Application Compatibility Planning Service

Application Compatibility Planning Service A Service with APP-(reciation) A Service designed to provide IT Departments with an understanding of the Application Compatibility and Remediation needs that their organization faces prior to the Client Migration along with a Discovery of their Environment.

2010

Christopher Silver MyGreatClients.com

Application Compatibility Planning Service

Christopher Silver Page 1

Table of Contents

I. Overview

II. Defining YOUR IT Environment

III. Defining YOUR Application Management

IV. Collection of Environmental Information

V. Analysis of Environmental Information

VI. Testing\Rationalization \ Remediation

VII. User Acceptance Testing (UAT)

VIII. Deployment \ Distribution Solution

IX. Planning Service Deliverables

X. Term Definitions

APPENDIX: ACPS Engagement Options

A. Discovery & Evaluation

B. Remediation



I. ACPS Overview

a. What is the ACPS exactly?

The ACPS or Application Compatibility Planning Service is designed to assist the IT Project Team to

assess the total compatibility of the applications in the organizations environment. This service is

designed to discover the following variables for the IT Project Team, Quantity, Duration, Cost

Estimate and Methodology.

During the Discovery Phase there will be Collateral information Collected and Analyzed that will

help in your migration and standardization. Company Profile of Users Organizational Structure

and Situational Role. Also, Application Management Catalog, Application Documentation as well

as Recommendation of Customized Support & Process workflows.

b. How can it help my migration?

This Planning Service helps your migration and (BAU) Business As Usual Operations by having

experts in ACPS collect & analyze the information in your organization. The Application Usage by

Organizational Structure and Situational Role helps in the development of Image Deployment

Scenario’s. This sets the timeline for the Building and Deployment for your company’s migration

by showing you the prioritization of the applications in use. With the Information of Time, Cost

and Method will assist with planning for your Business Value in procuring funding of your project.

Collect Analyze Remediate Deploy SYNERGY

Hardware

Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL)

Operating System

Core Applications

Department Apps

Project Apps Location Apps

Role Apps

Team Apps User Apps



II. Define IT Environment Discovery of the Current & Future Environments is paramount for developing solutions on Application

Management and Remediation. There must be a clear understanding of what technologies are in place

or will be in place for the remediation. This ensures that business critical functionality is not affected,

and can be planned around.

a. Discovery of Current Environment

i. Client \ Server \Network Infrastructure

1. Client System Discovery (HW\SW\OS\etc)

2. Server Systems Discovery (AD\DNS\SCCM\Exchange\WSUS\etc)

3. Network Discovery

ii. Support Structure

1. Help Desk (Call Center) \ Deskside \ Technical Admins

2. Business Analyst \ Application Owners \ Application Testers

3. Change Management (Change Windows)

iii. Process Workflows

1. Challenge Ticket Progression Requisitions

2. Application Management (Integration Process)

3. Packaging Solution & Deployment Solution & Testing Processes

b. Discovery of Planned Migration Environment w/Timeline

A detailed diagram and timeline of what the environment looks like after all the necessary

upgrades and implementations are complete is needed. It is important to know what the

environment looks like at all times and also what changes have been made and are scheduled to

be made. This can affect how the applications function in the production environment, and may

cause for further infrastructure remediation.

Process

Support Center

Deskside

Tech Admins

Business

Support Center

Tech Admins

Support Structure

Deskside Support

Infrastructure

Client

Server Network



III. Define Application Management This is a great time to attack the challenges you have faced in the past with Application Management in

your organization. It is also the time to set policies and procedures around managing the integration of

applications in the environment as well as setting the documentation and packaging procedures around

your application catalog. We can also design workflows around support and training models that with

the strengths of your department.

a. Discovery of Current Application Management Structure

By understanding the Pros & Cons of the current Application Management Processes we can

correctly modify it to maximize the productivity and success rate the new processes and

procedures will have in your environment. Every culture is different, and understanding what

works and what doesn’t will guarantee the success of the project.

b. Set Goals for Future Application Management Structure

With this time available it is important to take a look at your entire Application Management

System. What do you want your Application Process to look like, what are the strengths and what

we can implement now to assist your support and administration of your application portfolio

moving forward.

i. Flexibility

How fast can you respond to technology change and to adopt it as a competitive advantage?

