Merge remote-tracking branch 'remotes/ehabkost/tags/python-next-pull-request' into staging

Python queue, 2018-06-15

* Add avocado_qemu: functional/acceptance test infrastructure

# gpg: Signature made Fri 15 Jun 2018 20:12:20 BST
# gpg:                using RSA key 2807936F984DC5A6
# gpg: Good signature from "Eduardo Habkost <ehabkost@redhat.com>"
# Primary key fingerprint: 5A32 2FD5 ABC4 D3DB ACCF  D1AA 2807 936F 984D C5A6

* remotes/ehabkost/tags/python-next-pull-request:
  configure: Enable out-of-tree acceptance tests
  Acceptance tests: add Linux kernel boot and console checking test
  scripts/qemu.py: introduce set_console() method
  Acceptance tests: add quick VNC tests
  scripts/qemu.py: allow adding to the list of extra arguments
  Add functional/acceptance tests infrastructure
  Remove COPYING.PYTHON

Signed-off-by: Peter Maydell <peter.maydell@linaro.org>

9 files changed, 494 insertions, 274 deletions

diff --git a/COPYING.PYTHON b/COPYING.PYTHON
deleted file mode 100644
index 4d3f1ef276..0000000000
--- a/COPYING.PYTHON
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,270 +0,0 @@
-A. HISTORY OF THE SOFTWARE
-==========================
-
-Python was created in the early 1990s by Guido van Rossum at Stichting
-Mathematisch Centrum (CWI, see http://www.cwi.nl) in the Netherlands
-as a successor of a language called ABC.  Guido remains Python's
-principal author, although it includes many contributions from others.
-
-In 1995, Guido continued his work on Python at the Corporation for
-National Research Initiatives (CNRI, see http://www.cnri.reston.va.us)
-in Reston, Virginia where he released several versions of the
-software.
-
-In May 2000, Guido and the Python core development team moved to
-BeOpen.com to form the BeOpen PythonLabs team.  In October of the same
-year, the PythonLabs team moved to Digital Creations (now Zope
-Corporation, see http://www.zope.com).  In 2001, the Python Software
-Foundation (PSF, see http://www.python.org/psf/) was formed, a
-non-profit organization created specifically to own Python-related
-Intellectual Property.  Zope Corporation is a sponsoring member of
-the PSF.
-
-All Python releases are Open Source (see http://www.opensource.org for
-the Open Source Definition).  Historically, most, but not all, Python
-releases have also been GPL-compatible; the table below summarizes
-the various releases.
-
-    Release         Derived     Year        Owner       GPL-
-                    from                                compatible? (1)
-
-    0.9.0 thru 1.2              1991-1995   CWI         yes
-    1.3 thru 1.5.2  1.2         1995-1999   CNRI        yes
-    1.6             1.5.2       2000        CNRI        no
-    2.0             1.6         2000        BeOpen.com  no
-    1.6.1           1.6         2001        CNRI        yes (2)
-    2.1             2.0+1.6.1   2001        PSF         no
-    2.0.1           2.0+1.6.1   2001        PSF         yes
-    2.1.1           2.1+2.0.1   2001        PSF         yes
-    2.2             2.1.1       2001        PSF         yes
-    2.1.2           2.1.1       2002        PSF         yes
-    2.1.3           2.1.2       2002        PSF         yes
-    2.2.1           2.2         2002        PSF         yes
-    2.2.2           2.2.1       2002        PSF         yes
-    2.2.3           2.2.2       2003        PSF         yes
-    2.3             2.2.2       2002-2003   PSF         yes
-    2.3.1           2.3         2002-2003   PSF         yes
-    2.3.2           2.3.1       2002-2003   PSF         yes
-    2.3.3           2.3.2       2002-2003   PSF         yes
-    2.3.4           2.3.3       2004        PSF         yes
-    2.3.5           2.3.4       2005        PSF         yes
-    2.4             2.3         2004        PSF         yes
-    2.4.1           2.4         2005        PSF         yes
-    2.4.2           2.4.1       2005        PSF         yes
-    2.4.3           2.4.2       2006        PSF         yes
-    2.5             2.4         2006        PSF         yes
-    2.7             2.6         2010        PSF         yes
-
-Footnotes:
-
-(1) GPL-compatible doesn't mean that we're distributing Python under
-    the GPL.  All Python licenses, unlike the GPL, let you distribute
-    a modified version without making your changes open source.  The
-    GPL-compatible licenses make it possible to combine Python with
-    other software that is released under the GPL; the others don't.
-
-(2) According to Richard Stallman, 1.6.1 is not GPL-compatible,
-    because its license has a choice of law clause.  According to
-    CNRI, however, Stallman's lawyer has told CNRI's lawyer that 1.6.1
-    is "not incompatible" with the GPL.
-
-Thanks to the many outside volunteers who have worked under Guido's
-direction to make these releases possible.
-
-
-B. TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR ACCESSING OR OTHERWISE USING PYTHON
-===============================================================
-
-PYTHON SOFTWARE FOUNDATION LICENSE VERSION 2
---------------------------------------------
-
-1. This LICENSE AGREEMENT is between the Python Software Foundation
