To The Stars

Archive for the ‘Astronomy’ Category

In the Autumn of 1945 an RAF electronics officer and member of the British Interplanetary Society, Arthur C. Clarke, wrote a short article in Wireless World that described the use of manned satellites in 24-hour orbits high above the world's land masses to distribute television programs. His article apparently had little lasting effect in spite of Clarke's repeating the story in his 1951/52 The Exploration of Space. Clarke's concept, outlined clearly (incidentally, it was unpatented) in the October 1945 edition of the British publication Wireless World and showed how geostationary satellites would work. Twenty years later the idea was tested by the Soviet Union. The first British Satellitte Ariel 1 was sent into space in 1962 from the USA.

Time Line

1945

Oct 1945 - Clarke's concept, outlined clearly (incidentally, it was unpatented) in the October 1945 edition of the British publication Wireless World, showed how geostationary satellites would work. Twenty years later the idea was tested by the Soviet Union and led to the ...Clarke's concept, outlined clearly (incidentally, it was unpatented) in the October 1945 edition of the British publication Wireless World, showed how geostationary satellites would work. Twenty years later the idea was tested by the Soviet Union and led to the more than one thousand geostationary satellites that now orbit our planet. A phone call, routed through satellite service, reaches its "uplink" point and is directed via microwave toward one of the geostationary.

1957

Oct 7, 1957 - One British writer called the satellite a potential spy-in-the sky. Fears Satellite May BeLie a Spy in the Sky. Army Men Dispute ... past chairman of the British society said: . "This launching is a tremendous thing. It is one of the greatest scientific ad. vances in world history.

1958

Aug 11, 1958 - A combined British and Australian operation to launch a satellite into space will be made soon at the Warmora Rocket Ranze in Central Australia ... The British government official said the Royal Society in London is now examin ing the probable value of a UK satellite program to ...

1959

Jun 20, 1959 - Britain named today an eightman team of space experts to leave here soon for talks in Washington about putting British scientific instruments into orbit in an American earth satellite. The group, which will arrive in time to begin talks on June 25.

1960

Dec 16, 1960 - WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 (AP)-The first British space i satellite will be launched " in about one year" from a United States site and will be powered by an American Scout rocket, it was announced today.

1961

Dec 7, 1961 - Britain plans ,to fire its first space satellite around ,the earth next spring aboard a United States Delta rocket,'the House of Lords was told tonight. Viscount Hailsham, Minister for Science, told the House "it is flattering to be told the Americans regard the payload of the first ...

1962

Feb 1962 - A series of six British satellites launched by NASA. The first four were devoted to studying the ionosphere, the remaining two to X-ray astronomy and cosmic-ray studies. Ariel 1 was the first international satellite. It was named in February 1962 for the ...A series of six British satellites launched by NASA. The first four were devoted to studying the ionosphere, the remaining two to X-ray astronomy and cosmic-ray studies. Ariel 1 was the first international satellite. It was named in February 1962 for the spirit of the air who was released by Prospero in Shakespeare's play The Tempest. The name "Ariel" a traditional one in British aeronautics was chosen by the UK Ministry of Science and endorsed by NASA.

Mar 11, 1962 - WASHINGTON, March 10 (UPI)-The National Aeronautics and Space Administration said today it would join with the British Ministry of Science this spring to launch the first international satellite from Cape Canaveral, Fla. Britain is supplying the equipment for experiments to be ...

Mar 12, 1962 - CAPE CANAVERAL FlaAPNext assignment for ThorDelta America's proven and reliable space booster is to hoist Britain's first scientific satellite into orbit next month. The British payload UK1 for United Kingdom will probe the ionosphere a series of electrically charged layers in the ...

Jun 1, 1962 - Jun 1962 Orbiting of First British SatelliteRanger IV hits Far Side of Moon American and Soviet Space Developments .... alaser oroptical masersee below was beamed on the moon and reflected back to earththe first time in history that man had illuminated the surface of another celestial ...

Aug 3, 1962 - 2 (Reuters) Ariel, Britain's first earth satellite, has produced interesting and valuable information about the structure of the ionosphere and the higher atmosphere, Freeth, Parlia- ,mentary Secretary for Science, ;said today. The satellite was launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla,, ...

