-APIC, SMP, HWVIRT, SATA...) as sub-tests
1048- interation with ILOM/...: reset systems
1049- Changes needs LDAP authentication
1050- historize all configuration w/ name
1051- ability to run testcase locally (provided the VDI/ISO/whatever extra requirements can be met).
1052
1053
1054-----
1055
1056.. [1] no such footnote
1057
1058-----
1059
1060:Status: $Id: AutomaticTestingRevamp.txt 69111 2017-10-17 14:26:02Z vboxsync $
1061:Copyright: Copyright (C) 2010-2017 Oracle Corporation.
1062
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