How to Automate Command and Control Systems Testing
Automating command and control software testing
Automating quality assurance (QA) testing for command and control (C2) systems requires an automation tool to test complex user interfaces in restricted and secure environments. The tool must be noninvasive to preserve the integrity of highly sensitive C2 environments. The solution should also enable full system testing without requiring access to the software’s internal architecture, code, data, and design details. An effective test automation solution should also validate C2 system functionality in isolation and when integrated with mission-critical systems, like radar, communication modules, and operational dashboards.
The automated solution should replicate user actions through image and character recognition to test rapid decision-making in real-world scenarios and stressful situations while simultaneously using multiple applications. The tool should incorporate model-based testing to increase coverage and quickly identify vulnerabilities while maintaining reliability to prevent new errors from being introduced during frequent system updates and modifications. Due to C2 system integrations with complex web applications and legacy technologies, robust end-to-end testing is also necessary.
Automated command and control testing solution
Ensuring the reliable operation of C2 systems is challenging and demands a flexible test automation solution. Keysight Eggplant Test leverages secure interface connectivity capabilities such as Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) and virtual network computing (VNC) to operate at the graphical user interface (GUI) level, eliminating the need for software installation and interaction with the codebase. With technology-agnostic capabilities, the software solution effectively addresses the complexities of C2 system interoperability across various locations and environments.
Keysight Eggplant Test uses computer vision to validate dynamic visual GUI elements and complex displays, such as radar, satellite images, and geographic information systems (GIS). This software tool enables the testing of C2 systems from an end user’s perspective without interacting with underlying code objects. The model-based approach of Keysight Eggplant Test provides automated exploratory testing, increasing test coverage and effectively identifying bugs by prioritizing areas prone to defects.
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Explore products in our command and control testing solution
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![Eggplant Test]()
Eggplant Test
Universal fusion engine
Identify, execute, and adapt tests automatically with Keysight Eggplant AI-powered engine to provide the fastest path to quality for your system under test.
Model-based testing
Achieve full test coverage, streamline development, and predict how your application will behave under different conditions with model-based testing.
Intelligent computer vision
Facilitate testing of complex user experience elements using optical image and character recognition to identify text from images.
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Additional resources for aerospace and defense software testing
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Frequently asked questions about the command and control system
Interoperability testing in command and control (C2) systems involves verifying that the system can effectively communicate and operate with other systems, such as desktop and web applications and databases. Testing should cover data format compatibility, protocol adherence, and application program interface (API) integration. Using cross-system test cases helps ensure that the C2 systems can work seamlessly within a larger network or with other software.
Key challenges in testing command and control (C2) systems include handling complex scenarios, managing real-time data processing, ensuring data accuracy, and handling legacy system integration. The complexity of C2 systems requires robust test automation frameworks, extensive test coverage, and precise simulation environments to replicate real-world conditions accurately while maintaining system security when testing.
Keysight Eggplant Test is a powerful test automation tool that can effectively test command and control (C2) systems. This solution enables end-to-end testing by simulating user interactions and automating test cases across various platforms, including complex C2 environments and multiple applications. Keysight Eggplant Test uses an image-based testing approach that enables testers to validate GUI elements in C2 systems, ensuring user interfaces function correctly under real-world scenarios. Its AI and machine learning (ML)-driven, model-based exploratory testing capabilities help identify and automate critical test cases, increasing test coverage and efficiency. Keysight Eggplant Test can integrate with other tools in the continuous integration / continuous delivery (CI / CD) pipeline, making it ideal for continuous testing, providing rapid feedback on the performance and reliability of C2 systems.
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