Test environments are important for software development, testing, and deployment. A test environment is a copy of the production environment that allows development teams to carry out tests without impacting real customers or production data. This article will share the dos and don’ts of test environment management with you.
Dos
1. Set up and maintain a network
Test environments may have different network configurations as compared to production. It is very important to set up and maintain a network in such test environments. For example, tests were done on a Read-Only Domain Controller (RODC) should be performed with a properly configured RODC server to avoid any issues during the tests.
2. Create test directory structure(s) and files
Every company has its directory structure, and it is important to replicate the production directory structure in the test environment. This will help you to find files or information when needed easily.
3. Set up a database environment with the right schema
Drivers used during software testing should be properly set up in SQL Server so that you don’t need to install any additional software like ODBC drivers for each test (as this will complicate the process).
4. Set up the right configuration management (SCM) system
SCM is a very important tool in test environment management, as it can help you track changes in the test environment. This will make managing changes much easier. For example, if you have some issues with a testing tool and change the setup, you can easily track the test and undo changes if needed. During data migration, SCM can also be used to track all the changes.
5. Setup the right log analysis solution
It is very important to have a good log analysis tool to track and analyze the different types produced in a test environment. This will help you get a better picture of the test, find problems faster and easier, and fix all issues before production.
6. Update software and driver packages according to the latest release schedule
Software vendors often release software components or updates for testing purposes, so you must keep up with those releases and keep your products updated as soon as possible.
7. Ensure the testing tools are licensed and installed before the tests
You must ensure that all testing tools are licensed and installed in your test environment. If these tools are not licensed, they can penalize you or even stop the tests, which will create a huge mess when deploying new code in production.
8. Perform the tests according to the test plan
It is very important to follow the test plan and do all tests required for each software or hardware component. This will help you find issues much faster, and support teams may be able to resolve such issues at a much earlier stage.
Don’ts
1. Don’t change anything in the infrastructure while software testing is in progress
Software testing is all about finding bugs and issues, so it is not a good idea to test the production environment with any infrastructure changes. Such things may prevent you from finding the issue or result in many issues later on in production.
2. Don’t test more than one environment at a time in parallel
By doing so, you will not be able to converge any issues very quickly. You may also end up testing multiple environments at a time, making it difficult for support teams to resolve issues if they surface.
3. Don’t test more than one system at a time
It is very important to test only one system at a time, as it will help you identify problems faster, and support teams can resolve issues faster if it surfaces. Also, you will not create any additional issues that may come up later on by doing so.
4. Don’t forget to test software with different versions of the same software product
It is very important to test software with different versions of the same product. This will help you find issues that can come up due to incompatibility between different versions. For example, using SQL Server 2008 R2 and 2012 side by side will help you find such issues.
5. Don’t forget to test software with the latest version of the same product
As discussed above, it is very important to test software with different versions of the same product. But it is also very important to test with the latest version of the same product, as it will help you find other issues that can exist in newer versions.
6. Don’t test with or without a specific feature
It is important to test software with and without the required features for the tests. This will help you find issues in different versions of the software and find any new issues that come up with new features added.
In conclusion, test environment management is an important aspect of software development and testing. This will reduce issues in production, enable faster problem resolution, and help you deliver quality software to the market faster.
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