1962

Sep 2, 1962 - It was somewhat ironic that the Briotish Satellite Ariel should have been one of those knocked out. For it was from Britain that had come the strongest advance pro tests against the high altitude test on primarily scientific grounds as contrasted with those from Communist sources and ...

1963

Jun 7, 1963 - 3, the first all-british satellite, is to be built by the British Aircraft Corporation's guided weapons division at Stevenage, Herts. will be launched in about four years ... 3 will be the third in a series of joint british-american scientific research satellites. The first two in the ...

1964

Jan 15, 1964 - The space agency has already agreed to launch two British satellites, including one earlv this year, and a French satellite in 1965. Both the British and French satellites will make various measurements of the ionosphere, the electrically charged layer in the upper atmosphere. ...

1965

Nov 27, 1965 - It made France the fourth nation to launch a satellite with its own rocket. US rockets were used to launch Italian, Canadian and British satellites. The successful orbiting seemed certain to boost President Charles de Gaulle's stock in the Dec. 5 when he will be a candidate to succeed ...

1966

Dec 29, 1966 - UK Satellite LONDON reutersThe British Government intends to proceed with plans to launch an allbritish satellite in years time The Daily Mail ... says the satellite weighing up to 200 pounds would be put into orbit from the Australia rocket range by a new British rocket Black Arrow It ...

1967

May 5, 1967 - UK-3 was launched from the Western Test Range in California by (NASA) On Friday, 5th May, 1967. Now that it is in orbit the satellite is known as Ariel III.

1969

Nov 21, 1969 - CAPE KENNEDY, Fla. The first British military communications satellite is to rocket into space today to link defense units in bases as far apart as England and Singapore. Perched atop a US Delta rocket, the 535-pound payload called skynet is to. into an egg-shaped orbit with a high ...

1971

Oct 28, 1971 - On 28 October 1971, the Prospero satellite was blasted into orbit by a Black Arrow launch vehicle. It was the only time a British satellite has been launched on a British rocket. Future legacy Although many were saddened by the cancellation of Black Arrow the legacy of the UK's space pioneers lives on. The technology of the rocket itself was reused in the European rocket programme - now flying as the Ariane series of launchers.

1974

Jan 18, 1974 - satellite Skynet 2 soared into space Friday night, the first space launch in 1974 from Cape Canaveral and the 100th firing of a Delta, the rocket workhorse of the space . the 960 pound satellite on the first part of its journey to a stationary orbit over the Indian Ocean, ...

1978

Jun 12, 1978 - ... ... a group of British engineers and physicists has just published a remarkable scientific document that is certain to go down in history ... The same British company which has won business worth many millions of dollars for giantspace dish satellite terminals has come in at the other ...

1981

Oct 1, 1981 - This commemorative push button telephone in black & silver was made to mark the inauguration of British telecom on 1 October 1981. CONNECTED EARTH: GOONHILLY SATELLITE EARTH STATION.

1982

May 19, 1982 - WASHINGTON The Soviet Union has launched a nuclear-powered radar satellite into low orbit over the South Atlantic that could aid Argentina in spying on British warships near the Falklands Islands, government sources say. The United States has nothing like the satellite, identified as ...

1984

Aug 17, 1984 - satellites, fired into orbit with an American pay load, await a radio signal that will boost them to a higher orbit where the German craft ... wind The first release is planned in September British satellites are to ob serve from well outside the magnetic fields, ...

1985

Jul 8, 1985 - The British are coming final ly They may be a few decades behind the Americans but that doesnt matter a bit really ac cording to a team of properly enthusiastic English astronauts who were in Huntington Beach on Friday to inspect McDonnell Douglas satellite launch equip ment ...

1986

Jul 18, 1986 - Charlotte Observer, The : Complete full-text content of local and regional news, including community events, schools, politics, government policies, cultural activities, local companies, state industries, and people in the community. Paid advertisements are excluded.

1987

Jul 16, 1987 - The order, from British Satellite Broadcasting Ltd., a London-based consortium, is believed to be the first firm agreement to launch commer cial ...

