A hybrid automated framework for testing cloud-native and virtual core network applications

Abstract

In recent years, telecommunications industries have increasingly transformed from virtualization to a cloud-native environment. The ongoing evolution introduces multiple challenges in testing virtual and cloud-native applications in the DevOps practice. This thesis aims to address these challenges by proposing a Hybrid automated testing framework that provides isolated and parallel testing of multiple virtual and cloud-native core network applications. The design architecture of the framework is developed based on relevant literature, common DevOps practices, and state-of-the art tools. The main components of the Hybrid framework are implemented and evaluated on Nokia testbeds. Performed experiments prove the following advantages of the Hybrid framework: automated deployment for multiple types of clusters, isolated parallel testing of numerous virtual and cloud-native applications, and reduced time for testing applications by 32% and 17% in virtual and cloud-native environments, respectively.