How well do you understand the Business to recommend the solution of Application

management that works the best? How efficient and productively can you manage the

lifecycle of application management? How can your processes adapt to the changing

environment?

ii. Productivity \ Efficiency

How can we develop an Application Management Solution that best maximizes the

productivity of the User and the Technician? How can we lower the resolution time and the

help desk calls while still providing a user friendly and familiar experience.

iii. Documentation

How can we document the Standards, Policies, Procedures, Processes and Methodologies

used to provide a standardized environment? How can we document the applications and

have the necessary support information in a centralized location for quick ticket and

challenge resolution.

iv. Communication

How can we improve the communication between all levels of support, the business and

technical administration?



IV. Collection of Environmental Information

The collection of environmental information is a very important phase; this is where a discovery of all

applications used in the environment. By collecting all this information we can quickly assess the

business critical applications and begin to prioritize and categorize the organization. The importance of

this stage is in gathering all the applications present in the environment, not just the approved. That is

why there are multiple different tools and options we use to gather this information.

a. Tools & Utilities

i. ACT- Microsoft Application Compatibility Toolkit

ii. MAP- Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit

iii. Reports- SMS\SCCM\other

iv. Interviews & Questionnaires to Users

b. Discovery of Organizational Structure

Understanding your company is paramount, the best way to develop application management

plans is to talk to Human Resources and receive a copy of their organizational chart. By profiling

the same way that HR profiles the users you make for a synergetic effort and combination of IT

and HR communication.

c. Inventory of Applications

Using the tools & utilities, a complete application list is created of all application currently being

utilized in the environment (Known & Unknown). This is then cross-referenced with the approved

applications list to compile as a complete environmental application list that we now can analyze.

i. Categorize by Organizational Units

We categorize by organizational units to get a complete picture of what user role require

applications for core business critical functionality. By categorizing in this method we can

begin to create automatic standards to persons to help in the support and break-fix scenario

challenges that support centers face in challenge tickets. This also assists in the

development of hybrid images.

ii. Gather Documentation & Support Information

In one central location all the current documentation as well as support information for all

the applications in your environment. For this the best source is usually the deskside and

help desk personnel.

UnKnown DISCOVERED



iii. Business Application Owners

Business Application Owners are members of the user community to either were the

business sponsor on purchasing the application or are the primary users of the application.

These Application Owners will be the persons responsible for assuring the testing and

configuration of the application are configured correctly. The Business owners will be the

appropriate source to gather support and contact information as well as install media for

the applications. They will also have key information on the Current Versions and timelines

on new or upgrade versions.

iv. Locations of Install Points & Media

The location of all install directories that have been used for all applications is very

important. This is the main cause for MSI and Install corruption because installs are done

with rogue install packages from unknown points. The cause of this is usually security

access to centralized install points, or ease of use of removable media. The violators are

often our own support personnel. The best people to list every install points are the

Deskside and Support Center technicians.

File Server

File Server

File Server

File Server

1st

Level Support

SCCM \ SMS

Logon-Scripts

Group Policy

2nd

Level Support End User

v. Distribution Methods

Capture all the current steady state distribution methods used for Software Deployment for

all the applications on the list. This will give clues as to some of the challenges of

applications as well as some pre-requisites that were sometimes previously unknown or

undocumented.



V. Analysis of Environmental Information The Analysis of the data collected sets the course for the solution on the Application Management and

assists in the planning for your organizations migration. By deciphering the data collected this provides

a categorized view on the business critical and role based applications that will drive the decision

making and define the scenarios for your Application Management Strategy.

a. Creation of Supported Application Inventory Catalog

Central Reference Point Document for all Approved Packaged Software in the environment. This

Catalog is referenced to find information on software install methods and any application

approvals that may be needed prior to an install of a requested application.

b. Documentation & Support Information

Complete Document that contains all information about the packaged application prepared by the

Packager and contains details on the packaging process and information on the install itself as well

as support information and contact persons. This is also the time to set the folder structure for

your applications for ease of use and efficiency for support. A clean and efficient folder hierarchy

is pivotal for the administration of your application portfolio.

c. Prioritization \ Categorization of Applications by Organizational Units

The applications are then categorized by installation instances by Organizational Structure, of

business needs. They are also prioritized according to install usage instances to gage which

applications are in more demand and receive a higher priority rating.

d. Assignment of Business Application Owners & Testers

This is also the phase where Application Owners or qualified “Super User” of applications are

assigned to be the testers of packaged solution. The Business Owners are the user of the

application that purchased or is responsible for the licenses or requested the software integration.

