NICE / OPENSTEP Compatible System Program

The NICE (NeXT's OPENSTEP Intel Compatibility Expert) program provides PC systems manufacturers, vendors, and system integrators with a means to test their systems for functional compatibility with NeXT's OPENSTEP operating system.

The Compatibility Test Suite yields a report as to the degree to which the specific configuration tested is compatible with a given version of OPENSTEP.

This test suite greatly automates many of the tedious aspects of testing compatibility of OPENSTEP for Mach on Intel platforms, and reduces the time spent preparing and processing test results.   Here is a short list of the new features:

- Automatically compiles a list of all SCSI and EIDE/ATAPI devices connected to the machine and
records relevant data about these devices.
- Automatically compiles a list of configured drivers along with their configuration data.
- Detects CPU type, number of parallel ports, number of serial ports, type of serial port UART, and size
of memory.
- Presents the user with an easy to use interface for documenting and testing.
- Requires only minimal effort in configuration.
- Simple "click and test" operation.
- Save and load test results.

Note:  Although this test suite significantly reduces the amount of work the tester must perform, the tester must still fill in a small portion of data in order to complete the testing and qualify a system to be OPENSTEP compatible.

An OPENSTEP Compatible System Configuration
An "OPENSTEP Compatible System" configuration is a specific PC system, fully fitted out with expansion cards and other specific peripherals, which has been tested by a test engineer using the OPENSTEP for Mach Compatibility Test Suite designed by NeXT.

An OPENSTEP Compatible System must use device drivers that have passed the NeXT device driver testing process. Currently, these tests are available for NeXT-developed drivers as well as for third party developed drivers that have been approved through NeXT's third party testing program. (See "OPENSTEP/NEXTSTEP Compatible Component" NeXTanswer #1902.)

Testing a System with the Compatibility Test Suite
NICE test engineers use the Compatibility Test Suite to test complete hardware configurations (system unit plus add-on cards and peripherals) for OPENSTEP compatibility. They then submit a full description of the configuration under test along with the test results to the NeXT SQA (Software Quality Assurance) department for review.

Note: NeXT's SQA will not repeat tests (and may not even have the tested hardware in house); test results and system descriptions are audited for completeness only, and compatibility is assessed based on the pass/fail indications provided by the NICE test engineer.

In other words, NeXT, Inc. does not test OPENSTEP Compatible Systems for compatibility, but rather relies on input from third parties, that use the NICE testing suite, to determine this level of compatibility.

If NeXT SQA approves the submitted test results, NeXT will create an authorization letter for the party submitting the test results. Once the authorization has been signed by both parties, NeXT will send the "OPENSTEP Compatible System" logo artwork to the company sponsoring the NICE test, which may then affix the logo to any product material for the specifically authorized configuration.

Support Issues and Responsibilities
NeXT will assume absolutely no support responsibilities for any product that bears the "Tested Compatible" logo. All support issues and responsibilities belong solely to the hardware vendor or integrator that submitted the test report.

Additional Information
"OPENSTEP Compatible System" is a pre-requisite for a system to be considered for the OPENSTEP Certified System program. (For more information on OPENSTEP Certified System see NeXTanswer #1904)

For every OPENSTEP Compatible System, NeXT will include information in the Intel Certified and Compatibility Systems Guide and listed on the NeXT web site at (http://www.next.com/OpenStep/Products/NEXTSTEP/NSIntel/ ). The amount of detail made available will be determined by NeXT and by the party submitting the compatibility test report.

NeXT reserves the right to cancel this program at any time without notice.