Making IBM i testing simple
IBM i is a big, complex environment, but testing it doesn’t have to be. TestBench tests anything from APIs to databases, with a full record of what’s happening.
Crucially, our platform also looks after your most vital test asset: your data.
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End-to-end across IBM i & beyond!
Your tech stack isn’t limited to IBM – so neither are we. We test across IBM i and any integrated system, cloud, on-premise or green screen.
Why teams trust us with IBM i testing
Businesses of every size rely on Original Software to keep IBM i updates from becoming IBM i disasters. Here’s how:
Built for your business users
You don’t need to be a developer to test with us. The people who know your processes best — your business users — capture, run and improve tests as part of their day job.
Code-free, unbreakable automation
Our test automation is 100% code-free and built to handle the ever-changing screens and objects in IBM i, so updates don’t break your tests. Less time fixing, more time testing.
One place to manage it all
Stop chasing spreadsheets and email chains. Manage test cases, UAT, defects and sign-off centrally, so you always know what’s been tested, what’s passed, and what’s still at risk.
Turn tests into training materials
Every test you run captures a business process. Turn that into a written guide or animated walkthrough in seconds — ideal for onboarding and briefing the business on change.
- 62 Extract and subset production data
- 63 Mask sensitive data across all files
- 64 Reset data to any checkpoint instantly
- 65 Shift dates for period-end testing
- 66 Compare files and reports before and after testing
- 67 Validate changes with before and after images
- 68 Keep sensitive data protected and compliant
Everything your IBM i testing team needs, in one place
Our platform goes beyond standard IBM i testing, giving your team a depth of data management functionality built specifically for the complexity of DB2 for i environments.
Book a demoGo deeper on the IBM i features that matter most to you
From batch processing and database testing through to data privacy and test automation, our platform covers every aspect of IBM i testing.
Batch processing
Test every element of your IBM i batch programs and API calls
Learn moreTest data management
Get production-like IBM i test data into your environment quickly and safely
Learn moreDatabase testing
Monitor every insert, update and delete at the database level during a test
Learn moreTest automation
Code-free IBM i automation across green screen, web and end-to-end processes
Learn moreData privacy
Keep sensitive data safe in IBM i tests without making it useless
Learn moreData extraction
Extract representative IBM i data while maintaining database integrity
Learn moreBetter IBM i testing in 45 seconds
The Original Software platform gives IBM i customers one place to manage, capture and automate their testing, across your entire IBM i estate, green screen, databases and every application connected to it, without writing a line of code.
See how it works in under a minute, and find out why enterprises choose us to protect their IBM i environment.
Fixing just one problem saves our support staff around 80 hours. You can easily see the return on investment in terms of time savings for all concerned.
Award-winning ERP testing
Top-rated on G2 and Gartner for performance and customer satisfaction, our platform is trusted and recommended by enterprises across the globe.
4.8 G2
4.5 Gartner
4.8 Google
IBM i Testing FAQs
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How can I test IBM i?
Our testing platform gives you one place to manage, capture and automate your testing in IBM i (and the rest of your tech stack) – build and manage your IBM test cases, run User Acceptance Testing (UAT) and move to a fully automated IBM i test automation solution over time.
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Can you automate testing in IBM i?
Yes – and you should. IBM i updates arrive regularly, so start by building a regression pack that covers your core business processes, run it manually after each update, then automate it.
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How easy is it to test IBM i?
Testing is no longer just for developers and IT teams. Our completely code-free platform can be used by anyone — so the business users who know your processes best can test as part of their normal job.
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Can I test my other applications too?
Yes — we offer true end-to-end testing. Enterprises typically run 50+ integrated apps, and processes like procure-to-pay or order-to-cash extend well beyond IBM i. We help you test across all of them, cloud, on-premise or green-screen.
Ready to talk testing?
We’re ready to show you how we can help reduce your business risk and test faster than ever.
Book a demoBook a demo
See our no-code testing platform in just 30 minutes!
IBM i batch program and API testing
Batch programs are critical to your IBM i processes but notoriously difficult to test. Our platform tracks every database change, job log message, data queue and API call made during a batch run, so you can verify exactly what happened, without resorting to STRDBG.
Track everything
Database changes, job logs, data queues, spool files and API calls, all captured automatically during a test run.
API testing
Call endpoints and validate responses as part of the same test run, covering both batch programs and API integrations in one place.
Verify batch processes
Confirm your batch programs are running correctly against a representative subset of your test data.
Compare before and after
Quickly compare results across database updates, structured files and unstructured reports, even when they look very different.
IBM i test data management
Getting the right data into your IBM i test environment has always been the hard part. TestBench gives your team production-like data that is safe to use, easy to reset and ready when testing begins — without copying entire production libraries.
Find out everything you need to know about IBM i test data management, including how to extract, mask and reset your data compliantly and efficiently.
IBM i database testing
If your database isn’t behaving as expected, nothing else will work either. Our platform lets you define exactly what your data should look like, monitors every insert, update and delete that happens during a test, and alerts you immediately when something doesn’t match.
