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Defining the Scope of Your Configuration Management Project

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

It is important to identify both the organizational and the technical scope for your configuration management deployment. The primary purpose is to deploy a configuration management infrastructure to meet the needs of a defined set of users and to manage a clearly defined computing environment. Defining the scope is important both to set user expectations and concrete goals for the project.

Organizational Scope

To understand the configuration management requirements of an organization, you need to identify the organizational structure and determine organizational goals.

You can create a map of your organization to show a representation of its logical hierarchy (an organizational chart). This chart is useful as an input to the design process as it defines natural boundaries within the business, which might function as separation points in the use of IntelliMirror technologies. The breakdown of the organization’s resources includes all levels of job roles. Use the job roles as input when you categorize users by job type.

Resources to be Managed

The technical scope for deploying a configuration management infrastructure involves all computing resources to be managed, including hardware and software.

It is useful to develop a diagram of the network to serve as a logical representation of servers and services within the network. Work with the network administrators and the Active Directory deployment team to obtain this information. The diagram needs to illustrate the following information:

  • Location of domain controllers and member servers

  • Site configuration

  • Link speed within and across sites

  • Servers that provide specific services, such as Domain Naming Services (DNS) and DHCP

  • Interfaces with infrastructure elements outside the scope of configuration management, such as firewalls, networking equipment, and systems running other operating systems

Use the network diagram to indicate which components of the computing environment are to be managed by the configuration management infrastructure and which components are to remain unmanaged.