C H A P T E R 3

SunVTS

The Sun Validation and Test Suite (SunVTS) is a software suite that performs system, subsystem, and configuration testing. You can view and control a SunVTS session over a network. Using a remote system, you can view the progress of a testing session, change testing options, and control all testing features of another machine on the network.

The following topics are discussed:

SunVTS Test Modes

SunVTS Software and Security

SunVTS Installation

SunVTS Documentation

SunVTS Test Modes

You can run SunVTS software in five different test modes:

Connection test mode, which provides a low-stress, quick test of the availability and connectivity of selected devices. These tests are nonintrusive, meaning that they release the devices after a quick test and do not place a heavy load on the system.

Functional test mode, which provides a robust test of the system and devices. This test mode uses the system resources for thorough testing, and it assumes that no other applications are running. This mode is the default test mode.

Exclusive test mode, which enables you to perform the tests that require no other SunVTS or applications running at the same time.

Online test mode, which enables you to perform SunVTS testing while applications are running.

Auto Config mode, which simplifies the SunVTS configuration process by automatically assigning a predetermined set of test options.

Because SunVTS software can run many tests in parallel and consume many system resources, you should take care when using it on a production system. If you are stress-testing a system using SunVTS software's Comprehensive test mode, do not run anything else on that system at the same time.

A server must be running the Solaris OS for SunVTS software to be able to test it. Because the SunVTS software packages are optional, they may not be installed on your system. See SunVTS Installation for instructions.

SunVTS Software and Security

During SunVTS software installation, you must choose between Basic or Sun Enterprise Authentication Mechanism security. Basic security uses a local security file in the SunVTS installation directory to limit the users, groups, and hosts permitted to use SunVTS software. Sun Enterprise Authentication Mechanism security is based on the standard network authentication protocol Kerberos and provides secure user authentication, data integrity, and privacy for transactions over networks.

If your site uses Sun Enterprise Authentication Mechanism security, you must have Sun Enterprise Authentication Mechanism client and server software installed on your network and configured properly in both Solaris and SunVTS software. If your site does not use Sun Enterprise Authentication Mechanism security, do not choose the Sun Enterprise Authentication Mechanism option during SunVTS software installation.

If you enable the wrong security scheme during installation, or if you improperly configure the security scheme you choose, you might find yourself unable to run SunVTS tests. For more information, see the SunVTS User's Guide and the instructions accompanying the Sun Enterprise Authentication Mechanism software.

SunVTS Installation

The SunVTS software is installed as part of the preinstalled software image on the Sun Fire V215 and V245 servers. However, it is available on the software supplement CD supplied with the Solaris OS. For information about downloading it from this CD, refer to the Sun Hardware Platform Guide for the release of the Solaris OS you are using.

To find out more about using the SunVTS software, refer to the SunVTS documentation that corresponds to the Solaris OS release that you are running.

SunVTS Documentation

SunVTS documents are included on the Software Supplement CD that is part of each Solaris Media Kit release and is also accessible at: http://docs.sun.com

For further information, you can also consult the following SunVTS documents:

SunVTS User's Guide describes how to install, configure, and run the SunVTS diagnostic software.

SunVTS Quick Reference Card provides an overview of how to use the SunVTS CDE interface.

SunVTS Test Reference Manual provides details about each individual SunVTS test.