
%     Registration       Usage of Virtualized GNU/Linux to Support Binary     
%                              Testing Across Multiple Distributions          
%  Proposal           Gordon McFadden (gordon.mcfadden@intel.com)             

In this paper, we will discuss how we created a test    
environment using a single high-end test host that      
implemented multiple test hosts. The test environment   
enabled the testing of software running on different    
Linux distributions with different kernel versions.     
This approach improved test automation, avoided capital 
expenditures and saved on desktop real-estate. We       
employed a version of Gentoo Linux with a modified 2.6  
kernel, along with multiple instances of different      
distributions and version of Linux running on User Mode 
Linux (UML). The particular tests involved are related  
to the Linux Standards Base, but the concept is         
applicable to many different environments.              

We will describe how we improved aspects of the Gentoo  
kernel to improve performance. We will describe the     
methods used to affect a lightweight inter UML          
communications mechanism. We will also talk about the   
file systems chosen for both the host OS and the UML.   
Finally, we will have a brief discussion around the     
benefits and limitations of this type of test           
environment, and will discuss plans for future test     
environments.                                           


