TEST SANDBOX IN PRODUCTION SYSTEMS DURING PRODUCTIVE USE

• US 20140379677A1
• Filed: 06/24/2013
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Driesen, Volker, Eberlein, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 9,721,116 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/704
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6227 where protection concerns the structure of data, e.g. records, types, queries

Abstract

Methods and systems are directed to controlling access to data in a production environment. Production data may be stored in a production database and test data may be stored in a test database. A production application may have access only to the data in the production database while a test application may have access to both the production database and the test database. The test application may have read-only access to the production database and read-write access to the test database. Data in the test database may be handled differently than data in the production database. A type of data may be associated with a range of valid values. The values assigned to the elements may differ depending on whether the elements are stored in the production database or the test database.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a test request that includes;

a test indicator that indicates that the test request originated from a test application corresponding to a test database, the test database being accessible to the test application and inaccessible to a production application; and

a query that is executable to identify a first record in a production database, the production database being accessible to the test application and the production application;

identifying the first record in the production database by executing the query against the production database, wherein the first record contains data written by the production application and does not contain data written by the test application;

based on the test indicator being included with the query in the test request, identifying a second record in the test database by executing the query against the test database, using a processor of a machine; and

replying to the test request with the first record and with the second record.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second record contains data written by the test application and does not contain data written by the production application.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to receiving the test request;

locking the first record in the production database; and

based on the test indicator being included with the query in the test request, locking the second record in the test database.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

based on the test indicator being included with the query in the test request;

unlocking the locked first record in the production database;

during a time period between locking the first record in the production database and unlocking the first record in the production database, avoiding modification of the first record in the production database;

unlocking the locked second record in the test database; and

during a time period between locking the second record in the test database and unlocking the second record in the test database, based on the query request, modifying the second record in the test database.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a production request that includes;

a production indicator that indicates that the request originated from the production application, and

a production query that is executable to identify a third record in the production database;

identifying the third record in the production database by executing the production query against the production database, the third record containing data written by the production application; and

replying to the production request with the third record.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the replying to the production request with the third record includes replying to the production request without any records from the test database.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a range of values associated with a set of records,

the set of records comprising a production set of records in the production database and a test set of records in the test database,

each record of the set of records being assigned a unique value of the range of values,

the values assigned to the records of the production set of records being sequential with a lowest valued record of the production set of records being assigned the lowest value of the range of values,

the values assigned to the records of the test set of records being sequential with a highest valued record of the test set of records being assigned the highest value of the range of values,

the range of values being larger than the set of records.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

identifying a highest value in the range of values that is unassigned to any record of the set of records;

writing a fourth record into the test database by executing the query in the test database; and

based on the test indicator being included with the query in the test request, assigning the highest value to the fourth record.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

receiving a production request that includes;

a production indicator that indicates that the request originated from the production application, and

a production query that is executable to identify a third record in the production database;

identifying the third record in the production database by executing the production query against the production database, wherein the third record contains data written by the production application and does not contain data written by the test application;

replying to the production request with the third record;

identifying a lowest value of the range of values that is unassigned to any record of the set of records;

writing a fifth record in the production database by executing the production query in the production database; and

based on the production indicator being included with the production query in the production request, assigning the lowest value to the fifth record.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the replying to the production request with the third record includes replying to the production request without any records from the test database.

11. A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

receiving a test request that includes;

a test indicator that indicates that the test request originated from a test application corresponding to a test database, the test database being accessible to the test application and inaccessible to a production application; and

a query that is executable to identify a first record in a production database, the production database being accessible to the test application and the production application;

identifying the first record in the production database by executing the query against the production database, wherein the first record contains data written by the production application and does not contain data written by the test application;

based on the test indicator being included with the query in the test request, identifying a second record in the test database by executing the query against the test database, using a processor of a machine; and

replying to the test request with the first record and with the second record.

12. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise:

in response to receiving the test request;

locking the first record in the production database; and

based on the test indicator being included with the query in the test request, locking the second record in the test database.

13. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise:

based on the test indicator being included with the query in the test request;

unlocking the locked first record in the production database;

during a time period between locking the first record in the production database and unlocking the first record in the production database, avoiding modification of the first record in the production database;

unlocking the locked second record in the test database; and

during a time period between locking the second record in the test database and unlocking the second record in the test database, based on the query request, modifying the second record in the test database.

14. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a production request that includes;

a production indicator that indicates that the request originated from the production application, and

a production query that is executable to identify a third record in the production database;

identifying the third record in the production database by executing the production query against the production database, the third record containing data written by the production application; and

replying to the production request with the third record without any records from the test database.

15. The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise:

identifying a range of values associated with a set of records,

the set of records comprising a production set of records in the production database and a test set of records in the test database,

each record of the set of records being assigned a unique value of the range of values,

the values assigned to the records of the production set of records being sequential,

a lowest valued record of the production set of records being assigned the lowest value of the range of values,

the values assigned to the records of the test set of records being sequential,

a highest valued record of the test set of records being assigned the highest value of the range of values,

the range of values being larger than the set of records;

identifying a highest value of the range of values that is unassigned to any record of the set of records;

writing a fourth record in the test database by executing the query in the test database; and

based on the test indicator being included with the query in the test request, assigning the highest value to the fourth record.

16. A system comprising:

a communication module configured to;

receive a test request that includes;

a test indicator that indicates that the test request originated from a test application corresponding to a test database, the test database being accessible to the test application and inaccessible to a production application; and

a query that is executable to identify a first record in a production database, the production database being accessible to the test application and the production application;

a production database module configured to;

identify the first record in the production database by executing the query against the production database, wherein the first record contains data written by the production application and does not contain data written by the test application;

a processor configured by a test database module to;

based on the test indicator being included with the query in the test request, identify a second record in the test database by executing the query against the test database, using a processor of a machine, wherein

the communication module is further configured to;

reply to the test request with the first record and with the second record.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein:

the production database module is further configured to;

in response to receiving the request, lock the first record in the production database; and

the test database module is further configured to;

based on the test indicator being included with the query in the test request, lock the second record in the test database.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein:

the production database module is further configured to;

based on the test indicator being included with the query in the test request;

unlock the locked first record in the production database;

during a time period between locking the first record in the production database and unlocking the first record in the production database, avoid modification of the first record in the production database; and

the test database module is further configured to;

based on the test indicator being included with the query in the test request;

unlock the locked second record in the test database; and

during a time period between locking the second record in the test database and unlocking the second record in the test database, based on the query request, modify the second record in the test database.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein:

the communication module is further configured to;

receive a production request that includes;

a production indicator that indicates that the request originated from the production application, and

a production query that is executable to identify a third record in the production database;

the production database module is further configured to;

identify the third record in the production database by executing the production query against the production database, the third record containing data written by the production application; and

the communication module is further configured to;

reply to the production request with the third record and without any records from the test database.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein:

a range module is configured to;

identify a range of values associated with a set of records,

the set of records comprising a production set of records in the production database and a test set of records in the test database,

each record of the set of records being assigned a unique value of the range of values, the values assigned to the records of the production set of records being sequential,

a lowest valued record of the production set of records having a lowest value of the range of values,

the values assigned to the records of the test set of records being sequential,

a highest valued record of the test set of records having a highest value of the range of values,

the range of values being larger than the set of records; and

identify a highest value of the range of values that is unassigned to any record of the set of records; and

the test database module is further configured to;

write a fourth record in the test database by executing the query in the test database; and

based on the test indicator being included with the query in the test request, assigning the highest value to the fourth record.