1989

Aug 28, 1989 - A privately owned rocket fired a payload into orbit yesterday for the first time in the history of the space age. The 11-story Delta rocket, ... Hughes was hired by British Satellite Broadcasting to build two such satellites and have them launched into space under a 0 million contract.

1990

Jan 1, 1990 - LEAD: A Titan 3 rocket carrying British and Japanese communications satellites roared into space tonight after nine postponements. ... About an hour after liftoff, the British satellite was released, officials said. The other satellite was to be released later.

1995

Dec 9, 1995 - AG Rogers says that the only British satellite was launched by a Black Arrow in 1971. 4 November The first allBritish satellite was UK3 renamed Ariel 3 when in orbit launched by a NASA Scout rocket in May 1967.

1997

Jun 19, 1997 - The deal with Primestar sees Murdoch selling ASkyB to the enemy, the cable companies -- the very same companies whose dominance of the American pay television market he originally intended to challenge with a US version of his successful British satellite business, BSkyB. ...

1998

Oct 7, 1998 - Smaller lightweight satellites have been widely used in communications monitoring environmental changes and natural disasters and in scientific experiments in space The Tsinghua1 is 1.2 metres high and weighs 75 kg It will be the first of seven satellites forming a SinoBritish Treaty.

1999

Apr 21, 1999 - Nehoda said that the Dnipro carried a British scientific satellite (cWoSAT-12) weighing 320 kg. He noted that the use of modernized SS-18 missiles, ... in December this year the Dnipro will launch into orbit a Ukranian microsatellite.

2001

Nov 9, 2001 - As Nigeria warms up to join the league of space explorers next year, Minister of Science and Technology Prof Turner T. Isoun yesterday in Abuja commissioned the multi-million-naira annexe expected to house its earth station for its own satellite. The low earth orbit micro-satellite is built by Britain.

Feb 27, 2002 - Britain's armed forces are to be provided with a new satellite communications system under a private finance initiative programme worth about 2bn and creating or sustaining up to 1500 jobs across Britain, the Ministry of Defence announced yesterday. The British consortium Paradigm was ...

2003

Sep 26, 2003 - KUN0078 4 GEN 0289 KUWAIT /KUNA-JRQ6 SCI-BRITISH-SATELLITES Three British-Built satellites for disasters monitoring to be launched tomorrow LONDON, Sep 26 (KUNA ) -- A rocket is due to launch tomorrow, carrying three British-built " International Rescue" satellites.

2005

Jun 2, 2005 - LONDON The satellite operator Inmarsat announced plans on Wednesday to raise 0 million in an initial public offering here this month. Inmarsat said it would sell 164.5 million shares at 215 pence to 245 pence each, giving the company a total market value of 1.1 billion, ..

2006

Jan 18, 2006 - GUILDFORD, ENGLAND--(CCNMatthews - Jan. 18, 2006) - The primary objective of the GIOVE-A satellite, launched on the 28th December 2005 was to secure frequencies with the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) without which the operation of Europe's new satellite navigation system ...

2007

Mar 12, 2007 - The British military's communications satellite has blasted off into space after a last-minute glitch delayed its launch by 24 hours. The Ariane rocket carryingSkynet 5A, part of a 3.6 billion British armed forces programme, had been set to take off from the European spaceport at ...

2008

Dec 18, 2008 - BRUSSELS, Dec 18 (Reuters) - European aircraft manufacturer EADS (EAD.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) gained clearance from European Union antitrust regulators on Thursday to buy British satellite maker Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd.

2009

Feb 3, 2009 - By Jonathan Amos. Two British companies are involved in discussions about developing a low-cost rocket capable of putting small satellites in orbit. The idea is being promoted by SSTL, a firm in Guildford, Surrey, best known for its Earth observation spacecraft, in conjunction with ...

Please visit my Funny Animal Art Prints Collection @ http://www.fabprints.com

My other website is called Directory of British Icons: http://fabprints.webs.com

The Chinese call Britain 'The Island of Hero's' which I think sums up what we British are all about. We British are inquisitive and competitive and are always looking over the horizon to the next adventure and discovery.

