IPv6 conformance testing: theory and practice

IPv6 is in its growing stage in which new protocols are being proposed and more and more IPv6 devices are being produced. Conformance testing is the most important method to improve the reliability of IPv6 implementations. With a view to provide test ability for IPv6, the features and the test requirements of IPv6 are analyzed. Two difficulties of the standard test framework applying to IPv6 conformance testing, test packets description and complicated algorithm implementation, are pointed out. IPv6 test framework is proposed to solve the two difficulties, in which a new IPv6 test suite specification language is defined. Two test methods, called the virtual test method and the low-layer congregating test method, are adopted to enhance single physical tester´s test ability. IPv6 test suite is designed and four IPv6 implementations are tested. An example of test case is given to explain IPv6 test framework and IPv6 test suite specification language.