Test harness for enterprise application integration environment
View Patent ↗A test harness is provided for fully testing an enterprise application integration (“EAI”) environment. The test harness is preferably used with a GUI-based test tool and includes a test controller, a message collector and a test validator. The test controller transmits control signals to the message collector to configure the message collector to “listen” for predefined messages on a message bus. If a message matches the configuration rules, the test validator compares the message to a set of validation rules. If the message matches the validation rules, the test is deemed a success. Test-created messages may also be injected onto the bus by a message generator and unavailable EAI applications may be simulated by a test responder. Preferably, the message collection and generation configurations are based on templates created from previously stored messages. Off-bus applications may be tested by employing a message “tee” coupled to the bus.
1. A system for testing message flow in an enterprise application integration (EAI) message bus environment comprising:
a test controller;
a message collector, comprising:
a first configuration interface coupled to receive first message selection criteria from the test controller;
a first receiver coupled to receive messages transmitted among enterprise applications on the message bus; and
first means for comparing data elements in the messages received through the first receiver against the first message selection criteria whereby received messages which meet the message selection criteria are identified; and
a message validator, comprising:
a second configuration interface coupled to receive message validation criteria from the test controller;
means for comparing the messages identified by the message collector against the message validation criteria; and
a first transmitter for transmitting results of the comparison to the test controller; and
a message responder to simulate a predetermined enterprise application, comprising:
a fourth configuration interface coupled to receive second message selection criteria and response rules from the test controller;
a second receiver coupled to receive messages transmitted among enterprise applications on the message bus;
second means for comparing data elements in the messages received though the second receiver against the second message selection criteria; and
a second message transmitter, responsive to the second means for comparing data elements, coupled to transmit the test messages onto the message bus in response to messages which meet the second message selection criteria;
wherein the message responder appears to enterprise applications on the message bus as the predetermined enterprise application.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the simulated predetermined enterprise application is unavailable to participate in testing the message flow.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the simulated predetermined enterprise application would introduce undesirable effects as an active participant of the testing of the message flow.
4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a message template database containing a plurality of message templates selectable by the message responder whereby the second means for comparing compares a selected message template against messages received from the message bus.
5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a message template database containing a plurality of message templates selectable by the message responder to generate messages for transmission onto the message bus.
6. A system for testing message flow in an enterprise application integration (EAI) message bus environment, comprising:
a test controller;
a message collector, comprising:
a first configuration interface coupled to receive first message selection criteria from the test controller;
a first receiver coupled to receive messages transmitted among enterprise applications on the message bus; and
first means for comparing data elements in the messages received through the first receiver against the first message selection criteria whereby received messages which meet the message selection criteria are identified; and
a message validator, comprising:
a second configuration interface coupled to receive message validation criteria from the test controller;
means for comparing the messages identified by the message collector against the message validation criteria; and
a first transmitter for transmitting results of the comparison to the test controller; and
a message tee coupled to the message bus and transparently interposed between first and second off-bus, point-to-point applications, the message tee responsive to control signals from the test controller and having at least one operating mode selected from a listen mode, an intercept mode and a pass-through mode.
7. The system of claim 6 , the message tee comprising:
a first translator, operable in the intercept and listen modes, for translating messages in a point-to-point format between the first and second applications into XML format; and
a third message transmitter coupled to transmit the translated messages onto the message bus.
8. The system of claim 7 , the message tee further comprising:
a third receiver, operable in the intercept mode, coupled to receive XML formatted messages transmitted to one of the first and second applications from the message bus; and
a second translator for translating the received messages from XML format into the point-to-point format.
9. A control interface for testing message flow in an enterprise application integration (EAI) message bus environment, comprising:
a first transmitter for transmitting first message selection criteria to a message collector coupled to the message bus whereby the message collector receives messages transmitted among enterprise applications on the message bus and identifies messages which meet the first message selection criteria;
a second transmitter for transmitting message validation criteria to a message validator whereby the message validator compares the messages identified by the message collector against the message validation criteria;
a receiver for receiving results of the comparison by the message validator; and
a fourth transmitter for transmitting control signals to a message tee coupled to the message bus and transparently interposed between first and second off-bus, point-to-point applications, the control signals directing the message tee to operate in at least one operating mode selected from a listen mode, an intercept mode and a pass-through mode.
10. A method for testing message flow in an enterprise application integration (EAI) message bus environment, comprising:
generating first message selection criteria;
generating message validation criteria;
receiving messages transmitted among enterprise applications on a message bus;
identifying received messages which meet the first message selection criteria;
comparing identified messages against the message validation criteria;
transmitting results of the comparison to a user; and
simulating a predetermined enterprise application comprising:
receiving second message selection criteria;
receiving messages transmitted among enterprise applications on the message bus;
identifying received messages which meet the second message selection criteria; and
transmitting test messages onto the message bus in response to messages which meet the second message selection criteria.
11. A method for testing message flow in an enterprise application integration (EAI) message bus environment, comprising:
generating first message selection criteria;
generating message validation criteria;
receiving messages transmitted among enterprise applications on a message bus;
identifying received messages which meet the first message selection criteria;
comparing identified messages against the message validation criteria;
transmitting results of the comparison to a user; and
transparently listening to messages in a point-to-point format between first and second off-bus applications.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
translating the point-to-point formatted messages into XML formatted messages; and
transmitting the XML formatted messages onto the message bus.
13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
receiving XML formatted messages from the message bus directed towards one of the first and second off-bus applications;
translating the XML formatted messages into point-to-point formatted messages; and
transmitting the point-to-point messages to the one of the first and second off-bus applications.
14. A computer program product of a computer readable medium usable with a programmable computer, the computer program product having computer-readable code embodied therein for testing message flow in an enterprise application integration (EAI) message bus environment, the computer-readable code comprising instructions for:
generating first message selection criteria;
generating message validation criteria;
receiving messages transmitted among enterprise applications on a message bus;
identifying received messages which meet the first message selection criteria;
comparing identified messages against the message validation criteria;
transmitting results of the comparison to a user;
simulating the predetermined enterprise application comprising:
receiving second message selection criteria;
receiving messages transmitted among enterprise applications on the message bus;
identifying received messages which meet the second message selection criteria; and
transmitting test messages onto the message bus in response to messages which meet the second message selection criteria.
15. The computer program product of claim 14 , further comprising instructions for:
translating the point-to-point formatted messages into XML formatted messages; and
transmitting the XML formatted messages onto the message bus.
16. The computer program product of claim 15 , further comprising instructions for:
receiving XML formatted messages from the message bus directed towards one of the first and second off-bus applications;
translating the XML formatted messages into point-to-point formatted messages; and
transmitting the point-to-point messages to the one of the first and second off-bus applications.
17. A computer program product of a computer readable medium usable with a programmable computer, the computer program product having computer-readable code embodied therein for testing message flow in an enterprise application integration (EAI) message bus environment, the computer-readable code comprising instructions for:
generating first message selection criteria;
generating message validation criteria;
receiving messages transmitted among enterprise applications on a message bus;
identifying received messages which meet the first message selection criteria;
comparing identified messages against the message validation criteria;
transmitting results of the comparison to a user; and
transparently listening to messages in a point-to-point format between first and second off-bus applications.