TestMatch: Automated Mainframe Migration Testing

Automated Testing of Transactional Mainframe Applications

TestMatch is a transaction content comparison tool that provides automated testing of mainframe OLTP (terminal-based Online Transaction Processing applications). It can be used to facilitate the migration of such legacy applications to open systems, or it can provide an automated regression test suite for an application.

> TestMatch v6.0 is now available!

‍‍

Centralized Test Scenario Recording

All user interactions can be recorded centrally on an IBM or Siemens mainframe using standard tools (no client-side or server-side installation of Astadia's tools). Since recording is performed at the network level, it works regardless of the development technology (IDMS, BMS, DMS, Natural). Many protocols are supported: 3270 (IBM), 9750 (Siemens), Entire/X, MQ, TCP/IP.

Visualization

TestMatch visualizes test scenarios and sessions: this includes the terminal contents as well as all attributes that are typical for terminal based applications: protected/editable, MDT bit, reverse-video, colors.

Replay

TestMatch can replay the recorded scenarios, either against the migrated application (as a migration testing tool) or against the original application (as a regression testing tool). Normal replay can either include or leave out user think time. Stress-testing replay can launch many scenarios in parallel.

Comparison

The integrated diff tool shows a side by side comparison of a recorded scenario and its replayed counterpart.

Test Analysis

TestMatch provides detailed analysis of response times and throughput, and also contains helpful utilities to detect performance problems. It calculates elaborate test scenario coverage statistics and the pass rate of replayed tests.

Proxy Recording

TestMatch Proxy Recording makes it extremely easy to record test scenarios for applications based on 3270 (zSeries, IBM) or 9750 (BS2000, Fujitsu/Siemens) protocols. You create test scenarios simply by using your application. Anything you do is recorded directly into TestMatch and can be automatically replayed and compared later for non-regression.

A four-step process

1. Launch TestMatch and start the built-in TestMatch Proxy Recorder.
2. Connect your terminal client to the TestMatch Proxy instead of to the Mainframe.
3. Use your terminal client to access the application as you would normally. TestMatch will literally proxy the communication between client and mainframe, while at the same time recording input and output screens in the TestMatch repository. Hence anything you do will instantly become a test scenario.
4. Stop the Proxy Recorder when done.

Advantages over traditional recording on the mainframe (VTAM tracing, BCAM tracing...):

• No application downtime or any kind of intervention needed on the mainframe
• No need to transfer or import trace files
• All actions are immediately visible in TestMatch

‍