Patent ID: 9703660
Date: 2017-07-11
CPC Classifications: G06F,H04L,H04W

Claim:
1. A method for testing a function in a network, said method comprising: retrieving, by one or more processors of a data processing system, metadata comprising test parameters pertaining to a network environment specific to a Virtualized Network Function (VNF) stored in the network; said one or more processors (i) creating at least one Virtualized Network Tester (VNT) for testing the VNF and (ii) storing the at least one VNT in the network; in response to said creating the at least one VNT, said one or more processors mapping the metadata to a test list to define a test suite of test cases in the test list, said test cases based on the test parameters in the metadata; said one or more processors testing the VNF by the at least one VNT in accordance with the test suite to enable the at least one VNT to emulate the network environment specific to the VNF, said VNF being disconnected from a plurality of virtual networks in the network during said testing; and said one or more processors determining that said testing is successful and in response, attaching the VNF to each virtual network of the plurality of virtual networks to enable the VNF to be deployed in the network.