Topology independent network-based automation infrastructure

1. A method comprising:

verifying, by an automation process executing on a data processing system, that a test bed includes a set of devices specified by at least one script to be executed on the test bed;

locking the test bed;

allocating the set of devices to the automation process;

starting performance data collection and logging for the set of devices;

executing the at least one script on the set of devices;

de-allocating the set of devices after executing the at least one script;

unlocking the test bed; and

generating a notification indicating that the at least one script has been executed.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein verifying that a test bed includes a set of devices comprises:

determining that a script requires a device of a first type;

locking the device of the first type in response to determining that the test bed includes the device of the first type; and

creating a mapping of the device of the first type, wherein the mapping links the script to the device of the first type.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein executing the at least one script comprises:

determining that the at least one script includes a provision command modifying a state of one of the devices in the set of devices;

extracting the provision command from the script;

executing the provision command on the set of devices;

creating an un-provision command using the provision command, wherein executing the un-provision command reverts the state of a device to an original state;

tagging the un-provision command; and

pushing the un-provision command on to a stack.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein de-allocating the set of the devices comprises:

determining that all scripts have been executed;

executing each un-provision command on the stack.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a set of parameters and attributes with a selection of the at least one script;

comparing the set of parameters and attributes to one or more allowable ranges extracted from a data source; and

modifying the set of parameters and attributes to be consistent with the allowable ranges.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

comparing the received set of parameters and attributes to a set of required parameters and attributes of the at least one script; and

inserting a default value for a required parameter or attribute not included in the received set of parameters and attributes, wherein the default value is extracted from the data source.

7. A non-transitory machine readable storage medium storing executable instructions which when executed by a processor cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

verifying, by an automation process, that a test bed includes a set of devices specified by at least one script to be executed on the test bed;

locking the test bed;

allocating the set of devices to the automation process;

starting performance data collection and logging for the set of devices;

executing the at least one script on the set of devices;

de-allocating the set of devices after executing the at least one script;

unlocking the test bed; and

generating a notification indicating that the at least one script has been executed.

8. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein verifying that a test bed includes a set of devices comprises:

determining that a script requires a device of a first type;

locking the device of the first type in response to determining that the test bed includes the device of the first type; and

creating a mapping of the device of the first type, wherein the mapping links the script to the device of the first type.

9. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein executing the at least one script comprises:

determining that the at least one script includes a provision command modifying a state of one of the devices in the set of devices;

extracting the provision command from the script;

executing the provision command on the set of devices;

creating an un-provision command using the provision command, wherein executing the un-provision command reverts the state of a device to an original state;

tagging the un-provision command; and

pushing the un-provision command on to a stack.

10. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein de-allocating the set of the devices comprises:

determining that all scripts have been executed;

executing each un-provision command on the stack.

11. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 7 , further comprising:

receiving a set of parameters and attributes with a selection of the at least one script;

comparing the set of parameters and attributes to one or more allowable ranges extracted from a data source; and

modifying the set of parameters and attributes to be consistent with the allowable ranges.

12. The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 11 , further comprising:

comparing the received set of parameters and attributes to a set of required parameters and attributes of the at least one script; and

inserting a default value for a required parameter or attribute not included in the received set of parameters and attributes, wherein the default value is extracted from the data source.

13. A hardware-based data processing system comprising:

means for verifying, by an automation process executing on a hardware device, that a test bed includes a set of devices specified by at least one script to be executed on the test bed;

means for locking the test bed;

means for allocating the set of devices to the automation process;

means for starting performance data collection and logging for the set of devices;

means for executing the at least one script on the set of devices;

means for de-allocating the set of devices after executing the at least one script;

means for unlocking the test bed; and

means for generating a notification indicating that the at least one script has been executed.

14. The data processing system of claim 13 , wherein verifying that a test bed includes a set of devices comprises:

means for determining that a script requires a device of a first type;

means for locking the device of the first type in response to determining that the test bed includes the device of the first type; and

means for creating a mapping of the device of the first type, wherein the mapping links the script to the device of the first type.

15. The data processing system of claim 13 , wherein executing the at least one script comprises:

means for determining that the at least one script includes a provision command modifying a state of one of the devices in the set of devices;

means for extracting the provision command from the script;

means for executing the provision command on the set of devices;

means for creating an un-provision command using the provision command, wherein executing the un-provision command reverts the state of a device to an original state;

means for tagging the un-provision command; and

means for pushing the un-provision command on to a stack.

16. The data processing system of claim 15 , wherein de-allocating the set of the devices comprises:

means for determining that all scripts have been executed;

means for executing each un-provision command on the stack.

17. The data processing system of claim 13 , further comprising:

means for receiving a set of parameters and attributes with a selection of the at least one script;

means for comparing the set of parameters and attributes to one or more allowable ranges extracted from a data source; and

means for modifying the set of parameters and attributes to be consistent with the allowable ranges.

18. The data processing system of claim 17 , further comprising:

means for comparing the received set of parameters and attributes to a set of required parameters and attributes of the at least one script; and

means for inserting a default value for a required parameter or attribute not included in the received set of parameters and attributes, wherein the default value is extracted from the data source.