-("PSF"), and the Individual or Organization ("Licensee") accessing and
-otherwise using this software ("Python") in source or binary form and
-its associated documentation.
-
-2. Subject to the terms and conditions of this License Agreement, PSF
-hereby grants Licensee a nonexclusive, royalty-free, world-wide
-license to reproduce, analyze, test, perform and/or display publicly,
-prepare derivative works, distribute, and otherwise use Python
-alone or in any derivative version, provided, however, that PSF's
-License Agreement and PSF's notice of copyright, i.e., "Copyright (c)
-2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Python Software Foundation; All Rights
-Reserved" are retained in Python alone or in any derivative version 
-prepared by Licensee.
-
-3. In the event Licensee prepares a derivative work that is based on
-or incorporates Python or any part thereof, and wants to make
-the derivative work available to others as provided herein, then
-Licensee hereby agrees to include in any such work a brief summary of
-the changes made to Python.
-
-4. PSF is making Python available to Licensee on an "AS IS"
-basis.  PSF MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
-IMPLIED.  BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, BUT NOT LIMITATION, PSF MAKES NO AND
-DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
-FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE USE OF PYTHON WILL NOT
-INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.
-
-5. PSF SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE OR ANY OTHER USERS OF PYTHON
-FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS AS
-A RESULT OF MODIFYING, DISTRIBUTING, OR OTHERWISE USING PYTHON,
-OR ANY DERIVATIVE THEREOF, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF.
-
-6. This License Agreement will automatically terminate upon a material
-breach of its terms and conditions.
-
-7. Nothing in this License Agreement shall be deemed to create any
-relationship of agency, partnership, or joint venture between PSF and
-Licensee.  This License Agreement does not grant permission to use PSF
-trademarks or trade name in a trademark sense to endorse or promote
-products or services of Licensee, or any third party.
-
-8. By copying, installing or otherwise using Python, Licensee
-agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of this License
-Agreement.
-
-
-BEOPEN.COM LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR PYTHON 2.0
--------------------------------------------
-
-BEOPEN PYTHON OPEN SOURCE LICENSE AGREEMENT VERSION 1
-
-1. This LICENSE AGREEMENT is between BeOpen.com ("BeOpen"), having an
-office at 160 Saratoga Avenue, Santa Clara, CA 95051, and the
-Individual or Organization ("Licensee") accessing and otherwise using
-this software in source or binary form and its associated
-documentation ("the Software").
-
-2. Subject to the terms and conditions of this BeOpen Python License
-Agreement, BeOpen hereby grants Licensee a non-exclusive,
-royalty-free, world-wide license to reproduce, analyze, test, perform
-and/or display publicly, prepare derivative works, distribute, and
-otherwise use the Software alone or in any derivative version,
-provided, however, that the BeOpen Python License is retained in the
-Software, alone or in any derivative version prepared by Licensee.
-
-3. BeOpen is making the Software available to Licensee on an "AS IS"
-basis.  BEOPEN MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
-IMPLIED.  BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, BUT NOT LIMITATION, BEOPEN MAKES NO AND
-DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
-FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE USE OF THE SOFTWARE WILL NOT
-INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.
-
-4. BEOPEN SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE OR ANY OTHER USERS OF THE
-SOFTWARE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS
-AS A RESULT OF USING, MODIFYING OR DISTRIBUTING THE SOFTWARE, OR ANY
-DERIVATIVE THEREOF, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF.
-
-5. This License Agreement will automatically terminate upon a material
-breach of its terms and conditions.
-
-6. This License Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in all
-respects by the law of the State of California, excluding conflict of
-law provisions.  Nothing in this License Agreement shall be deemed to
-create any relationship of agency, partnership, or joint venture
-between BeOpen and Licensee.  This License Agreement does not grant
-permission to use BeOpen trademarks or trade names in a trademark
-sense to endorse or promote products or services of Licensee, or any
-third party.  As an exception, the "BeOpen Python" logos available at
-http://www.pythonlabs.com/logos.html may be used according to the
-permissions granted on that web page.
-
-7. By copying, installing or otherwise using the software, Licensee
-agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of this License
-Agreement.
-
-
-CNRI LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR PYTHON 1.6.1
----------------------------------------
-
-1. This LICENSE AGREEMENT is between the Corporation for National
