Network Traffic Simulation Compiler for Testing Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional functionality and load testing of networked software applications often fail to fully exercise all application pathways and may not accurately represent real-world loads, leading to incomplete validation of performance and functionality, especially in production environments.
Innovation Solution
A simulation compiler records and encodes actual network traffic from a production environment, allowing for the generation of realistic network traffic in a non-production environment for thorough testing, including reproduction of behavioral anomalies and subtle defects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional functionality and load testing are used, then testing can be performed in a controlled environment, but the testing fails to fully exercise all application pathways and does not accurately represent real-world loads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent captures actual network traffic from production environments and creates replayable recordings of real transactions. These recordings are then played back in testing environments, allowing tests to use authentic real-world data patterns rather than synthetic test data, thereby improving both testing accuracy and pathway coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary capture and analysis of production traffic to identify representative transaction patterns before testing begins. By pre-processing and storing these patterns as reusable test assets, the system prepares accurate test scenarios in advance that can be systematically applied to cover all application pathways
2Reliability
If recording of actual network traffic is performed in production environment, then realistic test data can be obtained, but the recording process may impact software application performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network tap or port mirror as an intermediary device that copies network traffic for recording purposes without inserting itself into the critical data path. This allows the recording system to capture production traffic while the original traffic flows uninterrupted, eliminating performance impact on the software application
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of directly intercepting or modifying production traffic, the system creates copies of the traffic packets through network mirroring. These copies are then recorded and analyzed, while the original traffic continues to flow normally, ensuring no performance degradation occurs during the recording process
3Adaptability or versatility
If comprehensive transaction recording is implemented, then all application pathways can be tested, but the complexity of the testing system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the testing system into distinct modular components: a traffic capture module that records production transactions, an analysis module that identifies representative patterns, a storage module that maintains test assets, and a playback module that executes tests. This segmentation allows each component to be independently developed and managed, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive testing capability
Data Source
AI summary
A computing system may include a plurality of computational instances each containing one or more computing devices and one or more databases. A traffic filtering device may be configured to: receive a first sequence of packets and filter the first sequence of packets to create a second sequence of packets, where the second sequence of packets includes only copies of packets that were transmitted to a particular computational instance. The computing system may further include a simulation compiler device configured to: (i) receive the second sequence of packets, (ii) identify a captured transaction within the second sequence of packets, and (iii) encode the captured transaction as a playback instruction, where the playback instruction can be used to generate a third sequence of packets that, when transmitted to a computational instance used for testing, simulates the captured transaction.