What Is Test Infrastructure And Why It Is Important?

Test infrastructure consists of the hardware, software, and resources required for software application testing. This includes test environments, tools, equipment, data, and other necessary resources to plan, design, execute, and evaluate tests.

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An essential aspect of the testing process is having the necessary resources and support for testing activities. This phase is usually created and established prior to testing and is often overseen by a specific team or person.

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It includes testing procedures and activities to guarantee quick testing, resulting in a shorter time before release and quicker market entry. This detailed guide on Infrastructure Testing discusses the advantages, difficulties, tools, and methods associated with testing infrastructure.

What is Infrastructure?

The IT Infrastructure Ecosystem consists of Operating Systems like Windows, UNIX, Linux, and macOS, as well as Computer Hardware platforms like Dell, IBM, Sun, HP, and Apple. It also includes Internet platforms such as Apache, Cisco, and Microsoft IIS, alongside Data Management and Storage systems like IBM DB2, Oracle, SQL Server, and MySQL.

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Enterprise Software Applications including SAP, Oracle, and Microsoft are part of this ecosystem.

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What is Infrastructure Testing?

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“All software needs a system in place to function properly. Infrastructure testing examines the hardware, software, and networks involved. This process ensures that any code reading configuration values from various parts of the IT framework produce the intended results.”

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To minimize the chances of problems, testing is conducted to ensure that IT applications and infrastructure can perform well, and be flexible, reliable, available, and scalable. The goal of this testing is to check the infrastructure in various environments to ensure smooth operation.

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A test infrastructure is created keeping the following factors in mind:

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• Various testing tools are integrated to work together as a system.
• The existing library of test cases can be reused for different testing projects.
• Regression testing can benefit from automated test suites.

Why Is Infrastructure Testing Needed?

Businesses invest significant resources in testing their software applications for optimal performance. However, they often overlook the importance of regular testing and maintenance of the infrastructure that supports these applications.

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Infrastructure testing reduces the chances of failing hardware or software components. This testing is necessary when a new infrastructure design for the software is created to make sure that it works correctly. Infrastructure failures occur when there is a lack of planned testing on scalable infrastructure. To avoid disruption and last-minute issues, make sure to regularly conduct this testing.

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This testing is essential to discover defects that may have been overlooked in previous testing. It is important to assess the software application when there are changes in hardware or software resources to evaluate its efficiency and performance.

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 A solid understanding of this testing method is necessary to reduce project risks and associated costs.

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Benefits of Infrastructure Testing

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• Decrease in production failures.
• Enhanced detection of defects before production begins.
• Improved infrastructure quality with no defects reaching production.
• Faster test execution enables quicker go-live.
• Supports yearly cost savings in both operations and business.
• Ensures the software operates in a controlled and structured process.
• Reduced downtime.
• Improved service quality.
• Access to stable environments.
• Lowered costs associated with risks.
• Better user experience.

Testing Infrastructure Methodologies

Client/Server Infrastructure

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Servers are essential for various functions, such as website hosting, file management, proxy servers, virtual servers, and supporting physical hardware. The client consists of the operating system, applications, and user settings. Clients utilize the services provided by servers for various functions.

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Server/Client components are tested to enhance the efficiency of the infrastructure in a live environment. The testing process involves:

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• Assessing the installation/uninstallation of applications.
• Checking browser compatibility.
• Conducting integration tests with various operating system versions and user configurations.

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Procedure

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• Gather requirements from stakeholders.
• Create a test plan based on the understanding of the needed infrastructure.
• Develop test cases that cover Operating System compatibility, upgrade scenarios, server/client infrastructure testing, and functionality testing.
• Once the test cases are approved, the QA team executes each scenario and its related test cases.

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All modifications related to servers and clients, such as upgrades and configuration adjustments, have been thoroughly tested on Quality Assurance setups. Additionally, various operating system versions undergo testing before being implemented in production. In case of any issues during production, fallback procedures have been tested in advance to guarantee reliable backup systems.

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Data Migration

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Data Migration involves data transfer from an old version to a new version, between servers, and to different configurations. Data Migration testing evaluates data migrations across different versions, servers, and new builds. It’s important to test the application to ensure that the migration does not cause any issues.

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Procedure

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• Test the application both before and after migration to ensure stability.
• Check the servers before and after data migration to confirm there are no changes.
• Verify that the application’s performance remains consistent post-migration.
• Test the application with various database versions for compatibility.
• Ensure the new build works smoothly across all database versions.

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Data migration testing helps identify and address any server-build problems that may arise during the data migration process, ensuring that issues are resolved before deploying the system. This form of testing improves the overall quality and reliability of the product and makes application installation testing smoother in the production environment.