Copyright 2010 Paul Hussey. All Rights Reserved.

Boost YouTube Views To Improve Your Internet Presence

A person of the first inquiries I am normally asked when meeting with a new client is "How can I raise my company on the internetc!c" In a word,youtube !c!

Several instances smaller corporations will get their web site up and imagine they are completed. There is a lot extra that requirements to occur to help you drive your world-wide-web company.

A single of the least difficult means to boost targeted traffic and awareness is the use of YouTube. YouTube is not just for your children skateboard video anymore. Many businesses use it to efficiently set up a brand identify and get much more webpage visitors. com video lessons will be ranking larger and greater in the seek engines.

And, don't forget YouTube is the most visited internet site on the world-wide-web, a lot more than Facebook, and much more than Yahoo.

The other great factor of Vimeo is it makes it possible for you to be innovative when showcasing your corporation. You can have exciting, or keep it critical, but customers will commence to fit a deal with and personality with the business enterprise, generating it a extra individual expertise.

Not all people wishes to set their confront out there for the complete planet to see, but if you're shy don't fret. The a lot more video tutorials you make readily available for customers to stumble through your company's message, the much better.

I glimpse forward to your comments and questions!c!

6 Prime Points For Applying YouTubeMarketing and advertising in Your Advertising and marketing Campaigns
YouTubemarketing is a wonderful way to obtain both of these issues and be in a position to increase your revenue at the same time.

Applying YouTube as a promoting instrument has turn into ever extra well-liked with the new generation of web and system marketers. Considering that mobile phones started out to appear with made-in cameras, posting a player clip on the web has grow to be 2nd character to several folks. Utilizing on the web player promoting genuinely became a normal progression for entrepreneurs marketing a merchandise or assistance on-line.

So how can you use YouTubemerchandising to bring additional potential customers to your webpage and make it a component of your profitable marketing and advertising campaignsc Below are half-dozen points you can do to expand your targeted traffic and create your business by advertising and marketing on YouTube

one. Get started doing films!c! This may sound like a stupid suggestion but what I truly necessarily mean is this. Do not be troubled about how you record you video clips. Or you can use your cellular mobile phone. Do not delay doing video lessons simply because you are worried about the quality.

two. Make confident you subscribe to other YouTubemembers who are in the similar or similar industry. This goes for including folks as close friends as perfectly.

three or more. Article feedback on corresponding channels. Be educational below. Write a thing original and of value that will be valuable to the funnel you are commenting on. When other people today stop by that funnel and see your valuable comment, you will be growing targeted traffic to your personal channel. Do not spam your online web page address. This is incredibly unattractive. Make guaranteed your comment raises a favourable eyebrow and your channel will be their future port of call.

nearly four. Make confident you include things like your internet website handle on your channel. When folks see your YouTubechannel and like what they see, demonstrate them where by you want them to go next. Also incorporate your online web page URL at the start of the outline of each and every video. That way, if they see your video clip with no visiting your funnel site, they will have an treat to click by means of to.
a few. Be your own self and be pure. There is absolutely nothing incorrect in producing a mistake right here and there. Make sure you stick to the point although. Covering quite a few items about a little something is fine but just be cautious not to go off subject matter and commence waffling - your visitor will quickly press their browser's back again button.

six. Promoting with YouTubecan be a incredibly successful kind of branding and advertising your own self and your merchandise or support as an world-wide-web or network marketer. The YouTube Revolution
YouTubeensations can come and go like the weather, but Youtube . What began as a quirky internet site that permitted persons to write about their house video tutorials and disseminate their opinions has blossomed into a media giant that draws hundreds of thousands of viewers throughout the world. At initial glance, YouTube's standard identity may well appear opposed to the display of business pursuits. But, the possibilities that exist by means of YouTubeare equivalent to individuals that exist by means of Myspace, Facebook and Twitter. Still, as with cultural networking sites, the trouble with growing your internet company via YouTube is acquiring a way to distinguish your video tutorials from the rest.

