Creating and viewing lab resources
You can populate the lab management database with lab resource information in several
ways. You can import existing lab resource data and create new lab resource data in the lab
management tool. You can create groups of lab resources and assign them to teams of testers. You can
search for lab resources with specific attributes, for example, specific operating systems and
software.
Roles in test lab management
Lab management tasks are often performed by people in the roles of lab manager and tester. This topic describes work activities that are associated with these roles and the features in the lab management tool that they use.
Customizing lab resource properties
Lab resource properties are types, root types, subtypes, and attributes that define lab resources such as machines, virtual images, or software in IBM® Engineering Test Management .
Creating new test environments
You can create a test environment for lab resources, which can be stored and reused in many lab management tasks, for example, lab resource requests, searching for lab resources, and creating future test environments. A test environment is a set of lab resource attributes, for example, the make, memory, operating system, and software for a particular type of machine.
Viewing test environments
You can view all the test environments that are available to be used in lab management activities such as creating resources, searching for resources, and requesting and reserving lab resources.
Creating lab resource data for physical machines
You can create lab resource data for physical machines to track in the lab management tool.
Creating virtual images
You can create data for virtual images to track in the lab management tool. A virtual image is a .vmx file that consists of software to be used as a basis for applications under test. For example, you could set up a base image .vmx file consisting of a Windows XP, SP2 operating system and security software for the English language. You would then assign it a name (for example, WinXP-SP2-eng.vmx) and save it. When you deploy the image onto a physical machine and rename the image, it becomes a virtual machine. You could then load an application for testing onto the virtual machine. Virtual images can easily be reused, which can save time setting up additional testing environments.
Creating and viewing test cells
Test cells provide a way to conveniently group together a set of lab resources that describe a test environment. For example, a test cell might include an application server, database server, a client desktop computer, and a computer running the correct adapter to execute tests. You can reserve all the lab resources in the test cell for any duration that is not already reserved by another user. When you create test cells, base them on specific test environments and the type of test execution you use, especially if you choose to create test execution schedules.
Managed virtual images and machines
Managed virtual images and managed virtual machines are logical groupings of either virtual images or virtual machines that represent application topologies. An example of managed virtual images could be a collection of one virtual image for a web server and another virtual image for a database server that are used together. Managed virtual images and managed virtual machines can have test environments associated with them that describe the application topology that they represent.
Creating lab resource groups
You can create a group of lab resources to track and manage lab resources. You can associate teams of people to a lab resource group. For example, you can create a group of machines that are dedicated to a particular testing team. The team of people always has exclusive access to the group of lab resources that you define.
Viewing lab resource groups
You can view all lab resource groups by team area. You can sort the view by lab resource group name, description, starting date, expiration date, and team area.
Searching for lab resources
You can search for lab resources such as physical machines and virtual images using predefined search criteria.
Hiding lab resources
If you have administration privileges, you can hide lab resources from several views. When lab resources are hidden, a record of them remains in the database with a history of actions performed on them. Use the All Deleted and Hidden Lab Resources view to see lab resources that have been hidden in other lab management views. You can also restore lab resources that are displayed in this view.
Deleting and restoring lab management artifacts
When you delete an artifact, it is moved to the Trash page, but it is not permanently deleted from the database. From the Trash page, you can restore the artifacts or permanently delete the artifacts from the database.
Updating lab resource data
You can update lab resource data to display the latest lab resource configurations and new lab resources that have been added. To do this, you must be integrated with external provider applications that have inventory capability (for example, IBM Rational® Build Forge® ).
Running scripts on remote lab resources
You must be integrated with external provider applications that have automation capability (for example, IBM Rational Build Forge ), to run scripts, projects, or libraries that are configured in the external provider applications on remote lab resources that are available in the external systems.