-Research Initiatives, having an office at 1895 Preston White Drive,
-Reston, VA 20191 ("CNRI"), and the Individual or Organization
-("Licensee") accessing and otherwise using Python 1.6.1 software in
-source or binary form and its associated documentation.
-
-2. Subject to the terms and conditions of this License Agreement, CNRI
-hereby grants Licensee a nonexclusive, royalty-free, world-wide
-license to reproduce, analyze, test, perform and/or display publicly,
-prepare derivative works, distribute, and otherwise use Python 1.6.1
-alone or in any derivative version, provided, however, that CNRI's
-License Agreement and CNRI's notice of copyright, i.e., "Copyright (c)
-1995-2001 Corporation for National Research Initiatives; All Rights
-Reserved" are retained in Python 1.6.1 alone or in any derivative
-version prepared by Licensee.  Alternately, in lieu of CNRI's License
-Agreement, Licensee may substitute the following text (omitting the
-quotes): "Python 1.6.1 is made available subject to the terms and
-conditions in CNRI's License Agreement.  This Agreement together with
-Python 1.6.1 may be located on the Internet using the following
-unique, persistent identifier (known as a handle): 1895.22/1013.  This
-Agreement may also be obtained from a proxy server on the Internet
-using the following URL: http://hdl.handle.net/1895.22/1013".
-
-3. In the event Licensee prepares a derivative work that is based on
-or incorporates Python 1.6.1 or any part thereof, and wants to make
-the derivative work available to others as provided herein, then
-Licensee hereby agrees to include in any such work a brief summary of
-the changes made to Python 1.6.1.
-
-4. CNRI is making Python 1.6.1 available to Licensee on an "AS IS"
-basis.  CNRI MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR
-IMPLIED.  BY WAY OF EXAMPLE, BUT NOT LIMITATION, CNRI MAKES NO AND
-DISCLAIMS ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS
-FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR THAT THE USE OF PYTHON 1.6.1 WILL NOT
-INFRINGE ANY THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.
-
-5. CNRI SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO LICENSEE OR ANY OTHER USERS OF PYTHON
-1.6.1 FOR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR LOSS AS
-A RESULT OF MODIFYING, DISTRIBUTING, OR OTHERWISE USING PYTHON 1.6.1,
-OR ANY DERIVATIVE THEREOF, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF.
-
-6. This License Agreement will automatically terminate upon a material
-breach of its terms and conditions.
-
-7. This License Agreement shall be governed by the federal
-intellectual property law of the United States, including without
-limitation the federal copyright law, and, to the extent such
-U.S. federal law does not apply, by the law of the Commonwealth of
-Virginia, excluding Virginia's conflict of law provisions.
-Notwithstanding the foregoing, with regard to derivative works based
-on Python 1.6.1 that incorporate non-separable material that was
-previously distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL), the
-law of the Commonwealth of Virginia shall govern this License
-Agreement only as to issues arising under or with respect to
-Paragraphs 4, 5, and 7 of this License Agreement.  Nothing in this
-License Agreement shall be deemed to create any relationship of
-agency, partnership, or joint venture between CNRI and Licensee.  This
-License Agreement does not grant permission to use CNRI trademarks or
-trade name in a trademark sense to endorse or promote products or
-services of Licensee, or any third party.
-
-8. By clicking on the "ACCEPT" button where indicated, or by copying,
-installing or otherwise using Python 1.6.1, Licensee agrees to be
-bound by the terms and conditions of this License Agreement.
-
-        ACCEPT
-
-
-CWI LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR PYTHON 0.9.0 THROUGH 1.2
---------------------------------------------------
-
-Copyright (c) 1991 - 1995, Stichting Mathematisch Centrum Amsterdam,
-The Netherlands.  All rights reserved.
-
-Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its
-documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted,
-provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and that
-both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in
-supporting documentation, and that the name of Stichting Mathematisch
-Centrum or CWI not be used in advertising or publicity pertaining to
-distribution of the software without specific, written prior
-permission.
-
-STICHTING MATHEMATISCH CENTRUM DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO
-THIS SOFTWARE, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
-FITNESS, IN NO EVENT SHALL STICHTING MATHEMATISCH CENTRUM BE LIABLE
-FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
-WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
-ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT
-OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
diff --git a/configure b/configure
index a8c4094c87..d095ed45a4 100755
--- a/configure
+++ b/configure
@@ -7239,9 +7239,11 @@ for rom in seabios vgabios ; do
 done
 