For most businesses, optimizing their world-wide-web presence begins with consulting with an SEM and Web optimization qualified. Without the need of the support of lookup motor merchandising and seek motor optimization, most web sites have an abysmal web site standing and obtain fewer word wide web visitors than web pages that harness the energy of SEM and Website positioning. To get your movies viewed, SEM and Seo consultants carry out Facebook optimization. YouTube's look for motor initially ranks a movie according to 3 requirements: the explanation of the media player, the title of the video and the tags that are assigned to the video clip. But it's essential to don't forget that buyers can also be redirected to your site from your YouTubevideo lessons.

In addition, though most shoppers use conventional seek out engines to arrive at solution and service listings, numerous shoppers have a preference for to see media player on a product or service or program instead of reading net duplicate. Furthermore, Metacafe movies are an outstanding way to familiarize anyone who is searching for information and facts on a supplement or services with your specific product or program, therefore engaging them in the initial phases of the income method.

Even though web video is generally stated to be "the up coming big thing", communal media consulting that focuses on YouTubeoptimisation is nevertheless a single of the most underutilized elements of leveraging online occurrence. 10 Points to Use YouTube For Company
Nevertheless, even though it appears incredibly simple to harness, basically producing video clips and uploading them in YT is not that very simple. 15 of the best ideas to use YouTube for your Company are discussed down below:

Every person understands we generate video clip for uploading them in YT. But, it's not acceptable for your company purpose. a couple of. This is the ideal way to allow all your consumers, equally present and potential, know nicely about your solutions. Moreover, this seems to be additional like a face to encounter demonstration and with out even interacting with them directly you can impact their buying selection.

several. Furthermore most effective advertising and marketing, YT serves as a superior source of advertising. This would aid you in creating a player that would be strategically right and would serve your organization intent properly.

nearly four. Putting up a film know-how clip about your item will be one more finest promotional step. Consequently, your merchandise will gain extra popularity as quickly as the reviewer items out the greatest factors about it.

A player know-how clip for the very first time YT readers will do the job magically as it will enable people find the greatest factors and the user friendliness of the product.

YT movies can show to be an authentic asset to your product or service if you information your staff nicely in adding appropriate authenticity to it.

seven. You can shoot films of your office which will make your clients come to feel connected to you.

8. You can submit your YT video clip links to many communal networks. You can also get into a deal by asking other's solution to enhance your product in their video clips and you offering theirs, just like the hyperlink-exchange in situation of seek engine optimization or Web optimization. ten. Media player merchandising can be far more desirable if you run a contest above the YT. This will make far more viewers go via your player although participating in the contest. Just don't overlook to decide to put a socialized touch into your YT profile. You can quickly do it by placing your Twitter or Facebook profile link. YouTube- A Powerful Marketing Instrument!!
The entrepreneur engaged in on the net marketing will be hunting for as numerous approaches as feasible to drive targeted visitors to their online web page and move the client down the product sales funnel in the direction of the sale, and 1 superb way to do this is by applying Youtube . com. There are a few key gains to utilizing Google's broadcasting program.

Google enjoys YouTube As implied above, Yahoo owns YouTube so any information on Vimeo will rank very on Google offered you enter the proper tags and key phrases with each and every media player.

Men and women are much more inclined to watch a player presentation than examine reams of advertising and marketing copy. I'm shocked at how engaging a easy video clip of another person speaking in their residing room can be.

three or more. Youtube.com movies are quite easy to create. If you have a really regular camcorder with a USB connection, you can have your Vimeo Film uploaded within a half hour.

But precisely what is the goal of obtaining media player and how does that have an effect on your enterprisec

Obtaining a video clip on YouTube about your products or solutions will educate your shoppers as to the gains of doing work with you. Your YouTubefilm also presents you a likelihood to invite the viewer to stop by your internet web page.

So when producing the film, make sure that you are giving them just ample information and facts to preserve them engaged, but not so significantly that they don't might need anymore. Your video clip have to inspire them to take on the future phase lower the product sales funnel and on the way to the sale.

