This guide explains the use of the OpenQA automated testing system to test various aspects of Rocky Linux releases either at the pre-release stage or thereafter.

OpenQA is an automated test tool that makes it possible to test the whole installation process. It uses virtual machines which it sets up to reproduce the process, check the output (both serial console and GUI screen) in every step and send the necessary keystrokes and commands to proceed to the next step. OpenQA checks whether the system can be installed, whether it works properly, whether applications work and whether the system responds as expected to different installation options and commands.

OpenQA can run numerous combinations of tests for every revision of the operating system, reporting the errors detected for each combination of hardware configuration, installation options and variant of the operating system.

Upstream documentation is useful for reference but since it is a mixture of advice and instructions relating to openSUSE and Fedora which have substantial differences between them it is not always clear which are significant for Rocky.  However, as an rpm based distribution, Rocky Linux use is closely related to the Fedora version.