VA 'Cerberus' test suite release 1.2.1

Hi all,

I've recently uploaded version 1.2.1 of VA-CTCS, VA's test suite for stressing hardware, to the locations mentioned at the bottom of this e-mail. Please read README.FIRST if you are not familiar with this software -- this system loader has been known to damage marginal hardware, including catching system power supplies *ON FIRE*, and neither VA Linux Systems nor myself will be responsible for any damage caused.

What's new in this version since 1.1.7? Here is a summary:
- Lazy Developer Installation method:

	tar -zvxf ctcs-1.2.1.tar.gz
	cd ctcs-1.2.1
	./newburn
	-- and CTCS takes care of compiling itself and checking your system
	for required binaries, etc.

- Many new modules:
Included in VA-CTCS is Robert Redelmeier's CPU/Memory stress testers, the BYTE benchmarking suite, crashme, as well as some new VA authored modules (such as the Fast kernel-compile test)
- New command line options to "newburn" with -h to get help.
- Enhanced memory tester checks for error consistency and provides context for memory failures.
- More compatibility with non-Red Hat distributions and the 2.4 kernel series.
- Some work started to make CTCS more friendly to non-x86 platforms, but there are still issues.

What is VA-CTCS?

VA-CTCS consists of a test iterator, a collection of test modules, and a test generator. The main test program, "newburn", detects your hardware and comes up with a custom combination of tests designed to beat on your system and its peripherals, modified by your parameters. VA Linux Systems has released VA-CTCS under the GPL.

Why is VA-CTCS useful for kernel developers?

CTCS is useful for:
- Use as a generic system loader
- Iterating your own test code and recording failure data for you while you concentrate on debugging
- Bashing at the filesystem/buffer cache layer with the data and block test modules
- and much more..

If you've ever spent a lot of time scripting tests to report time to failure, number of iterations, record all of it to a synchronous logfile, etc, you'll find CTCS to be handy. Besides, as you know, when a system is thrashing lots of obscure problems can come out of the woodwork..

Where is VA-CTCS?

VA-CTCS has a SourceForge project:
https://sourceforge.net/project/?group_id=5317

The latest version is available via FTP:
ftp://ftp.valinux.com/pub/software/Cerberus/ctcs-1.2.1.tar.gz

--
Jason T. Collins
Software Engineer
VA Linux Systems

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