Picking the right test script for the job
Errors or typos? Topics missing? Hard to read? Let us know!
Ever wonder what happens behind the scenes when your machine is being commissioned by MAAS? Well, it involves a handful of hardware tests, each designed to ensure your setup is robust and ready for action. Let's explore the range of available tests, so you can pick the ones most relevant to your needs.
Table of marvels: your guide to maas test scripts
| Name | Tags | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
smartctl-short |
storage | Executes a short SMART self-test, assessing all your drives concurrently |
smartctl-long |
storage | Like the short test, but goes deeper. Ideal for comprehensive disk health checks |
smartctl-conveyance |
storage | Specialised SMART test that checks how your disks fare during transit |
memtester |
memory | Pushes your RAM with various memory-specific tests |
internet-connectivity |
network, internet, node | Verifies if the node has an active internet connection |
stress-ng-cpu-long |
cpu | A 12-hour CPU endurance test to push its limits |
stress-ng-cpu-short |
cpu | A quick 5-minute stress test for the CPU |
stress-ng-memory-long |
memory | A marathon 12-hour memory stress test |
stress-ng-memory-short |
memory | A quick dip to test memory, lasting only 5 minutes |
ntp |
network, ntp, node | Checks if the node can connect to NTP servers for time syncing |
badblocks |
storage | Scans the disk for bad sectors, in read-only mode |
badblocks-destructive |
destructive, storage | Same as above, but in a read/write mode that wipes data |
7z |
cpu | Tests CPU performance using 7zip benchmarking |
fio |
storage, destructive | Storage performance testing, with the potential to alter data |
Real-time reports: stay informed, always
As MAAS runs these tests, it gives you real-time updates. Curious about the gritty details of a particular test? Navigate to the 'Hardware tests' page for the machine in question and click on the 'Log view' link in the 'Results' column. Here, you can feast your eyes on raw, unfiltered test output.
DIY testing: create your own CPU stress test
If the available tests don't quite hit the mark, why not roll your own? Here's an example of a simple Bash script mimicking the stress-ng script that comes bundled with MAAS.
#!/bin/bash -e
# --- Start MAAS 1.0 script metadata ---
# name: stress-ng-cpu-test
# title: CPU Validation
# description: 5-minute stress test to validate your CPU.
# script_type: test
# hardware_type: cpu
# packages: {apt: stress-ng}
# tags: cpu
# timeout: 00:05:00
# --- End MAAS 1.0 script metadata ---
sudo -n stress-ng --matrix 0 --ignite-cpu --log-brief --metrics-brief --times \
--tz --verify --timeout 2m
This Bash snippet features metadata comments that help configure the environment and handle any package dependencies. It ends with a line that triggers stress-ng, the workhorse that stresses your CPU to its core.
Feel free to adapt this script to fit your unique needs. After all, customisation is one of the great strengths of MAAS.