Planning for Deployment
Planning for Deployment |
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The final stage in deployment planning is to define how to create a smooth transition from pilot to production. Your goal is to deploy Windows 2000 successfully and efficiently, with minimum interruption to your users, the network, and the core business functions of the organization.
Deploying Windows 2000 to the production environment shares many characteristics with deploying Windows 2000 in the pilot phase. Some recommended steps to ensure success include:
Phase your deployment efforts. Incremental deployment allows you to reduce risk and minimize disruption.
Create a deployment backup plan. A reliable and tested backup plan will enable you to recover quickly and easily if you encounter any problems during the deployment.
Create a backup/recovery plan. Because a computer or site disaster can overcome even the best data protection strategies, you need to have a system disaster recovery plan. For more information about creating disaster recovery plans, see "Determining Windows 2000 Storage Management Strategies" in this book.
Provide proper training. Make sure that your support and administrative teams are fully trained and prepared for the deployment.
Keep end-users informed. Inform and educate end-users about Windows 2000 before you deploy it to their computers. Some organizations require end-user training before any new technology can be deployed. If this is a strategy you are considering, allow for additional resources and costs.
Keep teams informed. Make sure the teams are aware of deployment plans as a whole, the scope of their responsibility and involvement, and any changes to the plan or schedule.
Schedule major deployment activities for off-hours. You can minimize the impact to your users and network with thoughtful scheduling of major Windows 2000 activities. For example, wait to deploy Windows 2000 to a specific group until after that group has completed a deadline or other major project.