 # set up tests data directory
-if [ ! -e tests/data ]; then
-    symlink "$source_path/tests/data" tests/data
-fi
+for tests_subdir in acceptance data; do
+    if [ ! -e tests/$tests_subdir ]; then
+        symlink "$source_path/tests/$tests_subdir" tests/$tests_subdir
+    fi
+done
 
 # set up qemu-iotests in this build directory
 iotests_common_env="tests/qemu-iotests/common.env"
diff --git a/docs/devel/testing.rst b/docs/devel/testing.rst
index 0ca1a2d4b5..f33e5a8423 100644
--- a/docs/devel/testing.rst
+++ b/docs/devel/testing.rst
@@ -484,3 +484,195 @@ supported. To start the fuzzer, run
 
 Alternatively, some command different from "qemu-img info" can be tested, by
 changing the ``-c`` option.
+
+Acceptance tests using the Avocado Framework
+============================================
+
+The ``tests/acceptance`` directory hosts functional tests, also known
+as acceptance level tests.  They're usually higher level tests, and
+may interact with external resources and with various guest operating
+systems.
+
+These tests are written using the Avocado Testing Framework (which must
+be installed separately) in conjunction with a the ``avocado_qemu.Test``
+class, implemented at ``tests/acceptance/avocado_qemu``.
+
+Tests based on ``avocado_qemu.Test`` can easily:
+
+ * Customize the command line arguments given to the convenience
+   ``self.vm`` attribute (a QEMUMachine instance)
+
+ * Interact with the QEMU monitor, send QMP commands and check
+   their results
+
+ * Interact with the guest OS, using the convenience console device
+   (which may be useful to assert the effectiveness and correctness of
+   command line arguments or QMP commands)
+
+ * Interact with external data files that accompany the test itself
+   (see ``self.get_data()``)
+
+ * Download (and cache) remote data files, such as firmware and kernel
+   images
+
+ * Have access to a library of guest OS images (by means of the
+   ``avocado.utils.vmimage`` library)
+
+ * Make use of various other test related utilities available at the
+   test class itself and at the utility library:
+
+   - http://avocado-framework.readthedocs.io/en/latest/api/test/avocado.html#avocado.Test
+   - http://avocado-framework.readthedocs.io/en/latest/api/utils/avocado.utils.html
+
+Installation
+------------
+
+To install Avocado and its dependencies, run:
+
+.. code::
+
+  pip install --user avocado-framework
+
+Alternatively, follow the instructions on this link:
+
+  http://avocado-framework.readthedocs.io/en/latest/GetStartedGuide.html#installing-avocado
+
+Overview
+--------
+
+This directory provides the ``avocado_qemu`` Python module, containing
+the ``avocado_qemu.Test`` class.  Here's a simple usage example:
+
+.. code::
+
+  from avocado_qemu import Test
+
+
+  class Version(Test):
+      """
+      :avocado: enable
+      :avocado: tags=quick
+      """
+      def test_qmp_human_info_version(self):
+          self.vm.launch()
+          res = self.vm.command('human-monitor-command',
+                                command_line='info version')
+          self.assertRegexpMatches(res, r'^(\d+\.\d+\.\d)')
+
+To execute your test, run:
+
+.. code::
+
+  avocado run version.py
+
+Tests may be classified according to a convention by using docstring
+directives such as ``:avocado: tags=TAG1,TAG2``.  To run all tests
+in the current directory, tagged as "quick", run:
+
+.. code::
+
+  avocado run -t quick .
+
+The ``avocado_qemu.Test`` base test class
+-----------------------------------------
