OSDL Releases Updated Linux Kernel Test ToolOSDL Releases Updated Linux Kernel Test Tool

The Open Source Development Labs (OSDL) announced last week the release of a major upgrade to its core testing tool for Linux kernel development.

According to an OSDL release, version 3.0.1 of its Scalable Test Platform (STP) provides a set of test suites for validating changes to the Linux kernel on a wide range of hardware platforms. Besides providing code validation services for public Linux development efforts, enterprise developers use STP to test patches and kernel modifications to company-specific Linux systems.

The updated STP release now includes multiple-repository support, allowing developers to add and test against software patches beyond the kernel. It also includes a number of bug fixes and performance enhancements, such as improved database interactions and installation packaging. In addition, STP now uses a streamlined Web interface for viewing and entering test options.

Another significant set of improvements to STP 3.0 allows developers to simulate real-world data center workloads on the Linux kernel and on the most widely-used open source databases, including MySQL, PostgreSQL and SAPDb. New cross-compile filters have added support for testing against multiple processor architectures, including 32- and 64-bit PPC, Sparc and Alpha chips. And a new search tool allows developers to research and retrieve archived test results more quickly.

''A mandate from our members and the development community is to make OSDL a leader in Linux testing,'' said Timothy Witham, CTO of OSDL. ''That's why we created STP and why we invested more than $15 million in our data center testing systems to make them available to developers around the world.''

According to an OSDL statement, STP played a key role in the transition to version 2.6 of the Linux kernel. During the transition phase from 2.5 to the production 2.6 release in late 2003, OSDL performed more than 1,000 kernel tests on average each month. Since then, OSDL developers have run more than 10,000 additional tests on the 2.6 production kernel.

"The STP was helpful to us in delivering a stable 2.6 kernel at the first release," said Andrew Morton, lead maintainer of the production Linux kernel. "Any developer or organization working around the kernel will find this a useful tool."

STP version 3.0.1 is available for free download through the OSDL Web site.