Identifying Client and Server Configurations

Because your deployment plan is dictated by your current system environments, you need to gather information about the existing client and server configurations for all groups that will migrate to Internet Explorer 5. You should interview the appropriate group managers, system administrators, and users for these groups. Be sure that you survey a representative sample so that you compile an accurate inventory of hardware and software used on client and server computers.

Specifically, you should consider the following configuration elements:

• Minimum hardware requirements - Computers may need to be upgraded to meet minimum hardware requirements for Internet Explorer, so review the hardware configurations currently in use by all groups.
• Laptops and desktop computers - Laptop and desktop computers have different configurations, including disk space and access to the network. You must select installation options that work for each type of computer.
• Network access - Users without network access need to install Internet Explorer locally from a CD-ROM or floppy disk. Users with network access can install Internet Explorer from a network.
• Server load - Many users installing the browser from a Web download site can impact server load. Microsoft Certified Professionals can provide information about server load patterns and how to distribute the server load by using multiple download sites.

For more detailed information about working with a large number of computers on a network, you can use system management programs, such as Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS), to conduct the inventory. This tool can produce a report describing the computers' hardware and settings. In addition, you can use SMS to query the inventory database and quickly get information about equipment that might need to be upgraded. For more information about SMS, see Chapter 5, "Understanding Related Tools and Programs."

After you have identified the existing hardware and software for client and server computers, use that configuration information to do the following:

• Determine the preferred deployment strategies for the Internet Explorer custom package configurations.
• Evaluate migration issues, including the need for hardware and software upgrades to support migration.
• Simulate the organizational environment in the lab before full-scale deployment to your users.