+
+The ``avocado_qemu.Test`` class has a number of characteristics that
+are worth being mentioned right away.
+
+First of all, it attempts to give each test a ready to use QEMUMachine
+instance, available at ``self.vm``.  Because many tests will tweak the
+QEMU command line, launching the QEMUMachine (by using ``self.vm.launch()``)
+is left to the test writer.
+
+At test "tear down", ``avocado_qemu.Test`` handles the QEMUMachine
+shutdown.
+
+QEMUMachine
+~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+The QEMUMachine API is already widely used in the Python iotests,
+device-crash-test and other Python scripts.  It's a wrapper around the
+execution of a QEMU binary, giving its users:
+
+ * the ability to set command line arguments to be given to the QEMU
+   binary
+
+ * a ready to use QMP connection and interface, which can be used to
+   send commands and inspect its results, as well as asynchronous
+   events
+
+ * convenience methods to set commonly used command line arguments in
+   a more succinct and intuitive way
+
+QEMU binary selection
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+The QEMU binary used for the ``self.vm`` QEMUMachine instance will
+primarily depend on the value of the ``qemu_bin`` parameter.  If it's
+not explicitly set, its default value will be the result of a dynamic
+probe in the same source tree.  A suitable binary will be one that
+targets the architecture matching host machine.
+
+Based on this description, test writers will usually rely on one of
+the following approaches:
+
+1) Set ``qemu_bin``, and use the given binary
+
+2) Do not set ``qemu_bin``, and use a QEMU binary named like
+   "${arch}-softmmu/qemu-system-${arch}", either in the current
+   working directory, or in the current source tree.
+
+The resulting ``qemu_bin`` value will be preserved in the
+``avocado_qemu.Test`` as an attribute with the same name.
+
+Attribute reference
+-------------------
+
+Besides the attributes and methods that are part of the base
+``avocado.Test`` class, the following attributes are available on any
+``avocado_qemu.Test`` instance.
+
+vm
+~~
+
+A QEMUMachine instance, initially configured according to the given
+``qemu_bin`` parameter.
+
+qemu_bin
+~~~~~~~~
+
+The preserved value of the ``qemu_bin`` parameter or the result of the
+dynamic probe for a QEMU binary in the current working directory or
+source tree.
+
+Parameter reference
+-------------------
+
+To understand how Avocado parameters are accessed by tests, and how
+they can be passed to tests, please refer to::
+
+  http://avocado-framework.readthedocs.io/en/latest/WritingTests.html#accessing-test-parameters
+
+Parameter values can be easily seen in the log files, and will look
+like the following:
+
+.. code::
+
+  PARAMS (key=qemu_bin, path=*, default=x86_64-softmmu/qemu-system-x86_64) => 'x86_64-softmmu/qemu-system-x86_64
+
+qemu_bin
+~~~~~~~~
+
+The exact QEMU binary to be used on QEMUMachine.
+
+Uninstalling Avocado
+--------------------
+
+If you've followed the installation instructions above, you can easily
+uninstall Avocado.  Start by listing the packages you have installed::
+
+  pip list --user
+
+And remove any package you want with::
+
+  pip uninstall <package_name>
diff --git a/scripts/qemu.py b/scripts/qemu.py
index 08a3e9af5a..f099ce7278 100644
--- a/scripts/qemu.py
+++ b/scripts/qemu.py
@@ -17,19 +17,41 @@ import logging
 import os
 import subprocess
 import qmp.qmp
+import re
 import shutil
+import socket
 import tempfile
 
