Automated network testing

1. A system comprising:

one or more processors containing in combination a test case management subsystem and a network testing subsystem, the test case management subsystem configured to invoke a script that includes a set of command lines;

a data store included within the test case management subsystem, the data store including a test item comprising data relating to a network device, wherein the data relating to a network device are for configuring the network device, wherein at least some of the data in the data store is inaccessible to users of the test case management subsystem;

an additional data store included in the test case management subsystem, the additional data store including at least one permission associated with the test item, wherein the at least one permission indicates a level of access provided to a user of the test case management subsystem;

the network testing subsystem comprising a testing application for testing the network device based on the configuration data in the data store, the network testing subsystem configured to:

integrate the testing application with the network subsystem by using an extension to the testing application that includes integration functions and data fields used to integrate data from the test case management subsystem into the network testing subsystem;

receive an instruction from said test case management subsystem, via the extension to the testing application, in response to the test case management subsystem invoking the script that includes the set of command lines to direct the network testing subsystem to issue an automated command line, wherein the instruction includes the data relating to the network device;

determine whether the at least one permission associated with the test item is sufficient to execute the automated command line;

if the permission is sufficient, execute the automated command line to test the network device;

capture test results; and

provide the test results to the test case management subsystem, wherein fields in the test results map to fields in a second data store in the test case management subsystem.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the test case management subsystem is configured to store the test results in the second data store.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a network that connects at least the network device and the network testing subsystem.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a graphical user interface provided by the test case management subsystem.

5. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a client device that displays the graphical user interface, wherein the test case management subsystem and the network testing subsystem are provided on one or more server devices.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the graphical user interface provides at least one of a mechanism for inputting information relating to a network device and a mechanism for inputting an instruction.

7. The system of claim 6 , further comprising a test case included in a third data store included in the test case management subsystem, wherein the test case includes the instruction.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the network testing subsystem is further configured to generate the instruction according to the data stored in the data store.

9. A method, comprising:

storing a test item data relating to a network device in a data store included in a test case management subsystem, wherein data relating to a network device are for configuring the network device and wherein at least some of the data in the data store is inaccessible to users of the test case management subsystem;

storing at least one permission associated with the test item, wherein the at least one permission indicates a level of access provided to a user of the test case management subsystem;

sending, from the test case management subsystem to a network testing subsystem, an instruction, via an extension to a testing application, that includes the data relating to the network device in response to the test case management subsystem invoking a script that includes a set of command lines to direct the network testing subsystem to issue an automated command line, wherein the network testing subsystem comprises the testing application that tests the network device based on configuration data in the data store, the network testing subsystem being configured to integrate the testing application with the network subsystem by using the extension to the testing application that includes integration functions and data fields used to integrate data from the test case management subsystem into the network testing subsystem;

determining whether the at least one permission associated with the test item is sufficient to execute the automated command line;

if the permission is sufficient, executing, in the network testing subsystem, the automated command line to test the network device;

capturing test results in the network testing subsystem; and

providing the test results to the test case management subsystem, wherein fields in the test results map to fields in a second data store in the test case management subsystem.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising storing the test results in the second data store.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising using a network and connecting at least the network device and the network testing subsystem.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising making at least some of the data in the data store inaccessible to users of the test case management subsystem.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising displaying on a client device a graphical user interface, and providing the test case management subsystem and the network testing subsystem on one or more server devices.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising providing a graphical user interface in the test case management subsystem that provides at least one of a mechanism for inputting information relating to a network device and a mechanism for inputting an instruction.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising including a test case in a third data store included in the test case management subsystem, wherein the test case includes the instruction.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the network testing subsystem is further configured for generating the instruction according to the data stored in the data store.

17. The method of claim 9 , tangibly embodied as computer-executable instructions on one or more non-transitory computer-readable media.

18. A system, comprising:

one or more processors containing in combination a test case management subsystem and a network testing subsystem, the test case management subsystem configured to invoke a script that includes a set of command lines;

a first data store included within the test case management subsystem, the data store including at least a test item comprising data relating to a network device and a test case that includes an instruction, wherein data relating to a network device are for configuring the network device and wherein at least some of the data in the first data store is inaccessible to users of the test case management subsystem;

a second data store included within the test case management subsystem, wherein the test case management subsystem is configured to store test results in the second data store;

a third data store included within the test case management subsystem, wherein the third data store includes a test case that includes an instruction;

a fourth data store included in the test case management subsystem, the fourth data store including at least one permission associated with the test item, wherein the at least one permission indicates a level of access provided to a user of the test case management subsystem;

the network testing subsystem comprising a testing application for testing the network device based on the configuration data in the data store, the network testing subsystem configured to:

integrate the testing application with the network subsystem by using an extension to the testing application that includes integration functions and data fields used to integrate data from the test case management subsystem into the network testing subsystem;

receive the instruction from said test case management subsystem, via the extension to the testing application, in response to the test case management subsystem invoking a script that includes a set of command lines to direct the network testing subsystem to issue an automated command line, wherein the instruction includes the data relating to the network device;

determine whether the at least one permission associated with the test item is sufficient to execute the automated command line;

if the permission is sufficient, execute the automated command line to test the network device;

capture the test results; and

provide the test results to the test case management subsystem, wherein fields in the test results map to fields in a second data store in the test case management subsystem;

a graphical user interface provided by the test case management subsystem; and

a client device that displays the graphical user interface, wherein the test case management subsystem and the network testing subsystem are provided on one or more server devices, wherein the graphical user interface provides at least one of a mechanism for inputting information relating to a network device and a mechanism for inputting an instruction.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the network testing subsystem is further configured to generate the instruction according to data in at least one of the data stores.

20. The system of claim 18 , further comprising a network that connects at least the network device and the network testing subsystem.