Define data rules
Specify expected values, formats and behaviours, and get notified automatically when rules are breached.
Monitor all database activity
Every insert, update and delete captured automatically, even when records are changed multiple times.
Compare against a baseline
Check current database activity against a previous test run to confirm everything is performing as it should after an update.
Validation without queries
Validate your database automatically without needing to define which files and tables to compare, saving significant time on every test run.
IBM i test automation
Code-free test automation for IBM i, covering green screen, web applications, desktop applications and end-to-end processes, all in one place. Create test scripts significantly faster, without writing a single line of code, and let the platform tell you what has changed rather than having to specify what to look for.
No script maintenance
If your software changes, the platform adapts your tests automatically so your automation keeps running.
Beyond the UI
Test underlying components including batch programs, MQ messages and reports alongside your standard regression tests.
Full regression coverage
Automatically check every meaningful element on screen, including links, images and spellings, not just what you asked for.
Data reset within automation
Roll back test data to an earlier state mid-test with a few clicks, so automated runs can be repeated quickly and reliably.
IBM i data privacy
Your test environment should never be a weak link in your data privacy chain. Our platform uses unique vertical masking to obfuscate sensitive data across every file it appears in, keeping it safe from exposure while preserving the referential integrity that makes it useful for testing.
Consistent masking across all files
The same value is obfuscated the same way everywhere it appears, so joins hold and tests still work.
Reduced data volume
Representative samples keep sensitive data to a minimum, limiting exposure without limiting test coverage.
Compliant by design
Your test database contains no identifiable data, so it is safe from both regulatory scrutiny and accidental exposure.
Data sampling
Take representative samples from your live database to limit the volume of sensitive data in your test environment, reducing exposure without reducing coverage.
IBM i data extraction
Large production datasets can make IBM i testing slow and difficult to manage. TestBench creates representative subsets of your data, preserving the relationships and integrity you need for realistic testing.
Select the data you need
Create subsets based on specific field values, including related data from other files.
Maintain database integrity
Automatically replicate logical files, triggers and constraints so extracted data behaves as expected.
Sample your data
refine subsets to include the scenarios you need to test without carrying unnecessary production data.
Extract from anywhere
Work with data from local or remote IBM i servers and IASPs, and alter data during extraction when needed.
IBM i data masking
Production data makes testing more realistic, but sensitive information shouldn’t appear in test environments. TestBench masks personal data while preserving the context and integrity needed for useful testing.
Mask sensitive data
Use vertical scrambling to protect personal information while keeping data useful for testing.
Keep data synchronised
Apply consistent masking across multiple files, so identical values are obfuscated in the same way.
Customise your masking
Use custom routines, alternative file descriptions and flexible data segmentation to control how data is protected.
Shift dates for testing
Move dates backwards or forwards in time across 24 supported formats to suit your testing needs.
IBM i data validation
Knowing a test has run successfully is only part of the story. TestBench shows exactly how your IBM i data changed, giving you the detail needed to verify results and investigate unexpected behaviour.
Track every change
Capture inserts, updates and deletes, including multiple updates to the same record.
Compare before and after
Instantly view record images to identify exactly what changed during a test.
Focus on what matters
Track activity by selected fields or Relative Record Number and ignore changes you don’t need.
Validate across files
Use flexible validation rules, including SUM and EXISTS checks, to confirm related data is correct.
IBM i data reset
Repeated testing is easier when you can quickly return your IBM i environment to a known state. TestBench lets you create checkpoints and reset your data whenever you need to, without manual save and restore processes.
Restore from any point
Create multiple checkpoints and reset your data to the exact state needed for each test.
Reset across libraries
Roll back data even when your test environment spans multiple IBM i libraries.
Control what gets reset
Include or exclude specific files, including work files, so you only roll back the data you need.
Handle any data change
Use IBM i journaling to roll back changes, including commands such as CLRPFM that journaling doesn’t support.
IBM i file and report compare
Your test environment should never be a weak link in your data privacy chain. Our platform uses unique vertical masking to obfuscate sensitive data across every file it appears in, keeping it safe from exposure while preserving the referential integrity that makes it useful for testing.
Compare your way
Match records by Arrival Sequence, RRN, physical file key or logical file key.
Compare dissimilar files
Identify differences even when file structures change between versions or data appears in different locations.
Compare more than text
Check partial fields, different case, bits and hexadecimal data, not just simple text and numbers.
Define reports precisely
Set report sections, breaks, headers and footers, exclude unwanted data and optionally match by line number.
IBM i unit testing
Testing individual IBM i components shouldn’t mean relying on debugging processes or limited visibility. TestBench lets you test commands and programs while capturing everything that happens during execution.
Test any component
Test individual commands and programs, including processes spanning multiple libraries and IASPs.
Track submitted jobs
Continue monitoring jobs after they enter the queue, capturing the full sequence of events.
Capture what happens behind the scenes
Track database activity, job logs, spool files, data queue and MQ messages.
Protect and compare your data
Use checkpoints and rollback to keep test data safe, then save outputs for comparison between runs.