Non-disruptive integrated network infrastructure testing

Abstract

A method, computer program product, and system for non-disruptive integrated testing of network infrastructure is provided. A computer processor on a first network interface device that performs a set of tests on a network cable of a network infrastructure, a first end of the network cable is connected to the first network interface device of a host system, and a second end of the network cable is connected to a second network interface device. The computer processor suspends performance of the set of tests, in response to network activity requests received by the first network interface device. The computer processor resumes performance of the set of tests, in response to completion of the network activity. The computer processor stores results of the set of tests in compartmentalized memory, and the computer processor generates a report including the results of the set of tests.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for non-disruptive integrated testing of network infrastructure, the method comprising:
 a processor of a first network interface device performing a set of tests on a network cable of a network infrastructure, wherein a first end of the network cable is connected to the first network interface device of a host system by a first cable connector, and a second end of the network cable is connected to a second network interface device by a second cable connector;   the processor, suspending performance of the set of tests, in response to requests of network activity, which are received by the first network interface device;   the processor, resuming performance of the set of tests, in response to completion of the network activity;   the processor, storing results of the set of tests in compartmentalized memory; and   the processor, generating a report including the results of the set of tests.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the set of tests includes connectivity verification and bandwidth transmission rate measurements that include bandwidth capacity baseline and maximum bandwidth measurements for the network cable. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating an alert based on the results of the set of tests crossing a configured threshold value.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compartmentalized memory is persistent memory included on the first network interface device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compartmentalized memory is persistent memory of the host system. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is an integrated component of the first network interface device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the set of tests are scheduled such that network activity requests received by the first network interface device are initiated subsequent to the completion of scheduled testing of one or a combination of the network cable, the first cable connector and the second cable connector. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first network interface device is a network interface card (NIC). 
     
     
         9 . A computer program product for non-disruptive integrated testing of network infrastructure, the computer program product comprising:
 a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, wherein the program instructions are executable by a computer processor to cause the computer processor to perform a method comprising:   performing a set of tests on a network cable of a network infrastructure, by a processor of a first network interface device, wherein a first end of the network cable is connected to the first network interface device of a host system by a first cable connector, and a second end of the network cable is connected to a second network interface device by a second cable connector;   suspending performance of the set of tests, by the processor, in response to requests of network activity, which are received by the first network interface device;   resuming performance of the set of tests, by the processor, in response to completion of the network activity;   storing results of the set of tests, by the processor, in compartmentalized memory; and   generating, by the processor, a report including the results of the set of tests.   
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the set of tests includes connectivity verification and bandwidth transmission rate measurements that include bandwidth capacity baseline and maximum bandwidth measurements for the network cable. 
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 generating an alert based on the results of the set of tests crossing a configured threshold value.   
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the compartmentalized memory is persistent memory included on the first network interface device. 
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the compartmentalized memory is persistent memory of the host system. 
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is integrated as a functional component of the first network interface device. 
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the set of tests are scheduled such that network activity requests received by the first network interface device are initiated subsequent to the completion of scheduled testing of one or a combination of the network cable, the first cable connector and the second cable connector. 
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the first network interface device is a network interface card (NIC). 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus for non-disruptive integrated testing of network infrastructure, the apparatus comprising:
 a network interface device, capable of sending and receiving network communications over a network cable, the network cable including a first cable connector attached to a first end of the network cable and a second cable connector attached to a second end of the network cable;   the network interface device including a point of attachment capable of connecting the first cable connector to the network interface device;   a set of electronic components, installed on the network interface device, capable of performing a set of tests on one or a combination of the network cable connected to the network interface device, the first cable connector, and the second cable connector;   the set of electronic components capable of determining results of the set of tests performed on the one or the combination of: the network cable connected to the network interface device, the first cable connector, and the second cable connector;   a set of memory components installed on the network interface device capable of storing configuration settings, test instructions, and results of performing the test instructions; and   a processor, installed on the network interface device, capable of executing the configuration settings and the test instructions stored on the set of memory components, and the processor capable of storing the results of the set of tests on the set of memory components.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the set of tests includes connectivity verification and bandwidth transmission rate measurements that include bandwidth capacity baseline and maximum bandwidth measurements for the network cable. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the network interface device is a network interface card (NIC). 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 the processor, suspending performance of the set of tests, in response to network activity requests received by the network interface device; and   the processor, resuming performance of the set of tests, in response to completion of the network activity, by a processor of a first network interface device.