Every last Entrepreneur would do perfectly to make sure that Youtube is aspect of their on line marketing and advertising mix particularly individuals with a residence centered business.

it is likely that if you are looking for a new digital SLR camera it will be the very first Digital SLR (DSLR) Camera you have purchased. A lot of people are looking for a DSLR to help them take much higher quality photos than those you typically get with a standard fixed lens. What a lot of people are not aware of is that it is not only your DSLR camera that will help you on your way to becoming a better photographer, it is also your lens.

There are numerous different types of lenses, with many different abilities and functions. For photographers who are keen being on the move, their is the Fixed Focal Length Lens. This lens has a "no zoom" capability - meaning that to zoom in and out your must come closer to or move further away from your subject. In contast, a Zoom Lens enables the photographer to zoom in and out quickly and simply, bringing more or less of your chosen image into the shot.

Want a photo of that tiny butterfly with all it's colourful markingsc You're after a Macro Lens. This lens gives you the advantage of taking extremely close up images, with fantastic definition and quality. If you wish to take a photo of a wide view, such as 180 degrees, you will need a Fisheye Lens. A circular Fisheye Lens can give a rounded effect to the image, if that is what you desire.

When purchasing a new DSLR camera lens you just need to be aware that different brands of cameras use different lens mounts. Before you start searching for a lens, you need to find out what lenses your camera is actually compatible with. I would strongly suggest that you visit the camera manufacturer's internet site where you should be able to find technical information on the lens specification for your camera. I also need to say that there are lens mount adapters available that allow your for example, to use a Nikon lens on a Canon camera.

Finally, there is a Lens Doubler, which is a lens that is added to another lens. So, if you have a 50mm lens on your DSLR and you add a Lens Doubler, you will wind up with a 100mm lens. When it comes time to buy your cameras lens make certain to speak to an experienced photographic professional about your precise requirements, and they will be able to suggest the correct lens to match not only your camera, but also your photo.

This material can be useful for those people who test systems of described type and also for the managers of these projects.

Author: Helen Osadchaya, Tester of Driver Tesing Team
Co-author: Helen Futornyak, Junior Tester of Driver Testing Team

Apriorit Inc.
Software Virtualization Systems
Virtualization in the broad sense deservedly becomes more and more popular and so do the software virtualization, particularly. Due to virtualization, the end-user can work with habitual things and not think that actually he deals with virtual objects. It lets solve the wide range of problems connected with the usage of real resources.

We will examine the software virtualization systems that deliver virtual applications and desktops to the end-user. It means that we will examine systems that let users use different applications without installing them on the user computer (e.g., working with MS Word without installing the whole Microsoft Office on the computer). Or this can be the case of working with different operating systems without having several real computers with required operating systems installed on them.

In other words, with the help of such systems, the application starts on the client computer and looks as if it was installed locally. The user can freely work with data without making changes on his/her local computer.

The examples of such virtualization systems are Microsoft App-V, VMware ThinApp, Citrix XenApp, and many others.
Test Environment
Network

The software virtualization systems are first of all the client-server applications. That is why the interaction with the network is inevitable.

Very often, for a full-fledged testing of the virtualization systems, we need to create a separate test sub-network with a domain controller and several computers added to this domain.

It is enough to have one separate small-capacity computer as a domain controller. We can install several systems on it and in such way test our system for the compatibility with different operating systems on the domain controller (usually, these are Windows 2003/2008/2008R2 server operating systems).

You should install the following roles on the domain controller:
Active Directory Domain Services; DHCP;DNS.
You need to configure the gateway to get access to the Internet from the local network. So, you need a switch and several network cables for the network configuration.

Virtual Computers

We need many computers because we need to check the work with all supported clients and servers. Besides, we may need to test the work with different processors, sound cards, and other hardware. Virtual computers are used for these purposes. Utilities that create virtual computers are VMWare Workstation, Microsoft Virtual PC, Parallels Workstation, and Sun VirtualBox.

Though testing on virtual machines is easier, we should not forget about testing on real computers. Results that were obtained in the virtual environment can differ from testing results on real computers.

VDI

If the support of Virtual Desktop Infrastructure is implemented in the tested project (i.e., when the user can get not only the remote desktop, but also the whole virtual computer in his/her disposal), additional test environment for the hypervisor will be required.

