Pilot Project Overview

The following steps summarize the process you will follow to create and run your pilot project:

Size the site system hardware

Increase the site system hardware values determined during earlier planning to allow for more thorough testing in the pilot project. Determine the number of computers that you will use in the pilot project and the platforms you will use.

Install SMS on the computers in your site

Install SMS exactly as you will during the actual deployment. Select the same features you will use in your production site, and use the data gathered in the previous sections to determine how you will install your SMS site database server.

Install tools and enable logging

After you install SMS, you will need to install SMS and Windows NT performance tools to test your pilot site hierarchy. Most of these tools have logging capabilities that you need to enable. You should also enable logging for the site by using SMS Service Manager. For more information, see “Using SMS Performance Tools” and “Using Windows NT Performance Tools” later in this chapter.

Collect data

Use logging to collect data about your load signature.

Analyze data

Watch for “bursts” and other problems that affect performance. After you identify and resolve these problems, rerun the appropriate tests.

Be sure to keep a complete record of your activities during the pilot project. This information will be of considerable use after the pilot project is complete and you are ready to refine your final site design.