Cisco Systems, Inc.
Automated validation and authentication of software modules

Abstract:

A consumer of a software module issues a module certificate that enables a testing entity to automatically validate a software module from a producer of the software module. The consumer receives a request for a module certificate from the producer of the software module. The request indicates attributes of the software module. The consumer determines whether the attributes of the software module are within predetermined limits, and if the attributes are within predetermined limits, the consumer generates and signs the module certificate including the attributes of the software module. The consumer issues the module certificate to the producer of the software module. Once the consumer obtains a software package including the software module and the module certificate from the producer, the consumer directs a testing entity to validate the software module with the module certificate.