diff --git a/blog - qTest Primer.md b/blog - qTest Primer.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9160a06 --- /dev/null +++ b/blog - qTest Primer.md @@ -0,0 +1,58 @@ +# qTest Primer +_I emailed this to Modesto (and CC'd Steve) in January 2024 after interst in upgrading qTest was renewed once again._ + +--- + +Tricentis is maddeningly vague about what qTest does, opting instead to suggest you sign up for a demo. +This is their product page: https://www.tricentis.com/products/unified-test-management-qtest + +qTest predates my arrival at OverDrive. +This is the product page we maintain in Confluence: Qtest - Architecture and Support https://confluence.hq.overdrive.com/display/ITENG/Qtest+-+Architecture+and+Support + +Shortly after I started (2019), qTest was reporting security issues and the security team was up in arms about how to address them. +The version of qTest we were using at that time was docker-based, and it was determined that there were old software packages in the docker containers that qTest used. +Tricentis acknowledged the old packages, but had no roadmap for resolving the issues. The suggestion was made to switch to their "Single Server, On-Premesis" offering. +Basically, install everything manually. + +Converting to a non-docker installation and with no real qTest SME on the IT team, the initial upgrade and each subsequent upgrade has consisted of spinning up a fresh new VM and installing the latest version of qTest, then exporting the data from the old version and importing it into the new version. +While not ideal, this provides us the ability to run parallel instances during testing in case there are any significant or breaking changes between versions. + +I created this document and update it with new findings after each upgrade: qTest Fresh Install and Migration https://confluence.hq.overdrive.com/display/ITENG/qTest+Fresh+Install+and+Migration + +--- + +## 2023 Upgrade + +It seems that after any significant problem with the product, our QA team suggests that I upgrade to the latest version of qTest. +This happened last year (qTest Insights license expired and upgrades https://jira.hq.overdrive.com/browse/IT-33140) + +As it turned out the solution to their problem did not require a full upgrade to the newest version, but it was agreed that we should plan to upgrade anyway. (qTest server upgrade https://jira.hq.overdrive.com/browse/ITSD-15364) + +I kept my notes on the upgrade here: 2023 qTest Upgrade https://confluence.hq.overdrive.com/display/~chawley/2023+qTest+Upgrade + +Because we always have problems coordinating with the QA team for testing the new version (and the fact that version look almost exactly the same, except for the URL) I sent this text to the qTest channel last year: +qTest Pre-upgrade Messaging https://confluence.hq.overdrive.com/display/~chawley/qTest+Pre-upgrade+Messaging + +Since then there has been no further communication or interest in testing or moving to the new version, so it never happened. +We still have a qtest4 (PROD) VM and a qtest5 (DEV) VM out there. At this point, even the qtest5 is running software several months out of date. + +--- + +On Tuesday, January 23, 2024, I got this message from Todd: + +> Todd Rosenthal +> Hi Chuck. Looks like we need to bounce the qTest server. Search is not working and when I click on the re-index button, it throws an error that elastic search service is unavailable. +> We also really need to do an upgrade as we are falling so far behind we may run into trouble trying to upgrade. We are over 20 updates behind. +. +> Chuck Hawley +> OK, first thing... Elasticsearch had died. I restarted the Elasticsearch service. Try your searches again. +> As for the upgrade, ping Steve so I can get that back on my schedule. +> But let me know if the search issue resolves. It may have just needed elasticsearch to be bounced. +. +> Todd Rosenthal +> yep that seems to have fixed it! +> I'll send Steve a slack about the updates. I hope it isn't a nightmare at this point to do it. Fingers crossed. + +So, again, a non-related problem made them think about upgrading. + +This brings us to the conversation you had with Steve the other day. \ No newline at end of file