Oracle-L: RE: software deployment control

From: Ron Rogers <RROGERS_at_galottery.org>
Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2003 11:09:26 -0800
Message-ID: <F001.005D6F1C.20031117110926@fatcity.com>

Dennis,
Thanks for the reply and I appreciate the starting URL. We have a service or help desk already and I would like to make it browser based
but I am banging my head against the wall of "we don't use it or need it why train for it"
mentality.
You mentioned the particular servers that are available to use for deployment in your
location. We have a development server with 2 years worth of data for development
and test purposes and a production server with 11 years worth of data. I would love to have
a test server with a full compliment of production data but that is not going to happen. Heck
I am keeping my test/play Linux box up to date data wise incase it is needed for disaster
recovery purposes.
The reason the process documentation is needed is it was recommended by the
outside auditors when we had our audit in July. Thanks,
Ron

>>> DWILLIAMS_at_LIFETOUCH.COM 11/17/2003 1:34:33 PM >>> Ron

The organization that is providing concepts behind improving deployment
processes is ITIL. Start at http://www.itil.org. This is not a software
package (but some software packages comply with ITIL's concepts). It isn't
even a set of procedures, but a set of processes that will assist you in
creating procedures that will work for your particular organization.

Does your organization have or plan a service desk? This process will
integrate the service desk with your deployment procedures. Overall, the
idea is a closed-loop process between incident reporting, incident tracking,
change request, and deployment.

Organizations often start this in a phased manner, beginning with one or
two pieces. But it really helps if you understand where you're headed.

In terms of improving the quality of deployment, most of us have test and
production environments. Consider adding a third, QA or staging. This is a
clone of production. The changes are first applied to staging and then tested. If the tests are satisfactory, then the exact changes are made to
production.

Dennis Williams
DBA
Lifetouch, Inc.
dwilliams_at_lifetouch.com

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Monday, November 17, 2003 7:15 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L

List,
I have been asked to produce a process for documenting the request,test,deployment, etc of the server OS, client OS, and databases
that we use. I have googled for 'software deployment control' and 'software change management' without much success. We are looking for a
written procedure not a purchased software package. Does anyone have a
source location for documentation so I can start on my project.

Thanks,
Ron

Aren't IT audits fun???
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Author: Ron Rogers
INET: RROGERS_at_galottery.org

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Author: DENNIS WILLIAMS
INET: DWILLIAMS_at_LIFETOUCH.COM

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