Understanding and Deploying LDAP Directory Services > 5. Defining Your Directory Needs > An Overview of the Directory Needs Definition Process |
An Overview of the Directory Needs Definition ProcessYour boss, co “workers, and customers (users) will measure the success of your directory service based on how well it meets their needs and the needs of the entire organization. Whether this evaluation is formal (for example, part of a yearly performance review) or informal (for example, casual conversation that takes place near the cappuccino machine), it will take place. The best way to meet everyone's directory- related needs is to gather and understand as many of them as possible up front, and keep them in mind throughout the stages of directory design and deployment. In this section, we present an overview of the directory needs definition process. In subsequent sections, we cover each part of the process in detail. Analyzing Your EnvironmentThe first step in gathering your directory-related needs is to understand the environment in which your directory service will be deployed. Environment is a broad term that covers a wide range of topics, including organizational structure and geography, computer systems, networks, application software, users, the directory deployment team, other system administrators, and any other people the directory serves. Determining and Prioritizing NeedsWhen you have a good understanding of the overall environment, the needs and constraints that come from each area should be gathered and prioritized. It does not matter in what order this is done as long as no stone is left unturned. We recommend that you look at each of these areas:
For each of these areas, you must gather information, produce a list of needs, and assign priorities to each item on the list. Choosing an Overall Directory Design and Deployment ApproachAfter you have gathered and prioritized all the different directory-related needs and constraints, it is important to choose an overall approach to directory design and deployment that fits your needs and situation. In this book, we guide you through a design and deployment process that has served us well, but your personal philosophy and organizational realities may lead you to adopt a different approach. The amounts of time spent in the design stage, the piloting stage, and in deployment of the initial directory service all vary widely from organization to organization. The most important thing is to choose an approach that will help you succeed with your directory service deployment. Setting Goals and MilestonesThe final step in the needs definition process is to set some goals and milestones that will measure the progress of your directory deployment. This seemingly simple task is often overlooked, but defining goals and milestones is well worth spending time on up front. Most projects go more smoothly when people working on them have good targets to aim for. Good goals and milestones are easily understood , realistic, and significant enough to be worth celebrating. The results of this process feed into the rest of the directory design process that is discussed in subsequent chapters. The remainder of this chapter is devoted to exploring each of these tasks in more detail.
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Index terms contained in this sectionapplicationsdirectory needs prioritizing constraints deployment prioritizing directory needs environmental prioritizing directory needs defining directory needs design approaches environments goals and milestones prioritizing 2nd 3rd 4th 5th deployment approaches prioritizing directory needs constraints prioritizing directory needs design directory needs approaches environmental constraints prioritizing directory needs environments defining directory needs goals directory needs milestones directory needs needs directories defining design approaches environments goals and milestones prioritizing 2nd 3rd 4th 5th prioritizing directory needs applications deployment constraints environmental constraints users users directory needs prioritizing |
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