Managing the Migration Process

Create a Requirements Definition

It’s important to clearly define the requirements for the new Web service in your Vision and Scope document. Your primary reason for migrating to IIS 5.0 could be as simple as adding Web services to your corporate network, or as far-reaching as automating workflow processes or providing online transaction processing (OLTP). You might also have a number of secondary goals. Although you might not have the resources to realize every goal at this time, it is worthwhile to list the more important ones to include in longer-range planning. Table 2.2 lists some typical requirements for a migration project.

Table 2.2 Project Requirements and Deliverables

Requirement	Deliverable
Improve information sharing	Integrate the corporate intranet with Microsoft tools and technologies. IIS 5.0 fully integrates with other Microsoft business products, such as Microsoft® Word, Microsoft® Excel, and Microsoft® SQL Server™. In addition, IIS 5.0 is fully compliant with Microsoft® ODBC and Microsoft® OLE DB, and can connect to more than 55 different databases. Use this built-in functionality to access, link, or exchange data with these products, without the need for additional software.
Provide advanced online business services	Use IIS 5.0 in combination with other Microsoft products, such as Microsoft® Site Server, to conduct transaction-based services, central management, content indexing, and many other advanced services. You’re ensured all system components have been designed, tested, and optimized to interoperate. For large Commercial Solution Providers, Microsoft® Commercial Internet System (MCIS) provides a fully integrated solution.
Increase security	Use IIS 5.0 security, which integrates Windows 2000 Server security policies and user databases, to reduce the number of security holes created by Web servers running on top of nonintegrated or incompatible security systems.
Reduce system support costs	Reduce support costs and risks associated with use of noncommercial software. IIS 5.0 provides enhanced local and remote Web administration at a significantly lower cost than comparable UNIX solutions. Also, take advantage of the lower average cost of hardware for Microsoft® Windows®-based systems.
Reduce application development costs	Use ASP technology, with its many features that make application development quick and easy, including IIS 5.0 built-in script debugging.
Improve application and server performance	Take advantage of the efficient performance of ASP-based applications and Internet Server Application Programming Interface (ISAPI) extensions. You’ll notice improved server performance because IIS 5.0 can run ASP-based applications and ISAPI extensions. This allows for more efficient use of resources than is possible on most other Web servers.