Automated QS interface testing framework

A test tool stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium for emulating a network management system (NMS) in testing an NMS-EMS interface of an element management system (EMS), comprising:

• a user interface that receives a user action to perform on the EMS;
• receiving means to receive a first message from the element management system, the message including an actual value of a parameter;
• comparing means to compare the actual value of the parameter with a regular expression defining at least one valid value of the parameter, wherein said regular expression is subject to subsequent modification by a user;
• reading means to read a pattern file, said pattern file being a plain text file including said regular expression subject to modification by a user, wherein modifying the regular expression does not cause the test tool to receive a second message from the EMS;
• and
• presenting means to present the result of the comparison.

A system stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium for testing an NMS-EMS interface of an Element Management System (EMS), comprising:

• an EMS;
• at least one pattern file, each pattern file including at least one regular expression of valid parameter values, wherein modifying the at least one parameter does not trigger a test tool to read the at least one pattern file;
• and
• the test tool to emulate a network management system (NMS) comprising:
• a user interface that receives a user action to perform on the EMS;
• receiving means for receiving at least one actual parameter value from the EMS;
• reading means for reading the at least one pattern file, said pattern file subject to subsequent modification by a user;
• comparing means for comparing the at least one actual parameter value with one of the at least one regular expression of valid parameter values;
• and
• presenting means for presenting the results of the comparison of the at least one actual parameter value with one of the at least one regular expression of valid parameter values.