Test machine scheduling and optimization for z/OS

We describe a system for solving a complex scheduling problem faced by software product test organizations. Software testers need time on test machines with specific features and configurations to perform the test tasks assigned to them. There is a limited number of machines with any given configuration, and this makes the machines scarce resources. Deadlines are always short. Thus, testers must reserve time on machines. Managing a schedule for a large test organization is a difficult task to perform manually. Requirements change frequently, making the task even more onerous, yet scheduling is done by hand in most teams. Our scheduling system is able to take into account the many and varied constraints and preferences that a team of human users inevitably has. © 2007 IEEE.