Covering Arrays

Detecting Component Interaction Failures

Covering arrays are used in testing deterministic systems where failures occur as a result of interactions among components or subsystems. The design goal is to reveal if any interaction induces a failure in the system. Application areas include software, circuit, and network design.

Since the tests are deterministic, the emphasis driving the design is the need to cover all required interactions. The Covering Arrays platform constructs highly efficient covering arrays. You can also exclude factor level combinations that are not feasible for your testing protocol.

Figure 20.1 Strength 3 Covering Array 

Contents

Overview of Covering Arrays

Example of a Covering Array with No Factor Level Restrictions

Create the Design

Analyze the Experimental Data

Example of a Covering Array with Factor Level Restrictions

Create the Design

Analyze the Experimental Data

Covering Array Window

Factors

Restrict Factor Level Combinations

Design

Metrics

Output Options

The Covering Array Data Table

Covering Array Options

Technical Details for Covering Arrays

Algorithm for Optimize

Formulas for Metrics