Docker for Testing

As per the definition from docker.com, Docker allows you to package an application with all of its dependencies into a standardized unit for software development. It is an engine that enables any payload to be encapsulated as a lightweight, portable, self-sufficient  container that  can be manipulated using standard operations and run consistently on virtually any hardware platform. Some of its characteristics are:

• •  It includes the application and all of its dependencies, but share the kernel with other containers.

• •  They run as an isolated process in userspace on the host operating system.

• •  Docker containers run on any computer, on any infrastructure and in any cloud

There are multiple ways we could use Docker for testing. 

Selelnium Grid and Docker

What is Nagios

Why Monitoring Systems?

Monitoring systems are important to avoid adverse situations that can ensure that preventive checks could be took before the entire IT network crashed leading to direct business loss. Most of the reputable IT consulting firms emphasize on consistent monitoring of your system to ensure that everything is working as it

When I participated in PUG held in America, I have attended Nagios session and found interesting. So here are my findings.

What is Nagios
Nagios is a monitoring tool which mainly helps IT administrators to track problems before they affect critical business processes.It helps you to ensure that your critical systems, applications and services are always up and running. It provides features such as alerting, event handling and reporting.

Why Nagios
OpenSource Tool
Huge number of plugins are already available
On top of that we can build our own plugins
Runs on many Operating Systems

Common things that Nagios can monitor
1. See if server is UP and running
2. Notify if a server is down
3. Will check if service is running such as HTTP, NTP, POP3, IMAP, SMTP, Mail, TELNET etc.
4. Will check if a process or windows service is running
5. Alerts can be configured to go to particular groups/indiduals
6. Will monitor Database Servers such as Oracle, Progress Openedge, Postgres, MYSQL etc.

Different components of Nagios
Nagios Core - This is the heart of the application that contains the core monitoring engine and a basic web UI. And it is supported only on Linux/Unix machines
Nagios Plugins - On top of the Nagios Core, we can implement plugins that will allow us to monitor hosts, devices, services, protocols, and applications.
Nagios Frontend - for enhancing Nagios experience with Themes, web interfaces, mobile interfaces
Nagios Addon Projects - for extending the core functionality provided by a basic Nagios. Examples - NRPE,NCPA etc.


Nagios can also help QA team and below are some of the links which talks about it
http://n8v.enteuxis.org/2011/06/integrating-nagios-with-test-driven-development/
https://exchange.nagios.org/directory/Documentation/Nagios-XI-Documentation/Integrating-Selenium-with-Nagios-XI/details

Want to try Nagios you can download from here