By assigning these persons at an early stage and getting them integrated in the process, this

assists the remediation stage of the Application Compatibility of your organizations Applications.

Organization

Department

Location

Group

Role

User

USERS

Task

Mobile

Office Remote

Contract



VI. Testing \ Remediation \ Rationalization The testing, remediation and rationalization phase is how the applications are integrated in the

environment. The testing is done as a pre-requisite to every application to ensure it works on the

organizations image then the rationalization and remediation is how we assign a solution to the

challenge of organizational technical integration.

a. Testing Procedure

This is imperative to test the applications on a beta-Version of your organizations image, this

ensures that it is qualified and works in the environment as a vendor install before any packaging

or deployment solution is applied. This is used for every application, even those that are certified

to work on the new OS, because it does not certify that it will work with some of the

customizations that are specific to your organizations image.

b. Rationalization

This time of Application remediation can be used to eliminate and combine applications that

perform similar functionality. This is a great way to decrease your supported applications count as

well as eliminating unnecessary spending for licenses and unique applications that only provide

limited functionality; this can also be used to create universal training and support across the

organization.

c. Remediation Options (Packaging Solution)

The term remediation refers to a Packaging Solution or way of attacking an application to ensure

its standardization, compatibility and ability for automatic deployment to the user community.

Below are the possibly ways of accomplishing this task with the technological tools available to the

Packaging Solution Engineer.

i. New Version Available

This is the recommended first step for remediation, although typically the most expensive

option either with Development or Acquisition Cost this option is the best because it offers

definite Vendor Support of the Application.

ii. Shim

This modifies the calls applications make to the operating system, every application cannot

be shimmed and this does come with minimal management of a shim database that must be

updated and installed on client machines to function.

iii. Change Policy

An option of changing the security policy of the client systems by disabling UAC or

Inter\Intra net zones to allow for more flexibility. This is a current struggle between security

Application Call to OS

SHIM DB

SHIM DB

Operating System



and functionality but a decision of what is business critical and vendor\company supported

is an argument that is used to facilitate a switch.

iv. Virtualization

Application Virtualization (APP-V) is a current technology being utilized where this resolves

the conflicts applications have with other application on systems by running the application

in a virtual “bubble” by a client agent on the client systems.

Machine Enterprise Virtualization (MED-V) is a technology being utilized which is resolving

conflicts between application and operating systems by making available to the application

a virtual operating system of XP.

Both technologies help resolve conflicts but the technology is new and only functions

efficiently when the application meets certain requirements. The benefit is there are

management consoles and the client systems maintain their stability and integrity by not

having application physically installed on machines.

v. Terminal Services \ Citrix

vi. Retire It

Sometimes the best option is to remove this application from your organization because of

its low value and priority and difficulty to manage and support. There may be a business

case to Retire It or Rationalize it with a different vendor’s application or perhaps a feature

on already owned software accomplishes similar functionality.

d. Remediation Tools & Utilities

i. MSI Editor-

1. Wise Package Studio

2. Install Shield Admin Studio

ii. Virtualization-

1. Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V)

2. Microsoft Machine Enterprise Virtualization (MED-V)

iii. Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT): Compatibility Administrator - Shim Database

iv. Scripting For Automation

VBscript, Powershell, Batch, WinBatch, AutoIT, etc.

Virtualized Application

Application Files

Virtual Files

Virtual Registry

OS Runtime

Files



VII. User Acceptance Testing (UAT) a. Acceptance Policies

Application \ Business Owner Acceptance or “Sign Off” of the Packaged & Deployed application is

required prior to the applications release into the environment. By putting this level of

responsibility on the business as well as the IT Admin we ensure that a quality well tested product

is being released.

