QA Cafe Application Notes
Automated Regression Testing with CDRouter
10/05/09
BuddyWeb 2.0 doesn't just serve up fancy HTML reports for human consumption. The same data is provided in strict, machine parsable language that is ideal for testing automation. In this article, we will discuss those formats, and even provide a complete, working demonstration you are free to implement for your BuddyWeb testing needs.
Port Scanning Test Configuration for IPv4 and IPv6
09/24/09
Internet Security is a serious topic, and especially so when it merges with CPE design and testing. Residential gateways and routers are the last line of defense for the majority of public IP deployments. CDRouter includes port scanning test cases in the firewall.tcl module which will probe the WAN interface of the DUT for open TCP and UDP ports over IPv4. These open ports provide services either by the DUT or forwarded to internal LAN clients. Users of the CDRouter IPv6 add-on will find they can also perform similar tests over IPv6.
Organizing Configuration Files, Test Packages, and Test Results in CDRouter 5.0+
05/13/09
CDRouter 5.0 includes the second generation of our comprehensive web-based graphical user interface also known as BuddyWeb. BuddyWebv2 is a significant upgrade which utilizes a powerful SQL database and Ruby web-server to deliver greater scalability, better management of results and test data, and an improved user experience.
Automatic Retry Testing with CDRouter
01/16/09
CDRouter 4.3 introduces a new test retry feature that automatically repeats a test if it fails. Under some conditions, transient test failures based on packet loss or other network conditions may be expected. The retry feature allows you to repeat a test immediately after it fails to help determine if a failure is transient or consistent.
Static NAT Testing with CDRouter
01/08/09
The CDRouter-Multiport add-on for CDRouter 4.3 introduces support for static NAT configurations. CPE devices that support this functionality will have two or more public IPv4 addresses. One public address is typically assigned to the primary WAN connection and one or more additional public IPv4 addresses are also assigned. These additional IPv4 addresses are used to allow a host on the LAN side of CPE to have its own public IPv4 address on the WAN. The IPv4 mapping between the public WAN and the private LAN is one-to-one and generally known as "static NAT".
DOCSIS Cable Gateway Testing with CDRouter
12/04/08
CDRouter is the ideal tool for testing the higher layer network functionality of Ethernet and DSL-based CPE routers. With the addition of a suitable Cable Modem Termination System (CMTS), CDRouter's capabilities can also be extended to support testing of DOCSIS-based cable gateway devices which integrate both cable modem and CPE router functionality into a single system.
Although any CMTS can be used with CDRouter for this purpose, this Application Note focuses on the setup and configuration of CDRouter and the Jade TINY Universal Broadband Bridge available from Daphne. The Jade TINY is a compact and easy to use CMTS that supports bridging, which integrates well with CDRouter.
Xbox Router Compatibility Testing
08/05/08
CDRouter 4.2 introduces an Xbox module with test cases modeled after the Xbox console connectivity tests. While CDRouter's Xbox module is not a replacement for Microsoft's Xbox router certification program, it does allow CDRouter users to incorporate the same type of Xbox compatibility checks into automated CDRouter test runs. This application note describes the test cases included in the Xbox module along with additional strategies for Xbox compatibility testing.
The CDRouter Cookbook
07/15/08
CDRouter is a powerful tool that can be used in a number of different ways to enhance the QA and testing/verification process. CDRouter is most often used to test common router configurations in a handful of basic test scenarios. However, CDRouter can be used in a variety of ways to:
- implement different test strategies (regression testing, etc.)
- test less common device types or configurations
- exercise alternative device functionality
- optimize or maximize resource usage
DSL CPE Testing with CDRouter
04/22/08
CDRouter is the ideal tool for testing the higher layer functionality of DSL based CPE. With a few additions to the basic test setup, CDRouter can be used to test CPE utilizing any type of DSL, including:
- ADSL, ADSL2, and ADSL2+ (and all applicable Annexes)
- SHDSL and SHDSL.bis
- VDSL and VDSL2 (and all applicable Annexes)
IP Multicast Testing with CDRouter
04/09/08
This application note describes the new IP multicast testing features in CDRouter 4.1 and the role of IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol) in CPE networks. CDRouter now supports multicast testing using IGMP version 3. Although many CPE devices have support for IP multicast and IGMP, new functional requirements for set-top boxes and other IPTV multicast applications are pushing the adoption of IGMPv3 into the CPE networking space.
Easy, Efficient, and Reliable Data Backups for CDRouter, Part 2
03/25/08
In our first Application Note Easy, efficient, and reliable data backups for CDRouter we presented an approach for CDRouter data backups using local USB disks. In this Application Note we’ll look at an alternative approach involving backups over a network to a server or NAS device. This has many advantages including the ability to easily coordinate data backups for multiple CDRouter systems using a single script and storage device.
Ten Ways to Improve Your CDRouter Testing
12/13/07
CPE router testing is simple in theory but difficult in practice. There are endless combinations of protocols, features, and options on even the most basic of devices. If you are a CDRouter user, you already know that CDRouter solves this testing challenge by providing a best in class testing platform for CPE devices. Here are ten ideas to help you get the most out of your CDRouter testing.
Easy, Efficient, and Reliable Data Backups for CDRouter
10/15/07
This article presents a simple bash script for backing up the critical data on your CDRouter Linux host. Our backup methodology and implementation are derived from a very elegant technique presented by Mike Rubel in his article Easy Automated Snapshot-Style Backups with Linux and Rsync. As the title suggests, this technique utilizes rsync and a few other nifty features of the cp command to create one full backup and any number of incremental backups.
The beauty of Rubel's approach is that each incremental backup looks and behaves as if it were indeed a full backup, however, through the use of hard links (as opposed to symbolic links), the size of each individual incremental backup is only a fraction of the size of a full backup. The result is an efficient and simple yet robust system with minimal dedicated storage requirements. Should critical data be lost, simply copy it back to the appropriate location from one of the backup copies.