TestingQA-ISOImages
Abstract
The purpose of this page is to facilitate those not currently assisting Ubuntu Studio so that they can test QA ISO images by defining QA ISO image testing, explaining the goal of testing, providing links to the QA website, and outlining some basic testing steps.
Testing QA ISO images is an important, pervasive, and a required step in the release process and everyone can help.
Definition
QA ISO testing is regular testing performed per the release schedule (see the 12.04 LTS 'Precise Pangolin' schedule). It is also called milestone testing because it occurs at the specific milestone during the release schedule.
Describing the process in broad terms, to test a QA ISO image a tester will download an ISO image, mount the image in VM or burn the image and install on spare hardware, and perform various tests.
These tests may include, but are not limited to:
- validate the ISO installed and the OS is operational
- confirm key applications work
- check that specific settings are correct.
= Purpose === The purpose of QA ISO testing is to validate the ISO images are installable but also to find as many bugs as possible throughout the release cycle. We perform this testing at multiple milestones so that bugs are found and reported as early as possible during the cycle to give more time to fix them. Testing is required throughout the cycle because new bugs may be introduced as changes are made.
For more information about this see the QA testing milestone wiki page.
Image Availability
The QA ISO images are only available during specific milestones (i.e. alpha1, alpha2, beta1, etc) from the QA ISO Testing wiki page.
These images will only be available for a few days at each milestone and all images need at least a single test performed or the next ISO image may not be available. Therefore it is critical for many testers to be involved to guarantee that all images are tested!
Testers are encouraged to sign up for particular tests (e.g. Ubuntu Studio 64 bit images) and receive emails when images are available.
Test Location
Ubuntu Studio specific QA ISO images can be found at the Ubuntu Studio QA ISO image page. Test reports are also filed at this page.
Again, testers are highly encouraged to sing up for specific tests for immediate notification of image availability. Testers signed up for tests will also receive links and additional download instructions in each email.
Get Involved
procedure outline - https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Testing/ISO/Procedures
virtual box instructions - https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Testing/VirtualBox
ask on irc channel - #ubuntustudio-devel
contact - scottalavender@gmail.com