MSDN Magazine - December 2008 - (Page 91)

Dr. JameS mCCaffrey anD Paul DeSPe TesT Run Configuration Testing With Virtual Server, Part 2 There are several ways you can perform software configuration testing. One effective approach for certain scenarios is to use Microsoft Virtual Server to create a library of virtual machines. Because Virtual Server is built on a set of COM modules, you can completely automate the process of creating and exercising virtual machines. Although individual Virtual Server automation tasks are quite well documented, in discussions with our testing colleagues we learned that there is a need for a complete end-to-end example that puts together all the parts of automating Virtual Server for software configuration testing. Additionally, almost all current Virtual Server automation references use the old VBScript language rather than the much more powerful Windows PowerShell. In this month’s column, we’re going to walk you through the process of automating software configuration testing using Virtual Server and Windows PowerShell.We will assume Figure 1 Example of Configuration Testing that you have a basic familiarity with them, but you should be able to follow our examples even if these tech- Windows XP SP2. What is not apparent from the screenshot is that nologies are new to you. the virtual machine was created using a Windows PowerShell 1.0 (If you do want more information, you can read about Windows script. In the background of the screenshot, you can see that a secPowerShell in the May 2007 installment of Test Run—“Lightweight ond Windows PowerShell script has set up a Scheduled Task on the Testing with Windows PowerShell”—at msdn.microsoft.com/magazine/ virtual machine. This task is the test automation, which is running cc163430 and in “Extend Windows PowerShell with Custom Com- in the cmd.exe shell in the foreground of the virtual machine. mands” found at msdn.microsoft.com/magazine/cc163293. Configuration In the sections of this column that follow, we’ll explain in detail testing with Virtual Server was also covered at msdn.microsoft.com/ the script that created the virtual machine shown in Figure 1 and magazine/cc793968.) the script that set up and executed the test automation. We think The screenshot in Figure 1 gives you a good idea of where we’re you’ll find the techniques we present here a useful addition to your headed in this column. Our physical host machine is running Win- software testing, development, and management skill sets. dows Server 2008; however, all the techniques described here also work with Windows Server 2003. The host machine has Virtual Virtual Server Automation with Windows Server 2005 R2 SP1 installed. The screenshot in Figure 1 shows a PowerShell virtual guest machine named VitualMachine-Test that is running Virtual Server is built on a set of objects that use classic DCOM technology. You can automate Virtual Server using any COM-aware language, including VBScript, JavaScript, C#, Visual Basic .NET, Send your questions and comments to testrun@microsoft.com. and Windows PowerShell. Our preferred approach is to use WinCode download: code.msdn.microsoft.com/mag200812TestRun. dows PowerShell. Its advantages include its ability to directly call December 2008 91 http://msdn.microsoft.com/magazine/cc163430 http://msdn.microsoft.com/magazine/cc163430 http://msdn.microsoft.com/magazine/cc163293 http://msdn.microsoft.com/magazine/cc793968 http://msdn.microsoft.com/magazine/cc793968 http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/mag200812TestRun

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of MSDN Magazine - December 2008

MSDN Magazine - December 2008 Contents Toolbox CLR Inside Out Advanced Basics Cutting Edge Patterns In Practice Team System Real-World WF Visual Studio OBA Tools SOA Data Access Geneva Framework Test Run Foundations Windows With C++ Going Places End Bracket

MSDN Magazine - December 2008

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