PITCHME.md

Operations Validation

• Validating your Infrastructure as Code.
• Tests if the infrastructure components are functional.

+++

Fits into the DevOps ecosystem. | Is my infrastructure functioning as expected?

---

PowerShell Scripts ?

• Can be used.
• Maintenance nightmare.

+++

Tip - Avoid writing scripts for validating your infrastructure.

---

Pester and PoshSpec

Pester is a Unit testing framework. Only the code logic is tested.

Function Get-ServerInfo {
    Get-CIMInstance -Class Win32_ComputerSystem | 
        Select-Object -Property *
}

Describe 'Get-ServerInfo Unit tests' {
    # Arrange
    Mock -Command Get-CimInstance -FilterParameter {$Class -eq 'Win32_ComputerSystem' }
    # Act
    Get-ServerInfo 
    # Assert
    It "Should query the Win32_ComputerSystem class" {
        Assert-MockCalled -Command Get-CimInstance -Times 1 -Exactly -Scope Describe
    }
}

+++

Pester for Ops validation

But Pester can be extended to validate/test Infrastructure as well.

Describe "TestIPConfiguration" {
    It "Should have a valid IP address on the Management NIC" {
        (Get-NetIPAddress -AddressFamily IPv4 -InterfaceAlias 'vEthernet(Management)' | Select-Object -ExpandProperty IPAddress) |
            Should be '10.10.10.1' 
    }
}

+++

PoshSpec fits in

PoshSpec adds yet another layer of abstraction on our infrastructure tests. The tests look concise and easy to maintain.

Describe "TestIPConfiguration" {
    Context "Validate the Management NIC " {
        # Custom public type added to PoshSpec for our use.
        IPv4Address 'vEthernet(Management)' {Should be '10.10.10.1'} 
    }
}

---

Challenges for Solution stack Ops validation

• Targeting remote nodes for ops validation is still an overhead.
• Remote nodes need to bootstrapped before invoking the ops validation.
• Challenge in specifying node and solution configuration data.

---

Remote Ops validation

Targeting tests written to remote node(s). PSRemotely was engineered with solution stack operations validation in mind. Few of its features:-

• Target Pester/PoshSpec based operations validation tests on the remote nodes.
• Decouples node and solution configuration data using DSC config data syntax.
• Self-contained framework, bootstraps remote node(s) for running the ops validation.
• Allows re-running failed tests.
• Easier debugging.

---

Demo Validating a S2D cluster using PSRemotely