Frequently Asked Questions

Background

1. What is Drummond Group Inc. (DGI)? >

General

2. What is InSitu?® >
3. What is being tested in the AS2 Interoperability Testing? >
4. What components comprise InSitu®?  >

Technical

5. How is automation achieved? >
6. How will InSitu automation help my business? >
7. How much effort should I expect to enable my AS2 system for automation? >
8. How can I get involved? >
9. What does InSitu technology cost? >
10. Does this affect AS2 In the Queue testing? >

1) What is Drummond Group, Inc. (DGI)?
Drummond Group Inc. (DGI), a global leader in B2B software testing and certification, works with software vendors, industry associations, supply chains and the standards community by conducting interoperability and conformance testing on open standards, publishing related strategic research and developing vertical industry strategies. Founded in 1999, DGI has tested hundreds of international software products used in vertical industries such as automotive, consumer product goods, financial services, government, petroleum, pharmaceutical and retail.

DGI administers all interoperability tests for:

• Drummond Certified®
• GDSN
• Liberty Interoperable

DGI's expertise in interoperability testing services and ebusiness standards is reflected in a series of research reports designed to provide education and valuable insight into current technology issues and guidance to enterprises seeking the best solutions for their supply chains.

2) What is InSitu®?
Drummond Group Inc. has a patented test automation tool called InSituª for conducting automated interoperability testing. InSitu is truly revolutionary as it adds flexibility and makes it easier for companies across numerous industries and countries to complete interoperability testing in less time than ever before. InSituª has an install base of committed software companies and has been in use for several years delivering manpower savings, speed, scalability, reduction of time-consuming manual steps and automation for convenient testing across different time zones. InSitu is mandatory for AS2 Interops and will be mandatory for AS3 in 2009.

3) What is being tested in the AS2 Interoperability Testing with InSitu®? ?
Testing is as comprehensive as it was in the past, the only difference now is that with the InSitu test system, testing takes less time and requires less staffing as the software is reacting to test commands defined for each testing scenario.

4) What components comprise InSitu?
InSitu is comprised of three main components:

1. InSituClient
2. InSituServer
3. InSituXML

The InSituClient is an application installed along-side the AS2 software and is used by the test participant to monitor test results. The InSituServer is the main test controller. InSituXML defines XML-based test commands communicated from the InSituServer to AS2 software by way of the InSituClient. All components are patented and trademarked by DGI.

5) How is AS2 testing automation being achieved?
By using InSitu and enabling their AS2 software to process InSituXML, test participants are able to automate testing activities. The AS2 software receives and acts on InSituXML Test Request Messages, removing the need to pre-configure systems for each testing scenario and removing the need for manual execution of each test.

6) How will InSitu automation help my business?
DGI estimates that only one-tenth of manpower is necessary vs. the typical approach of manually pre-configuring the AS2 server for each test scenario. This will reduce the overall cost for each participating organization certifying their product.

In turn, this will allow more frequent interoperability testing and will allow you to take a more flexible and controlled approach to your product development planning, related to the scheduling of interoperability tests for new product versions.

7) How much effort should I expect to enable my AS2 system for automation?
You should expect to have one developer spend 6-8 weeks of development effort to enable your AS2 solution to process InSituXML Test Requests. This is a small amount of effort for the expected larger amount of saved time for the AS2 Interop testing.

8) How can I get involved?
Please contact DGI's Director of Business Development at info2@drummondgroup.com for information on how to get involved. To participate, your AS2 solution should already be certified under the Drummond Certified® program.

9) What does InSitu technology cost?
The InSitu Development Program entry fee is $6,000. The developer's kit and development support via emails and weekly conference calls are included. Also, included is participation in the week-long test to verify proper implementation of Insitu. Test must be successfully completed prior to the start of the next AS2 Interoperability test in order to utilize the InSitu technology.

10) Does this affect AS2 In the Queue Self Paced testing?
PLEASE NOTE that ONLY products that have been certified on previous AS2 Interoperability rounds or which are officially registered for AS2 ITQ Self Paced may enter the InSitu Development Program. Products NEW to testing should complete AS2 ITQ Self Paced testing before entering InSitu Development. ALL NEW products, products which have skipped a round of AS2 Interop, and products which have previously passed an AS2 Interop Test round but have either skipped a test round AND/OR made significant code changes, must undergo the AS2 In the Queue Self Paced testing.

-- InSitu® is a registered trademark of Drummond Group Inc.