Managing test data in large scale performance environment

• US 9,767,141 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2015
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Eker, Margaret A., Emejulu, Nnaemeka I., Ramamoorthy, Karthikeyan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ly, Anh
• Application Number:
  US14/926,751
• Publication Number:
  US 20160055199A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/213 with details for schema evolution support
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2365 Ensuring data consistency and integrity

Abstract

A method of processing a database can include comparing, using a processor, a delta file with a risk assessment criterion, wherein the delta file is generated from a first schema and a second and different schema, assigning a risk level to a change specified within the delta file according to the comparing, and applying the change of the delta file to a test database conforming to the first schema according to the assigned risk level.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of processing a database conforming to a first schema, comprising:

generating, using a hardware processor, a delta file based upon a comparison between the first schema and a second schema different than the first schema;

updating, using the delta file, the database to conform to the second schema;

translating data of the database in accordance with a metadata file;

disabling, prior to the translating, a requirement of the first schema that applies to the data; and

enabling, responsive to the translating being completed, a requirement of the second schema, wherein

the updating the database does not change the data in the database.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising

assigning a change specified in the delta file to one of a plurality of risk levels according to a comparison of the change with a risk assessment criterion.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein

upon the change being assigned a risk level below a threshold risk level, the updating and the translating are performed without user intervention.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising

generating, upon the change being assigned a risk level above a threshold risk level, a prompt.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein

each of a plurality of changes specified in the delta file are assigned to one of a plurality of risk levels according to a comparison of each change with risk assessment criteria;

and

each change within the delta file is implemented according to one of a plurality of different implementation procedures correlated with the risk level of the change.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein

the metadata file specifies at least one transformation for the data, during the translating, to conform the data with the second schema.

7. A computer hardware system configured to process a database conforming to a first schema, comprising:

at least one hardware processor configured to initiate the following executable operations;

generating a delta file based upon a comparison between the first schema and a second schema different than the first schema;

updating, using the delta file, the database to conform to the second schema;

translating data of the database in accordance with a metadata file;

disabling, prior to the translating, a requirement of the first schema that applies to the data; and

enabling, responsive to the translating being completed, a requirement of the second schema, wherein

the updating the database does not change the data in the database.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one hardware processor is further configured to initiate

assigning a change specified in the delta file to one of a plurality of risk levels according to a comparison of the change with a risk assessment criterion.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein

upon the change being assigned a risk level below a threshold risk level, the updating and the translating are performed without user intervention.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one hardware processor is further configured to initiate

generating, upon the change being assigned a risk level above a threshold risk level, a prompt.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein

each of a plurality of changes specified in the delta file are assigned to one of a plurality of risk levels according to a comparison of each change with risk assessment criteria;

and

each change within the delta file is implemented according to one of a plurality of different implementation procedures correlated with the risk level of the change.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein

the metadata file specifies at least one transformation for the data, during the translating, to conform the data with the second schema.

13. A computer program product for processing a database conforming to a first schema, comprising:

a computer readable storage device having stored thereon program code that, when executed, configures a hardware processor to perform the following executable operations;

generating a delta file based upon a comparison between the first schema and a second schema different than the first schema;

updating, using the delta file, the database to conform to the second schema;

translating data of the database in accordance with a metadata file;

disabling, prior to the translating, a requirement of the first schema that applies to the data; and

enabling, responsive to the translating being completed, a requirement of the second schema, wherein

the updating the database does not change the data in the database, and

the computer readable storage device does not consist of a transitory, propagating signal.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the at least one hardware processor is further configured to initiate

assigning a change specified in the delta file to one of a plurality of risk levels according to a comparison of the change with a risk assessment criterion.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein

upon the change being assigned a risk level below a threshold risk level, the updating and the translating are performed without user intervention.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the at least one hardware processor is further configured to initiate

generating, upon the change being assigned a risk level above a threshold risk level, a prompt.

17. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein

each of a plurality of changes specified in the delta file are assigned to one of a plurality of risk levels according to a comparison of each change with risk assessment criteria;

and

each change within the delta file is implemented according to one of a plurality of different implementation procedures correlated with the risk level of the change.