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Network-level Testing

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The infrastructure of an application relies heavily on the network for communication between servers, clients, and other networks. The network comprises various components like proxy servers and tools for Internet connectivity.

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Procedure

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• Test the network layer to ensure compatibility with future application updates.
• Check fallback procedures to handle failures in the production environment.
• Perform system testing, user acceptance testing (UAT), and security testing.
• Create test cases and prepare test data.
• Ensure server or network services are not affected by new releases.
• Test the application in an isolated network.
• Evaluate how the application performs on different networks, such as VPN, Wi-Fi, and LAN.

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The main goal is to oversee and address network-level challenges such as high resource consumption, server outages, system setup, infrastructure needs for operations, and updates for the Operating System.

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Test Environment Infrastructure

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A test environment consists of hardware, software, tools, and processes essential for accurate and efficient testing. It provides testers with a suitable workspace equipped with a reliable network, PC, and power supply. This environment is crucial for the successful execution of testing procedures.

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The primary goal is to verify the software installation and application configuration settings, select suitable testing tools for test planning and execution, and maintain a consistent flow of test procedures.

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Procedure

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• Establish a test environment for regular project releases.
• Set up a separate environment for hotfix releases.
• Develop solutions to handle server and client environment challenges.
• Select test tools for planning, designing, and executing tests.
• Choose appropriate tools for debugging and reporting bugs.
• Document the process for setting up the test environment.

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Quality improvements are noticeable, and productivity rises when using these tools. Test tasks are conducted more efficiently, and documenting the test environment aids new team members in better understanding the processes.

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TDD Approach

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The Test-Driven Development (TDD) framework involves writing test cases before applying the functionality based on requirement documents. Its main goal is to understand the infrastructure resources needed for the project. It helps define and organize the infrastructure for security, operations, and production.

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Procedure

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• Outline the infrastructure requirements in a document.
• Develop a test plan that addresses the necessary infrastructure for the application.
• Create test cases focused on testing the infrastructure.
• Conduct tests using various configurations.

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The TDD approach is beneficial to enhance the project complexity as it involves testing any infrastructure changes before installation. This method allows for the implementation of various configurations that have already been designed as tests.

Who Can Perform Infrastructure Testing?

Infrastructure Testing Team

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The infrastructure-testing team has a strong understanding of testing practices and collaborates closely with the Quality Assurance team. They are skilled in testing IT infrastructure and proficient in developing test cases for this purpose.

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System Administrator Team

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The System Administrator team regularly conducts tests on the network infrastructure. They create and record test cases using their knowledge and expertise. Their main task is to make sure that the applications continue to work properly even after any changes in the network.

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Infrastructure Maintenance Team

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They are responsible for setting up test environments based on the project's needs, participating in test planning, and maintaining infrastructure environments from the beginning.

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Quality Assurance Team

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The QA team’s main duties include regression tests and participation in integration testing. They carry out testing on various test environments specific to different infrastructure setups.

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Project Manager

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The role of the project manager includes overseeing the project and its various aspects such as planning, design, and documentation of test cases for testing. The project manager works closely with all teams to ensure coordination and alignment.

Challenges of Infrastructure Testing

Now, let’s examine some of the challenges that companies face when they are trying to implement Infrastructure Testing.

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Remote Environment

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Test environments or resources are located in geographically distant areas, causing test teams to depend on local support groups to handle issues concerning equipment, hardware, software, and networking. This often requires time and can lead to delays, especially when teams are in different time zones.

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Lack of Dedicated Team

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One of the main challenges of this testing is the team's lack of knowledge. It is important for the team to stay organized and keep track of information such as schedules, plans, coverage, and status reports. A dedicated team is essential for this task.

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Lack of Standard Definition for Infrastructure Testing

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Many individuals lack awareness of the implementation and processes involved, which can create challenges. Insufficient knowledge and understanding can result in difficulties during implementation and may give rise to new problems that impact the process's stability.

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Isolated Teams

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There is a significant distance between the team members’ locations, often resulting in a lack of communication and ineffective collaboration.

Final Thoughts

It’s crucial for development pipelines to run smoothly without being hindered by slow and inefficient infrastructure testing tools. Teams and organizations need to conduct infrastructure testing to identify and resolve speed-related issues promptly. This is essential to meet the market’s demand for advanced web products.

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Businesses invest a significant amount of money in infrastructure, so it’s important to test the software development process to ensure everything runs smoothly. Infrastructure testing becomes especially important when handling database or data migration tasks. Additionally, extra care is needed when there are frequent application updates and infrastructure changes.

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