Chapter 26. Tool Support for Configuration Management

It's possible to perform configuration management without tool support. Tool support doesn't improve process capabilityit won't buy a higher level of capability and a more profitable way of performing activities. Tools must support the capability a company has already achieved, contributing to the most effective performance of procedures.

You could also say that a tool is 10% of the solution, the rest being the design of procedures to be automated. However, the 10% should not be underestimated. The right tool(s) can provide a far more effective and reliable configuration management system. The tool industry for configuration management has evolved enormously in the last 1015 years . Over a hundred tools are available, of which some are old and some are relatively new, some are freeware available from the Internet and some cost a small fortune .

This book does not contain a list and an evaluation of tools, among other reasons because the information quickly becomes obsolete. Instead, refer to Ovum, an internationally recognized analysis and consultancy company. Ovum performs assessments of tools, including configuration management tools, and issues reports on the results. This chapter discusses various aspects of configuration management tools and their selection. Web addresses for Ovum and tool developers mentioned below can be found in the bibliography.



Configuration Management Principles and Practice
Configuration Management Principles and Practice
ISBN: 0321117662
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2002
Pages: 181

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