Test Environment is a combination of execution environment of the machine where test should be executed. Typically it contains Operating System, Browser, Database, Application Server etc.. but it can be extended to include any specific property of environment which matters you to cover.

So When you execute a Testcase, You actually execute a Test Case Execution Record which is a unique combination of Test Plan, Test Case, Iteration and Test Environment. This shows test execution planning.
TestCell is a combination of Machines where machine can be related based on test env or in some other way. Simply it is collection of related machine.

Read more online at
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/clmhelp/v3r0m1/topic/com.ibm.rational.test.qm.doc/topics/t_cre_test_cells.html?resultof=%22%74%65%73%74%22%20%22%63%65%6c%6c%22%20

-|- Pramod Chandoria

Hello Pramod

I'm also confused about Test Environment and Test Cell in RQM.

If Test Environment is a "logical" definition if my test env (a description of "entities" in my test env), and Test Cell is an instantiation of a T.E. (ie, is the identification of the lab resources with the characteristics defined in the Test Envinroment), what I would expect is to use, the TestCell when I have to identify where to execute test.
Let me do same a specific examples: the "test script automation".
When I create a "atomation" Test Script (for example a RFT Test Script) and I run it, I have the option to specify the Test Env as a parameter to be passed to the adapter (and in turn, to my script).
I'd expect, instead, to be able to pass a pointer to a Test Cell, so I can specify to the script where (on what machine or machines) they need to be executed. The Test Environment, as I understand it, does not identify (and should not identify) a specific machine.

I'm making this sample, since I'm building my own Adapter to my Framework Automation, and I would expect that the tester that is going to run a script for my adapter can "specify" the Test Cell (physical lab resources) where the execution needs to happen (and my adapter can then translate this information to the automation framework underlying)...

Does it makes sense, or I've completely misunderstood the meaning of a Test Env respect to Test Cell?

thanks in advance
*piero

The test environment is just a description of the environment that you want the test to run against. For the most part it's describing the hardware/software configuration of the application under test. That's why when you create execution records you connect the execution record to a test environment. You can report and track your test progress against the logical environment.

The test cell as noted in the earlier post is a physical instantiation of the test environment that actually maps to real machines. Now when you go to run a test case containing an automated script, you actually need to select a physical machine to run that script. Although you do see the test environment describing the execution record, when you go to actual pick a machine to run the script this selection is based on the test cell. You'll notice whenever you see the adapter selection dialog, it has two taps. One for test cell and another for machine. If you select the run icon at the top of the test case a default adapter will be selected for you. If you click the little pencil icon beside that adapter, you'll notice there are 2 tabs with the list of adapters. One for machines and one for test cells. The top of the adapter selection dialog will also show the Test Environment and you can filter the machines or cells using the test environment.

So when you select a physical machine that has the adapter, the selection is done based on test cell. Similarly, since an execution schedule needs to map to actual machines where the adapters are installed, the schedule is associated with a test cell in order to select machines from that cell.

The previous post mentioned that the Test Environment is passed to RFT when they would expect the Test Cell to be passed to RFT. I'm unaware of such option to pass the TE to RFT. Maybe you can tell me where that option is seen and I can comment further.