Testing Applications for Compatibility with Windows 2000
Testing Applications for Compatibility with Windows 2000 |
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As you plan for application compatibility testing, keep in mind the future state of your computing environment. Are you planning to upgrade some of your software to versions that fully use new Windows 2000 features? Are you planning to implement new standard desktop configurations or use Terminal Services? Issues such as these determine the resources that are required and the applications that are to be tested as a suite.
If you plan to deploy new applications with Windows 2000 during the rollout, test these applications with the current applications.
You can facilitate testing by setting up a lab where testers can conduct their tests. In such a lab, you can have the necessary tools and equipment available at all times. Some organizations have a lab for testing applications that is separate from the Windows 2000 lab. If you do not have the budget for a separate lab, you might share a lab with another project or with training. If you share a lab, try to choose one that has compatible scheduling and equipment requirements.
In the lab, set up the test computers for dual or triple startup so that testers can quickly access the mode they need to install and test their applications. For example, if you follow the strategy suggested in "Testing Applications" later in this chapter, you might need Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 to test the applications through the upgrade path. To make it easy for testers to restore the computers to their prior state, make disk images of the drives with the base operating systems.
Consider whether you need to connect the lab to the corporate network. For example, you might need access to network shares for installing applications from the network or to your corporate intranet if you develop a Web-based test tracking system. If you need such access, first verify that the protocol stacks used on the client computers are compatible with your production network.
If your test lab is large, you might decide to assign a lab manager. Because the skills required to run a lab and to manage testing are so different, consider selecting different people for the two roles. While the lab manager needs to have strong technical skills, the testing manager needs to have strong managerial and communication skills.
For more information about designing and managing a test lab or about writing test plans, see the chapter "Building a Windows 2000 Test Lab" in this book.