Understanding Connection Architecture

Eggplant products were originally designed to run in a two-system model, which consisted of the machine running the Eggplant Test product and the system under test (SUT), which was typically a desktop system or mobile device.

Since that original design, Eggplant expanded its capabilities to support testing a single-system model, where the system where you run your Eggplant Test product can also be your SUT, and other test configurations, where you use a device such as a KVM-over-IP device or video capture device to automate things like point-of-sales (POS) systems or video game consoles.

Descriptions of the different Eggplant supported architectures follow.

The Two-System Test Model

Eggplant Test products are commonly used to test desktop, virtual, and mobile systems under test (SUTs) in its original two-system model with the Eggplant Test product running on one system and the SUT on another system.

Diagram of the Two-System Test Model where the Eggplant Test product and the system under (SUT) test run on different systems

The Single-System Test Model

In addition to the traditional two-system model, Eggplant Test products also support a single-system solution, which enables you to use one machine to both run the Eggplant product, and connect to it as SUT at the same time.

Diagram of the Single-System Test Model where the Eggplant Test product and the system under teset (SUT) are the same system

Other Test Configurations

Eggplant Test products can also automate a variety of other devices, with different connection methods. For example, you can test a hand-held point of sale (POS) system, or human machine interface (HMI) system in a car, by including a KVM switch in your test environment. You could also test a video game console by including a video capture device between the Eggplant Test product as shown in the examples below with Eggplant Functional. See Other Types of SUTs for more information about testing with other configurations.

Diagram of a KVM Switch configuration that enables Eggplant to test a broad range of devices, such as point-of-sale (POS) systems or human machine interfaces (HMIs), such as in a car

Diagram of a video capture device configuration that enables Eggplant to test consoles such as set top boxes or gaming devices

Next Step: Managing Connections in Eggplant Test

Continue to Methods for Managing SUT Connections in Eggplant Test to learn about the different ways you can manage SUT connections in the various Eggplant Test products depending on the type of test you want to run.