Product Virtualization in Large Scale Development : Adapting System Test for a Virtualized Product
Paukamainen, Ismo (2015)
Metropolia Ammattikorkeakoulu
2015
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201504234807
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-201504234807
Tiivistelmä
Today, the telecom operators' networks are populated with a large variety of proprietary hardware appliances. In the near future, by using standard IT virtualization technology, many of the network equipment types will be replaced by standard servers, switches and storage. Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) is rapidly emerging in telecom networks.
Virtualization will bring many changes in the software development. Testing as part of software development will also be influenced by these changes. This thesis analyzes these impacts on testing, concentrating on the system test area in particular.
The case company of this project is a leading ICT company that is also offering virtualized products for telecom markets. Many of its products have already been virtualized or this virtualization work is currently going on. This study was conducted at the Media Plane Development organization of the case company.
BGF (Border Gateway Function) is a product of the case company's Media Plane development organization, which is a logical node in the MRS (Media Resource System). The virtualization of BGF is done, as part of MRS. Virtualization of BGF means that instead of offering solutions, as a combination of proprietary software with a proprietary hardware platform only, also a combination of proprietary software with the industry standard hardware and software components need to be offered. These combinations have impacts on system testing.
Thus, this study addressed the impacts brought up by virtualization in the system test area for the case organization. The analysis was twofold. First, the study analyzed the current context of the system test, which means analyzing the current system test strategy, test environment and the ways of working. The second step was to analyze how the network functions virtualization requirements impact on the current context. Based on these analyses the study suggests adaptations for the current system test strategy, test environment and ways of working. Finally it also presents an action plan for deploying the changes, and recommended improvements in system test strategy.
Virtualization will bring many changes in the software development. Testing as part of software development will also be influenced by these changes. This thesis analyzes these impacts on testing, concentrating on the system test area in particular.
The case company of this project is a leading ICT company that is also offering virtualized products for telecom markets. Many of its products have already been virtualized or this virtualization work is currently going on. This study was conducted at the Media Plane Development organization of the case company.
BGF (Border Gateway Function) is a product of the case company's Media Plane development organization, which is a logical node in the MRS (Media Resource System). The virtualization of BGF is done, as part of MRS. Virtualization of BGF means that instead of offering solutions, as a combination of proprietary software with a proprietary hardware platform only, also a combination of proprietary software with the industry standard hardware and software components need to be offered. These combinations have impacts on system testing.
Thus, this study addressed the impacts brought up by virtualization in the system test area for the case organization. The analysis was twofold. First, the study analyzed the current context of the system test, which means analyzing the current system test strategy, test environment and the ways of working. The second step was to analyze how the network functions virtualization requirements impact on the current context. Based on these analyses the study suggests adaptations for the current system test strategy, test environment and ways of working. Finally it also presents an action plan for deploying the changes, and recommended improvements in system test strategy.