Managing the New Solaris Environment

With the migrated environment in place, it is time to turn our full attention to making sure that the "process" part of our skills, process, and technology migration project is successful. While this is a very broad category, we will focus our attention on three key areas: system monitoring, change management, and release management.

To rectify the system monitoring deficiencies, we decide to implement a collection of monitoring solutions aimed at specific components . In a larger environment, we would probably need a more integrated solution. We decide to use Sun Management Center (SunMC). Other tools will be added to augment specific management needs (such as database, backups and storage).

Implementing change and release management will be much more difficult. Changing human behavior is difficult, especially in a dynamic software development environment. However, we will implement the process flows described in this book through a standard process that includes the following tasks :

• Appoint points of contact who will lead the change and release management processes. These people will become the change manager and release manager.

• Produce a mission statement on the purpose of the processes.

• Define roles and responsibilities for key players in the processes.

• Establish scope and purpose of the implementation project.

• Quantify resources and tools needed for the process. This will be an important decision: the correct tool will enhance compliance with the new process, but a poor tool choice will kill it.

• Promote awareness of the new process with all staff and management.

As with any process, these processes will be gradually phased into production and refined along the way.