 
 LOG = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
+#: Maps machine types to the preferred console device types
+CONSOLE_DEV_TYPES = {
+    r'^clipper$': 'isa-serial',
+    r'^malta': 'isa-serial',
+    r'^(pc.*|q35.*|isapc)$': 'isa-serial',
+    r'^(40p|powernv|prep)$': 'isa-serial',
+    r'^pseries.*': 'spapr-vty',
+    r'^s390-ccw-virtio.*': 'sclpconsole',
+    }
+
+
 class QEMUMachineError(Exception):
     """
     Exception called when an error in QEMUMachine happens.
     """
 
 
+class QEMUMachineAddDeviceError(QEMUMachineError):
+    """
+    Exception raised when a request to add a device can not be fulfilled
+
+    The failures are caused by limitations, lack of information or conflicting
+    requests on the QEMUMachine methods.  This exception does not represent
+    failures reported by the QEMU binary itself.
+    """
+
 class MonitorResponseError(qmp.qmp.QMPError):
     '''
     Represents erroneous QMP monitor reply
@@ -91,6 +113,10 @@ class QEMUMachine(object):
         self._test_dir = test_dir
         self._temp_dir = None
         self._launched = False
+        self._machine = None
+        self._console_device_type = None
+        self._console_address = None
+        self._console_socket = None
 
         # just in case logging wasn't configured by the main script:
         logging.basicConfig()
@@ -175,9 +201,19 @@ class QEMUMachine(object):
                 self._monitor_address[1])
         else:
             moncdev = 'socket,id=mon,path=%s' % self._vm_monitor
-        return ['-chardev', moncdev,
+        args = ['-chardev', moncdev,
                 '-mon', 'chardev=mon,mode=control',
                 '-display', 'none', '-vga', 'none']
+        if self._machine is not None:
+            args.extend(['-machine', self._machine])
+        if self._console_device_type is not None:
+            self._console_address = os.path.join(self._temp_dir,
+                                                 self._name + "-console.sock")
+            chardev = ('socket,id=console,path=%s,server,nowait' %
+                       self._console_address)
+            device = '%s,chardev=console' % self._console_device_type
+            args.extend(['-chardev', chardev, '-device', device])
+        return args
 
     def _pre_launch(self):
         self._temp_dir = tempfile.mkdtemp(dir=self._test_dir)
@@ -202,6 +238,10 @@ class QEMUMachine(object):
 
