Implementation Plan Summary

In this chapter, we provided a context for the high-level implementation tasks so that you would see how a company might organize their needs and ideas. A Windows Media deployment follows the same process as any other deployment or project. Every deployment starts with a need; the need drives a vision; the vision becomes the solution; the solution drives the plan; and the plan drives the deployment process.

In the rest of this section, we will follow the company plan to deploy, test, and use the Windows Media streaming media system.

Phase I. Base system

Task	Subtask	Groups
Content creation	Build compression suite.	Media
	Begin encoding selected, archived videotape programs.	Media
Portal development	Develop and test Media Guide using SharePoint Portal Server.	Media
	Test and release.	Media
	Create client download package.	IT
Server deployment	Configure and test the Windows Media server farm on test bench.	IT
	Locate and install servers in data center.	IT
	Configure servers remotely.	IT
	Test and release.	IT

Phase II. Extended system

Task	Subtask	Groups
Live studio production	Configure existing studio for live production.	Media
	Install two live encoding computers and a remote control computer in studio control room.	Media
	Test and deploy.	Media
Remote encoding rack	Build, test, and deploy.	Media
Producer mini-studio	Locate and configure office space for mini-studio.	Media
	Install equipment.	Media
	Test and deploy.	Media
	Create user Help information.	Media
Cache/proxy servers	Install and configure cache/proxy servers.	IT
	Initiate content management system.	IT
	Install and configure a Windows Media server in the perimeter network.	IT
	Test and release.	IT

Phase III. Enhanced system

Task	Subtask	Groups
Interactive online training series	Produce a kick-off series, created using Producer.	Media, Professional development group
	Create a sub-portal site for the training programs.	Media, Professional development group
	Test and deploy.	Media, Professional development group
Multicast-enabled network	Upgrade and configure routers, switches, and hubs.	IT
	Test multicast reception in all segments of the network.	IT
	Plan and deploy large-scale test broadcast.	IT, Media
Usage reporting and feedback	Portal team works with IT to monitor usage and identify problems.	IT, Media
	Portal team and IT work on a report template for logs.	IT, Media
	Portal site adds feedback feature.	IT, Media
	Feedback information and identified problems are sent to IT user help group.	IT, Media

In the next chapter, the compression suite is designed, built, and tested. Then production begins.