Test tool and methods for facilitating testing of a system managed event

• US 20050273659A1
• Filed: 08/01/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Shaw, Thomas C.
• Application Number:
  US11/194,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20050273659A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/261 by simulating additional hardware, e.g. fault simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/36 Preventing errors by testing or debugging software

Abstract

Test tool logic and testing methods are provided for facilitating testing a duplexed computer function, such as a duplexed coupling facility. The test tool allows a testcase written for a first environment to be automatically driven in a second environment, thereby facilitating testing of a function of the second environment. Other aspects include logic for intercepting a system event by a test tool to facilitate testing of system-managed event processing, and for adjusting a display characteristic of one or more messages to be displayed by the test tool based on message type. Further, logic for propagating an environmental error indication and for facilitating processing a wait state are also provided, as are several new test tool verbs and macros.

Claims

1. A method of presenting test results of a testcase employed to test a computer function of a plurality of nodes, said method comprising:

passing system test results from a plurality of nodes to a test tool, wherein the system test results comprise multiple types of messages;

responsive to the passing, setting at least one display characteristic of at least one message based on message type; and

displaying the system test results, including the at least one message having the at least one display characteristic set based on message type.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of nodes comprises a sysplex.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the system test results are derived from multiple systems within a sysplex, and wherein the system test results comprise at least one of a testcase informational message, a testcase failure message and a testcase success message.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one display characteristic comprises a display color of said message, and wherein said displaying comprises displaying testcase informational messages in a first color, testcase failure messages in a second color, and testcase success messages in a third color independent of the system of the sysplex from which the messages originate.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the setting and the displaying are performed by the test tool.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing the system test results in the test tool via a message processing facility (MPF) exit.

7. A system for presenting test results of a testcase employed to test a computer function of a plurality of nodes, said system comprising:

means for passing system test results from a plurality of nodes to a test tool, wherein the system test results comprise multiple types of messages;

means for setting, responsive to the passing, at least one display characteristic of at least one message based on message type; and

means for displaying the system test results, including the at least one message having the at least one display characteristic set based on message type.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of nodes comprises a sysplex.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the system test results are derived from multiple systems within a sysplex, and wherein the system test results comprise at least one of a testcase informational message, a testcase failure message and a testcase success message.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one display characteristic comprises a display color of said message, and wherein said means for displaying comprises means for displaying testcase informational messages in a first color, testcase failure messages in a second color, and testcase success messages in a third color independent of the system of the sysplex from which the messages originate.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the test tool comprises the means for setting and the means for displaying.

12. The system of claim 7, further comprising means for processing the system test results in the test tool via a message processing facility (MPF) exit.

13. At least one program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method of presenting test results of a testcase employed to test a computer function of a plurality of nodes, said method comprising:

passing system test results from a plurality of nodes to a test tool, wherein the system test results comprise multiple types of messages;

responsive to the passing, setting at least one display characteristic of at least one message based on message type; and

displaying the system test results, including the at least one message having the at least one display characteristic set based on message type.

14. The at least one program storage device of claim 13, wherein the plurality of nodes comprises a sysplex.

15. The at least one program storage device of claim 14, wherein the system test results are derived from multiple systems within a sysplex, and wherein the system test results comprise at least one of a testcase informational message, a testcase failure message and a testcase success message.

16. The at least one program storage device of claim 15, wherein the at least one display characteristic comprises a display color of said message, and wherein said displaying comprises displaying testcase informational messages in a first color, testcase failure messages in a second color, and testcase success messages in a third color independent of the system of the sysplex from which the messages originate.

17. The at least one program storage device of claim 13, wherein the setting the and displaying are performed by the test tool.

18. The at least one program storage device of claim 13, further comprising processing the system test results in the test tool via a message processing facility (MPF) exit.