AbstractsComputer Science

Automating a test strategy for a protocoldecoder tool

by Henrik Johansson




Institution: Linköping University
Department:
Year: 2008
Keywords: Testing Theory; Test Strategies; Test Automation; Natural Sciences; Computer and Information Science; Computer Science; Naturvetenskap; Data- och informationsvetenskap; Datavetenskap (datalogi); TECHNOLOGY; Information technology; Computer science; TEKNIKVETENSKAP; Informationsteknik; Datavetenskap; Datalogi (20 p. examensarbete, D-nivå); Computer science (20-credit final thesis, D level); teknik; teknik
Record ID: 1356425
Full text PDF: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-12432


Abstract

Within Ericsson AB, integration and verification activities is done on the network level in order to secure the functionality of the network. Protocol analysers are used to capture the traffic in the network. This results in many log files, which needs to be analysed. To do this, a protocol decoder tool called Scapy/LHC is used. Scapy/LHC is a framework that allows the users to write their own script to retrieve the data they need from the log files. The Scapy/LHC framework is incrementally developed as open source within Ericsson when there are needs for more functionality. This is often done by the users, outside normal working tasks. Because of this, there is almost no testing done to verify that old and new functionality works as expected, and there is no formal test strategy in use today. The goal of this master’s thesis is to evaluate test strategies that are possible to use on the Scapy/LHC framework. To make the time needed for the testing process as short as possible, the test strategy needs to be automated. Therefore, possible test automation tools shall also be evaluated. Two possible test strategies and two possible test automation tools are evaluated in this thesis. A test strategy, where the scripts that are written by the users are used, is then selected for implementation. The two test automation tools are also implemented. The evaluation of the implemented test strategy shows that it is possible to find defects in the Scapy/LHC framework in a time efficient way with help of the implemented test strategy and any of the implemented test automation tools.