         self._qemu_log_path = None
 
+        if self._console_socket is not None:
+            self._console_socket.close()
+            self._console_socket = None
+
         if self._temp_dir is not None:
             shutil.rmtree(self._temp_dir)
             self._temp_dir = None
@@ -359,3 +399,64 @@ class QEMUMachine(object):
         of the qemu process.
         '''
         return self._iolog
+
+    def add_args(self, *args):
+        '''
+        Adds to the list of extra arguments to be given to the QEMU binary
+        '''
+        self._args.extend(args)
+
+    def set_machine(self, machine_type):
+        '''
+        Sets the machine type
+
+        If set, the machine type will be added to the base arguments
+        of the resulting QEMU command line.
+        '''
+        self._machine = machine_type
+
+    def set_console(self, device_type=None):
+        '''
+        Sets the device type for a console device
+
+        If set, the console device and a backing character device will
+        be added to the base arguments of the resulting QEMU command
+        line.
+
+        This is a convenience method that will either use the provided
+        device type, of if not given, it will used the device type set
+        on CONSOLE_DEV_TYPES.
+
+        The actual setting of command line arguments will be be done at
+        machine launch time, as it depends on the temporary directory
+        to be created.
+
+        @param device_type: the device type, such as "isa-serial"
+        @raises: QEMUMachineAddDeviceError if the device type is not given
+                 and can not be determined.
+        '''
+        if device_type is None:
+            if self._machine is None:
+                raise QEMUMachineAddDeviceError("Can not add a console device:"
+                                                " QEMU instance without a "
+                                                "defined machine type")
+            for regex, device in CONSOLE_DEV_TYPES.items():
+                if re.match(regex, self._machine):
+                    device_type = device
+                    break
+            if device_type is None:
+                raise QEMUMachineAddDeviceError("Can not add a console device:"
+                                                " no matching console device "
+                                                "type definition")
+        self._console_device_type = device_type
+
+    @property
+    def console_socket(self):
+        """
+        Returns a socket connected to the console
+        """
+        if self._console_socket is None:
+            self._console_socket = socket.socket(socket.AF_UNIX,
+                                                 socket.SOCK_STREAM)
+            self._console_socket.connect(self._console_address)
+        return self._console_socket
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/README.rst b/tests/acceptance/README.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..89260faed6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/acceptance/README.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+============================================
+Acceptance tests using the Avocado Framework
+============================================
+
+This directory contains functional tests, also known as acceptance
+level tests.  They're usually higher level, and may interact with
+external resources and with various guest operating systems.
+
+For more information, please refer to ``docs/devel/testing.rst``,
+section "Acceptance tests using the Avocado Framework".
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/avocado_qemu/__init__.py b/tests/acceptance/avocado_qemu/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1e54fd5932
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/acceptance/avocado_qemu/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+# Test class and utilities for functional tests
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2018 Red Hat, Inc.
+#
+# Author:
+#  Cleber Rosa <crosa@redhat.com>
+#
+# This work is licensed under the terms of the GNU GPL, version 2 or
+# later.  See the COPYING file in the top-level directory.
+
+import os
+import sys
+
+import avocado
+
+SRC_ROOT_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(__file__)))
+SRC_ROOT_DIR = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(SRC_ROOT_DIR))
+sys.path.append(os.path.join(SRC_ROOT_DIR, 'scripts'))
+
+from qemu import QEMUMachine
+
+def is_readable_executable_file(path):
+    return os.path.isfile(path) and os.access(path, os.R_OK | os.X_OK)
+
+
+def pick_default_qemu_bin():
+    """
+    Picks the path of a QEMU binary, starting either in the current working
+    directory or in the source tree root directory.
+    """
+    arch = os.uname()[4]
+    qemu_bin_relative_path = os.path.join("%s-softmmu" % arch,
+                                          "qemu-system-%s" % arch)
+    if is_readable_executable_file(qemu_bin_relative_path):
+        return qemu_bin_relative_path
+
+    qemu_bin_from_src_dir_path = os.path.join(SRC_ROOT_DIR,
+                                              qemu_bin_relative_path)
+    if is_readable_executable_file(qemu_bin_from_src_dir_path):
+        return qemu_bin_from_src_dir_path
+
+
+class Test(avocado.Test):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.vm = None
+        self.qemu_bin = self.params.get('qemu_bin',
+                                        default=pick_default_qemu_bin())
+        if self.qemu_bin is None:
+            self.cancel("No QEMU binary defined or found in the source tree")
+        self.vm = QEMUMachine(self.qemu_bin)
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        if self.vm is not None:
+            self.vm.shutdown()
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/boot_linux_console.py b/tests/acceptance/boot_linux_console.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..98324f7591
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/acceptance/boot_linux_console.py
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+# Functional test that boots a Linux kernel and checks the console
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2018 Red Hat, Inc.
+#
+# Author:
+#  Cleber Rosa <crosa@redhat.com>
+#
+# This work is licensed under the terms of the GNU GPL, version 2 or
+# later.  See the COPYING file in the top-level directory.
+
+import logging
+
+from avocado_qemu import Test
+
+
+class BootLinuxConsole(Test):
+    """
+    Boots a x86_64 Linux kernel and checks that the console is operational
+    and the kernel command line is properly passed from QEMU to the kernel
+
+    :avocado: enable
+    :avocado: tags=x86_64
+    """
+
+    timeout = 60
+
+    def test(self):
+        kernel_url = ('https://mirrors.kernel.org/fedora/releases/28/'
+                      'Everything/x86_64/os/images/pxeboot/vmlinuz')
+        kernel_hash = '238e083e114c48200f80d889f7e32eeb2793e02a'
+        kernel_path = self.fetch_asset(kernel_url, asset_hash=kernel_hash)
+
+        self.vm.set_machine('pc')
+        self.vm.set_console()
+        kernel_command_line = 'console=ttyS0'
+        self.vm.add_args('-kernel', kernel_path,
+                         '-append', kernel_command_line)
+        self.vm.launch()
+        console = self.vm.console_socket.makefile()
+        console_logger = logging.getLogger('console')
+        while True:
+            msg = console.readline()
+            console_logger.debug(msg.strip())
+            if 'Kernel command line: %s' % kernel_command_line in msg:
+                break
+            if 'Kernel panic - not syncing' in msg:
+                self.fail("Kernel panic reached")
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/version.py b/tests/acceptance/version.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..13b0a7440d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/acceptance/version.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# Version check example test
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2018 Red Hat, Inc.
+#
+# Author:
+#  Cleber Rosa <crosa@redhat.com>
+#
+# This work is licensed under the terms of the GNU GPL, version 2 or
+# later.  See the COPYING file in the top-level directory.
+
+
+from avocado_qemu import Test
+
+
+class Version(Test):
+    """
+    :avocado: enable
+    :avocado: tags=quick
+    """
+    def test_qmp_human_info_version(self):
+        self.vm.launch()
+        res = self.vm.command('human-monitor-command',
+                              command_line='info version')
+        self.assertRegexpMatches(res, r'^(\d+\.\d+\.\d)')
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/vnc.py b/tests/acceptance/vnc.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b1ef9d71b1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/acceptance/vnc.py
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+# Simple functional tests for VNC functionality
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2018 Red Hat, Inc.
+#
+# Author:
+#  Cleber Rosa <crosa@redhat.com>
+#
+# This work is licensed under the terms of the GNU GPL, version 2 or
+# later.  See the COPYING file in the top-level directory.
+
+from avocado_qemu import Test
+
+
+class Vnc(Test):
+    """
+    :avocado: enable
+    :avocado: tags=vnc,quick
+    """
+    def test_no_vnc(self):
+        self.vm.add_args('-nodefaults', '-S')
+        self.vm.launch()
+        self.assertFalse(self.vm.qmp('query-vnc')['return']['enabled'])
+
+    def test_no_vnc_change_password(self):
+        self.vm.add_args('-nodefaults', '-S')
+        self.vm.launch()
+        self.assertFalse(self.vm.qmp('query-vnc')['return']['enabled'])
+        set_password_response = self.vm.qmp('change',
+                                            device='vnc',
+                                            target='password',
+                                            arg='new_password')
+        self.assertIn('error', set_password_response)
+        self.assertEqual(set_password_response['error']['class'],
+                         'GenericError')
+        self.assertEqual(set_password_response['error']['desc'],
+                         'Could not set password')
+
+    def test_vnc_change_password_requires_a_password(self):
+        self.vm.add_args('-nodefaults', '-S', '-vnc', ':0')
+        self.vm.launch()
+        self.assertTrue(self.vm.qmp('query-vnc')['return']['enabled'])
+        set_password_response = self.vm.qmp('change',
+                                            device='vnc',
+                                            target='password',
+                                            arg='new_password')
+        self.assertIn('error', set_password_response)
+        self.assertEqual(set_password_response['error']['class'],
+                         'GenericError')
+        self.assertEqual(set_password_response['error']['desc'],
+                         'Could not set password')
+
+    def test_vnc_change_password(self):
+        self.vm.add_args('-nodefaults', '-S', '-vnc', ':0,password')
+        self.vm.launch()
+        self.assertTrue(self.vm.qmp('query-vnc')['return']['enabled'])
+        set_password_response = self.vm.qmp('change',
+                                            device='vnc',
+                                            target='password',
+                                            arg='new_password')
+        self.assertEqual(set_password_response['return'], {})