It's better to assign a separate physical computer to install the hypervisor. The most commonly used hypervisors are:
ESX/ESXi from VMWare; Micosoft Windows Server 2008 R2 with installed Hyper-V role; Micosoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 (without GUI).
It is recommended to install hypervisors on different hard drives.

ESX/ESXi is very exacting to the hardware (processor, netcard) that is why we should check the compatibility beforehand.

Wide Area Network Emulator

In the process of testing in the local network, we may need the emulation of the global network work and also the emulation of the slow connection (packet delay). We will need the global network emulator for this, e.g., WANem (can be downloaded from http://wanem.sourceforge.net/).

Virtual Printers

If the tested system supports the redirection of printers to the session, we will need not only real printers but also virtual ones to test the system. Virtual printer is a program that emulates the printer work but does not require the real device (as a rule, print action is performed to file).

Examples of the virtual printers are:
Adobe Acrobat; PDFCreator; FinePrint,etc.
Additional Devices

Depending on the specific of the tested system and on the redirection of what devices it supports, we may also need the following:
printer; scanner; headset with a microphone; web-camera; usb flash drives;card reader;usb hub.Testing TypesConfiguration Testing
This type of testing is inevitable for the virtualization systems and takes into account a number of parameters. The main parameters of the configuration testing are the operating system and its capacity (32- or 64-bit).

The system should be tested on all supported operating systems, both for the server and the client sides.

The server side can consist of several components, which can or must be installed on different computers. It additionally increases the number of all possible combinations. That is why, the prioritization is required.

It is good if the system is in use, already has its users, and we know what operating systems they use. In this case, we need to test exactly on these operating systems first.

If we do not know anything about end users, we can view the statistics of the operating systems usage in the world or in a definite region (if the system is intended for distribution in some definite region). Such statistics can be easily found in the Internet (e.g., http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_os.asp).

It is also important to differ and run the testing with different editions of the operating system (Standard, Enterprise, Home, Premium, etc.) and with different service packs, updates, etc.

So, we need to make a table - configuration matrix and place there the configuration parameters in order of the significance. In the simplest case, it looks approximately as follows:

Table 1 Configuration matrix

In such table, it is convenient to mark already tested configurations and those in progress with different colors. And also we can mark configurations passed on previous versions.

If the tested system is intended not only for personal computers and notebooks as a client but also for thin clients and PDAs, these also should be included to the configuration table.

If the tested system provides the web-interface to the clients, we should add the all possible browsers to the configuration parameters:
IE;Firefox;Chrome;Opera;Safari, etc.
It is hardly possible to run testing on all configurations. Usually, configurations with the highest priority are covered.
Installation Testing
As a rule, the server side of the virtualization systems consists of several components to make it possible to install them on several computers and distribute the load in such way. Or such feature can be used to install or delete some definite functionality.

Hence, there is a set of cases that should be tested:
Default installation; Cancellation of installation;Installation of the components separately on different computers;Installation of all components on a single computer;Additional installation of the components;Deletion of one or several components;Reinstallation of the application;Deletion of all components;Installation of the combination of components (to compile the optimal set of cases, we can use the method of all pairs or just select the combinations that are the most suitable for the real situation);Installation for all users/current user.
The client side depends on the project. Installation with or without the set of components is also possible. In the general case, the test set will be the same as for the server.

We should not forget to test the installation not only on the virtual computer but also on the real one.

If the system is in use, it is most likely that the new version of the program will be proposed to the users in two ways: as a separate installation and as the service pack. That is why it is necessary to check the update of the previous version to the new one.
Functional Testing
It is the main type of testing where the product functionality is checked. Also the testing of interaction with the third-party programs, which the end-user will probably use, is performed.
First, it is necessary to check the use cases, i.e. what the user will probably do with the system.
Under the specific character of the program, the last will have at least 2 types of users: administrator, who will deploy and configure the system, and the end-user (the really end one), who will work only with the client side and start from there the required applications and desktops created by the administrator on the server side for him.

