scope:

The present document proposes a model of the NFV test domain and recommends requirements for a test Domain Specific Language (DSL) to manipulate it. The description includes an NFV test automation ecosystem that facilitates interaction among NFV suppliers and operators, based on the DevOps principles.

The NFV test domain contains:

• System Under Test (SUT): Network Functions (NF), Network Functions Virtualisation Infrastructure (NFVI) and network services.

• Test Resources: tools or instrumented NF's and NFVI elements that test cases can interface to manipulate the SUT.

• Test Execution Flow: controlled and uncontrolled state transitions.

• Test case configuration data and parameters: test-resource-specific and non-test-resource-specific.

The present document explores the following attributes to enable efficient multi-supplier NFV interaction:

• Reusability of test plans, test cases and test resources.

• Abstraction of test data.

• Decoupling of test case from the test environment.

• Use of test resource abstractions in place of concrete resources