The Rational Test Virtualization Server is used
for creating, maintaining, publishing, and running message-based stubs, database stubs, and rich virtualized
applications.
Stubs and virtualized applications are used to simulate
services within an environment for the purposes of software development and testing. Simulating parts of an environment
can often be necessary if the real services are not yet available or because they are difficult or expensive to use.
Rational Test Virtualization Server enables you to:
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Continue testing when test environments are
unavailable or not yet built.
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Test earlier and more often, reducing the cost of
defects.
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Control the responses from services, enabling you
to force the behaviour of the SUT.
In addition, the Rational Test Virtualization Server is
designed to be used in all software test phases from unit testing to user acceptance testing:
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During each test phase, you should aim to test in
as complete a way as possible. For example, when unit testing individual operations or services, you may not
always have the interfacing components available to test against. Rational Test Virtualization Server can be
used virtualize those interfacing components.
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As you proceed from unit testing to integration
testing and onwards, you will probably want to introduce more "real" components into the system under test.
Virtualization enables you to reduce any risks that may be associated with the introduction of those real
components.
For more details, please visit the Rational Test Virtualization Server Infocenter.
Why use test virtualization?
Several factors limit the ability to adequately test software: tight production schedules, security restrictions,
costly usage fees for third-party software, and requirements to use hardware that isn't readily available. You can use
test virtualization to create virtual services that simulate the behavior of an entire application or system and can
run on any commodity hardware, private cloud, or public cloud. To implement test virtualization, use:
Components
Rational Test Virtualization Server comprises several IBM
Rational software components as outlined in the following table:
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Software Component
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Purpose
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IBM Rational Integration Tester (mandatory)
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This is the primary application for creating stubs. It can be regarded as the design-time environment for
stubs. It can also be used for limited deployment of virtual services.
|
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IBM Rational Test Control Panel (mandatory)
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This application enables you to manage virtual services, agents, and proxies within an environment.
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IBM Rational Integration Tester Agents (mandatory)
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Agents run stubs in the Rational Test Virtualization Server environment and
are deployed on one or more computers within the environment
Agents act as hosts for virtual services, enabling them to be deployed to different locations across a
network.
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IBM Rational Integration Tester Proxy (conditional, depending on testing requirements)
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Rational Integration Tester proxies are registered with, receive instructions
from, and report log data to, Rational Test Control Panel.
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IBM Rational Integration Tester Java™ Virtualization Agents (conditional,
depending on testing requirements)
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This enables you to intercept and record Java method calls.
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