Thus, first we need the set of use cases for the system testing.
Then we can deepen into the functional testing.
To do this, we need to divide the project into logical parts (features) and write a detailed test plan for each part. We can start testing using the prepared test plan after the smoke testing (see below) was passed successfully and this feature does not have blocking defects.
It is also important to check how the tested system works with other applications, which the end-user will use.
For example, if the system works with the redirected audio and/or video only and does not use the standard ones, it will be interesting to see how it will work for programs-communicators, such as Skype, ICQ, and Microsoft Office Communicator.
Performance Testing
The performance testing is to define if the developed system is effective and does not overuse resources.

For example, the workload of certain servers is checked when receiving remote applications from these servers by several clients simultaneously.

What to checkc

As a rule, we check the memory and CPU usage, and the traffic.
To check the CPU and memory usage, we can use standard Windows tools, such as Task Manager and Performance Monitor (run perfmon command from the command line).To monitor traffic, we can use BWMeter, for example (can be downloaded from http://bwmeter.en.softonic.com/).
If the load balancer is implemented in the system (something similar to Load Balancer in Windows Server), it is necessary to load certain servers for the testing purposes artificially (e.g., to increase the memory usage and CPU usage).

To do this, we can use the third-party utilities, such as Rmma for the CPU usage (can be downloaded from http://cpu.rightmark.org/products/rmma.shtml) and AleGr MEMTEST for the increase of the memory usage (can be downloaded from http://www.alegr-memtest.com-about.com/).

High and heightened loads

It is important to check the system performance in conditions that are the most approximate to the reality (at high loads). To check this performance, the load testing is performed. For example, we can check the response time of the server when connecting many clients to it.

If the number of clients, with which we perform testing, exceeds the declared number, this will be testing with heightened loads, i.e., stress testing. In this case, we are interested in how correctly the system reacts to the heightened load.
Regression Testing
Testing connected with changes is probably the mostly used type for the virtualization systems. Such systems are not written in a moment, their functionality is gradually extended. That is why, when receiving the version for testing, first it is necessary to check the basic functionality and check if something was broken when making changes in the program.

To check the main functionality quickly, the corresponding test plans for the smoke regression testing are prepared. They are prepared by setting the priorities in the test plan for full testing and by selecting of cases with the highest priority from the prioritized test plan.

It is recommended to run the full testing on 1-2 configurations with the highest priority and the smoke testing on the rest of configurations.
Automated Testing
Testing of the software virtualization systems is a huge set of tasks for the automation: from the simplest cases that automate the installation to the complicated universal automation systems that start the hypervisor, start the virtual computers that clients need, and provide the user with the session with required parameters.

Development of such "clever" systems is very complicated that is why usually it is enough to have auto-tests for the regression testing. In the simplest case, it is a set of cases for the superficial check of the work of the tested application and the performing of the simplest and the most common actions (acceptance testing). Or, what is better, it can be a little bit extended set of cases for the smoke testing. In this case, when the next version is prepared for testing, first of all, we run automated cases that perform the check of the general operability of the program (acceptance/smoke). And if the auto-testing did not reveal blocking defects, we can then deepen into the testing of one or another feature.

Most auto-tests for the virtualization systems will have the client-server architecture. First, we need to prepare the client (start it and connect to the server). Then we need to get the session and start the server part of the auto-test in the session. The server part will check what it must check and will send a reply to the client. The client will get the message, write data to report, and close the session.

If we have a number of auto-tests that cover a certain test plan, then we also should provide some solution to run the tests in the required order. This solution will also have the client-server architecture for most tests.

Thus, in the general case, the client and server computers will have parts of the client-server auto-test management system. This system will start the client and server parts of the tests correspondingly and will receive and send messages between client and server.
Conclusion
Among the types of testing, we did not mention the GUI and usability testing. But it does not mean that these types of testing are not performed for the virtualization systems. But usually, the main emphasis is made on the functionality.

As a rule, it is impossible to consider all possible risks while defining the testing strategy of the virtualization systems beforehand. Especially it is because the requirements to the product often change in the process of development, as a rule. And the technology does not stand still.

Strategy is a dynamic structure. It should react to the changes adequately. Only in this case, we can decrease the risks in testing and receive the product of high quality.