Developing a Deployment Plan

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

To use the IntelliMirror technologies for managing configurations effectively, you must develop a plan that defines the resources to be managed and the management processes to be implemented. To ensure the success of your deployment of the technologies for managing configurations, you need to do the following:

• Analyze your organization’s current configuration management process. When you develop your configuration management infrastructure, determine how your organization currently manages its computing environment.

• Determine goals for your managed environment deployment. As you begin your design process, establish the criteria that define the success of your managed environment project. The business requirements of the various organizational groups of users may differ, and success, therefore, means different things to each group. For example, a system administrator might consider a project successful if it results in a reduction in the ten most common support calls, although for a department manager, success includes increased user productivity. It is important that you set achievable and measurable goals, and that you review them periodically to track your progress.

• Design your solution for configuration management by using the IntelliMirror technologies to meet your business requirements.

• Follow a process to implement a configuration management infrastructure. Analyze your business requirements, service level agreements, security, network, and IT requirements, and then determine the appropriate technologies to use to meet your requirements. By following the guidelines in this book for designing your configuration management infrastructure, you can establish the approach that best suits your organization’s needs.

• Create a configuration management team. The majority of change and configuration management deployments are likely to have cross-functional boundaries, so as part of preparing your deployment, it is important to consult with various functional teams in your organization and ensure they participate during analysis, design, test, and implementation phases as appropriate.

  A recommended option is to use the Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF) team model. In the MSF model, small multidisciplinary teams are created, and team members share responsibilities to focus on the project.

  You can align your team with the MSF model by including the six roles in the change and configuration management design team.

  • Product Management. Ensures the goals of the project are met.

  • Program Management. Facilitates the team and manages resources.

  • Development. Designers and implementers of the CCM infrastructure.

  • Testing. Ensures all issues are known before the release of the design.

  • Logistics Management. Treats physical requirements of the deployment.

  • User Education. Designs user and team training materials.

For more information about the Microsoft Solutions Framework Team Model, see the Microsoft Solutions Framework link on the Web Resources page at https://www.microsoft.com/windows/reskits/webresources.