Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2000 17:00:17 -0700 (PDT) From: "Jason T. Collins" <jcollins@valinux.com> Subject: VA 'Cerberus' test suite release 1.2.1 To: linux-kernel@vger.rutgers.edu Hi all, I've recently uploaded version 1.2.1 of VA-CTCS, VA's test suite for stressing hardware, to the locations mentioned at the bottom of this e-mail. Please read README.FIRST if you are not familiar with this software -- this system loader has been known to damage marginal hardware, including catching system power supplies *ON FIRE*, and neither VA Linux Systems nor myself will be responsible for any damage caused. What's new in this version since 1.1.7? Here is a summary: - Lazy Developer Installation method: tar -zvxf ctcs-1.2.1.tar.gz cd ctcs-1.2.1 ./newburn -- and CTCS takes care of compiling itself and checking your system for required binaries, etc. - Many new modules: Included in VA-CTCS is Robert Redelmeier's CPU/Memory stress testers, the BYTE benchmarking suite, crashme, as well as some new VA authored modules (such as the Fast kernel-compile test) - New command line options to "newburn" with -h to get help. - Enhanced memory tester checks for error consistency and provides context for memory failures. - More compatibility with non-Red Hat distributions and the 2.4 kernel series. - Some work started to make CTCS more friendly to non-x86 platforms, but there are still issues. What is VA-CTCS? VA-CTCS consists of a test iterator, a collection of test modules, and a test generator. The main test program, "newburn", detects your hardware and comes up with a custom combination of tests designed to beat on your system and its peripherals, modified by your parameters. VA Linux Systems has released VA-CTCS under the GPL. Why is VA-CTCS useful for kernel developers? CTCS is useful for: - Use as a generic system loader - Iterating your own test code and recording failure data for you while you concentrate on debugging - Bashing at the filesystem/buffer cache layer with the data and block test modules - and much more.. If you've ever spent a lot of time scripting tests to report time to failure, number of iterations, record all of it to a synchronous logfile, etc, you'll find CTCS to be handy. Besides, as you know, when a system is thrashing lots of obscure problems can come out of the woodwork.. Where is VA-CTCS? VA-CTCS has a SourceForge project: https://sourceforge.net/project/?group_id=5317 The latest version is available via FTP: ftp://ftp.valinux.com/pub/software/Cerberus/ctcs-1.2.1.tar.gz -- Jason T. Collins Software Engineer VA Linux Systems - To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-kernel" in the body of a message to majordomo@vger.rutgers.edu Please read the FAQ at http://www.tux.org/lkml/