Test Strategies That Use Device Simulation

Device simulation offers new opportunities to enhance your driver test strategy that are not available with real hardware. The most obvious benefit is the automation of tests that you would have to otherwise complete manually. There will always be test cases that you must run manually, such as common user integration scenarios that must be known to work 100% of the time and scenarios that involve potential electrical and timing issues that cannot be simulated.

Simulation offers the opportunity to reach code paths and generate data values that are not possible with real hardware. You should examine your driver and device application code thoroughly to determine how you can cover these cases with simulation.

Simulation also enables changes in the driver development process that are not possible with real hardware. During your development process, you should consider the following items to enhance your process:

• Create an automated build verification test (BVT).

• Create an automated BVT that can run on a virtual machine. Use Microsoft Virtual Server to automate control of the virtual machine.

• Create an automated regression suite that can run in less than one day.

• Create a smaller automated regression suite that developers can run on their computers or laptops.

• Create an automated stress suite that includes both Plug and Play (PnP) and I/O testing.

• Use simulation as a learning tool for new driver developers.

• Use simulation to test potential hardware changes before committing them to a hardware prototype.

 

 

Send comments about this topic to Microsoft

Build date: 9/21/2010