Using Test Clouds to Enable Continuous Integration Testing of Distributed Real-time and Embedded System Applications

It is critical to evaluate the quality-of-service (QoS) properties of enterprise distributed real-time and embedded (DRE) system early in the software lifecycle—instead of waiting until system integration time—to minimize the impact of rework needed to remedy QoS defects. Unfortunately, enterprise DRE system developers and testers often lack the necessary resources to support such testing efforts. This chapter discusses how test clouds (i.e., cloud-computing environments designed for testing) can provide the necessary testing resources. When combined with system execution modeling (SEM) tools, test clouds provide the necessary toolsets to perform QoS testing earlier in the software lifecycle. A case study of design and implementing resource management infrasutrcture from the domain of shipboard computing environments is used to show how SEM tools and test clouds can be used to identify defects in system QoS specifications and enforcement mechanisms earlier in the software lifecycle.