HP E5576A Test Manager Integration Kit for the BSTS

The HP E5576A Test Manager Integration Kit (TMIK) is a UNIX-based tool complement to the TTCN translator, designed to help the user integrate his own C test scripts and create an Executable Test Suite (ETS) that will run under the Telecom Protocol Test Manager on the HP BSTS.

Although less ideal than TTCN for pure conformance testing, tests written in C can meet other testing needs, based on their usefulness in sending and receiving PDUs (messages, cells, etc.).

It is conceivable to write performance or stress tests in C at the physical layer, which TTCN cannot do.

TMIK makes it possible to take user-developed C code and make it executable on the HP BSTS tester through its Protocol Test Manager execution interface.

TMIK is useful for adding custom tests in C to existing suites or creating other custom test scripts. It provides the necessary interface between the C code and the conformance testing environment on the BSTS.

Product Overview

Network Equipment Manufacturers (NEMs) constantly face the worry of system integration of their equipment in networks comprised of elements from various sources. Once each separate element in a network is tested and once the conformance of a network system’s external interfaces is validated, system elements must be integrated and the system must be tested to verify if it meets the specifications it was designed for.

System Testing

A system can be defined in several ways. In the case of a switch (ATM, ISDN, ...), a "system" would include a switching matrix, connection interfaces and a management system (MIB). In the case of a network, the system would also include a user interface and applications to manage the network.

Testing a system requires more than just a single tester and a conformancetestsuite.Integration testing requires the use of several testers simultaneously, in order to test different but complementary aspects (protocols, physical interfaces, MIBs, GUIs, etc.).

A test pilot, usually a workstation, is required to manage, configure, synchronize, execute and retrieve results for all of the test resources that are being used.

Solutions

Besides offering dedicated conformance testing solutions, Hewlett-Packard has developed tools that can help users build an efficient testing environment in which the HP Broadband Series Test System plays an important role. Current BSTS owners have the added benefit of leveraging their hardware investment. The key element in this expanded testing environment lies in HP’s Telecom Protocol Test Manager execution environment. Test Manager strictly follows the ISO9646 standard in the execution of test suites.

Although this testing approach is uniquely effective due to the systematic use of the TTCN notation, it also has significant advantages for other types of testing, such as performance or functionaltesting.

TMIK Functionality

The test suite source files and the files generated with TMIK are to be compiled and linked with the BSTS programming libraries and the Test Manager Library using a standard C-compiler, and then executed on the Broadband Series Test System tester through Test Manager.

The Test Suite Loader File (TSL) is the file that provides Test Manager with information about the ETS. It is loaded into Test Manager's memory when a test suite is opened. It is created based on the user's test cases.

The TSL file contains three major sections: the Selection Expressions, the Test Suite Parameters (TSP) and the Test Suite Structure (TSS).

TMIK uses a TSL file as input and will check its syntax. If there is an error detected in the TSL file, the user will be prompted and an error report will be generated. If no errors are detected, the tool will generate the files required to build the ETS (table file, include file, declaration file, template customization file and Makefile template).

The Test Manager library (BTM Library) handles com-munication between the ETS and the Test Manager. The library and its associated files are included with TMIK.

The executable test suite environment is provided by the Telecom Protocol Test Manager software. It is used to select test cases, specify PICS/PIXIT values, run the test suite, produce reports, etc.

TMIK Test Script Integration Stages

The following 6 steps are necessary to produce an Executable Test Suite (ETS) based on user-written C scripts:

Write the Test Manager oriented test cases in C language.
Create the corresponding Test Suite Loader file.
Use TMIK to generate the files required to build the ETS and to check the syntax of the tsl file.
Customize the required files.
Compile and link the Executable Test Suite.
Run the test suite.

[ Features ]

Create custom test suites in C for the HP BSTS without knowing the complexities of TTCN.
Obtain a test suite which does not come from a TTCN specification, and which is not limited to the protocol: it can be performance testing, functional testing, ..., and any kind of test that can be developed on the BSTS/Workstation.
Follow easy steps and quickly generate executable test cases to be run by the BSTS via its Telecom Protocol Test Manager.
All support code and libraries are automatically linked to the output file TMIK generates from user C code.

[ Ordering ]

HP E5576 Test Manager Integration Kit (TMIK) Licence for 1 user Opt AAH DDS Cartridge Opt AHN HP 9000 Series 700 OS 9.0 or later Opt SOL Sun Solaris OS Version Opt 100 Bundle credit when purchased at the same time as E7329A

All orders include the following:

Tools Software CD-ROM
User's Guide
Release Notice
Test Manager GUI (on CD-ROM)
Test Manager User's Guide
Test Manager Release Notice

Requirements:
Base system requirement: HP E4200A/B HP Broadband Series Test System Form 7 Transportable Base or HP E4210A/B HP Broadband Series Test System Form 13 Mainframe Base and: HP9000 Series 700 workstation with OS 9.0 or later, or SUN Sparc 5 Workstation (Solaris 2.4 or SUNOS 5.4) or higher 1 MB of disk space both on tester and workstation Recommended: C compiler (ANSI) with debugging capabilities running on the BSTS, such as the HP-UX C/ANSI Dev Bundle, Prod B2345A

[ Key Literature ]

E5576A Test Manager Integration Kit ( PDF)

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[ Assistance ]

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Related product families available online:

Broadband Series Test System

Broadband/ATM