Linux kernel device driver testing

• Ano de defesa: 2022
• Autor(a) principal: Schmitt, Marcelo
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Tipo de acesso: Acesso aberto
• Idioma: eng
• Instituição de defesa: Biblioteca Digitais de Teses e Dissertações da USP
• Palavras-chave em Português: Device driver; Driver de dispositivo; Linux; Software test; Teste de software
• Link de acesso: https://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/45/45134/tde-30112022-152524/

Device drivers are an essential part of the Linux kernel. Bugs in these components may compromise the stability of any GNU/Linux operating system. To mitigate that, device drivers should be tested against many use case scenarios. However, that is not always easily achievable because device drivers rely on hardware components that might operate nondeterministically, fail unexpectedly, or be unavailable to developers. This research characterizes how Linux kernel device drivers are tested. To accomplish that, we carried out a mapping study, a grey literature review, and a survey with Linux device driver maintainers. Through these research methods, we are able to offer a comprehensive overview of the state of the practice about tests on Linux kernel device drivers. We have summarized the information gathered in a catalog of test tools used to test the Linux kernel and its device drivers. Further, we have evaluated those tools that showed the most promising for daily use by Linux developers. Finally, we offer an extensive characterization of Linux kernel testing tools.