Abstract: A method for automated testing of a device (e.g., a router, switch, mobile terminal, barcode reader, or the like) includes creating a metafile, establishing a network connection to the device, parsing the metafile to determine a device command and an expected result, issuing the device command to the command line interface of the device via the network connection; receiving a response from the command line interface of the device via the network connection; comparing the response to the expected result, then logging, to a test summary file, a test result based on said comparing step. The metafile language has a relatively simple vocabulary and syntax, and is thus easy to learn and implement.