These Policies are best to be put into effect at this juncture because this is the most important

policy being put under for executive review. This sets a level of responsibility on the business to

work with IT in the production of Packaging & Deployment Solutions for the company.

b. UAT Stakeholders & Resources i. Stakeholder’s

1. Application Business\Technical Owner The Application Business Owner (Business Analyst) has a stake in the success of the

application package because it is their user community that the application is being

deployed and where they are held accountable. It is in their best interest to ensure

that the package that is going out to the community is well tested.

2. IT Packaging Solution Engineer The Packager has stake in the success of the application package because ultimately

they are responsible for the package that is ultimately delivered down to the users

machine. The Packager & IT Manager is always ultimately accountable for all

packages that were packaged by the individual.

3. IT Deployment Engineer The Deployment Engineer is responsible for the packaging solution to be put into a

deployment solution set for a distribution to the targeted users’ desktops. ii. Resources

1. Pilot Test Groups 2. Change Management 3. IT Managers

c. UAT Procedure & Workflows i. Official Packaging Solution Testing Procedure

1. Script for Testing a test system Prior to Install 2. Script for Testing an Application Install 3. Application Technical \ Business Owner Test of Application 4. Script for Testing a System Post Install 5. Script for Uninstall Testing of Application 6. Script for Testing a System Post Uninstall of Application

d. Documentation i. Application UAT Policy

ii. UAT Procedure Scripts Document iii. Official Application Business \ Technical Owner Acceptance Form



VIII. Deployment & Distribution (Deployment Solution) a. Image Build Process

Some applications due to the usage reports that come back from the Collection and Analysis

phase, can be included during the imaging process as part of a Role Scenario

b. GPO \ Logon Scripts

If certain requirements of the application require that the application be deployed via GPO or

Logon Script or perhaps some other deployment method is available. This option is not very

controllable or reportable on a management scheme.

c. SMS \ SCCM \ Virtualization Mgmt. \ (Other)

A dependable, manageable, reportable deployment solution to deploy applications to the client

systems.

d. WSUS \ Other

This is how Microsoft core components and upgrades Framework’s, SP’s, Patches, and Updates

are installed on Client PC’s via the Update Service. This is the best practice for all those

components.

e. Manual

Installed either by Support Center or Help Desk as a last resort, but the version they install is

installed by the same command line as the automated solution and from the same location.



IX. Planning Service Deliverables a. Application Management Catalog

Central Reference Point Document for all Approved Packaged Software in the environment.

This Catalog is referenced to find information on software install methods and any application

approvals that may be needed prior to an install of a requested application.

b. Documentation & Central Location Structure

Complete Document that contains all information about the packaged application prepared by

the Packager and contains details on the packaging process and information on the install itself

as well as support information and contact persons. This is also the time to set the folder

structure for your applications for ease of use and efficiency for support. A clean and efficient

folder hierarchy is pivotal for the administration of your application portfolio.

ApplicationName_V_xx

Documentation

Manual

Production

- SCCM Source Loc

- Manual Source Loc

Vendor

- Pristine Vendor Media

Working

- Any files from Dev

Application Info Doc

Vendor Support Doc

Install EXE

Uninstall EXE

c. Support & Process Workflows

This process will also analyses your support and process workflows, this is the best time to

recommend new changes in workflow design and optimize the processes based on your

organizational strengths and weaknesses to maximize your productivity and efficiency.

i. Application Integration Process Workflow

FAIL

App Owner Testing

Application

Installed

YES

In Catalog

Application

Request Form Kick-Off Meeting

Project Stakeholders Discuss

-App Upgrade\New

-Target Users

-Project Dates

-Project Resources Named

US Operations

Install Development

Tasks At This Point

1- Acquire Requested Software

2- Check App Prerequisites

2- Test Against Company Image

PASS

Validation

Application Requires Prerequisites that

are not packaged or available on current

image

FAIL

Validation

Tasks For This Stage

Create an SMS Deployable Package

Document Entire Process

Follow App Pkg Best Practices

Create an Install & Uninstall Pkg

Application Packaging

For Deployment


-(Deployment) Install Package

-Test App, Image, Other Core Apps

-(Deployment) Uninstall Package

-Test Image, Other Core Apps

-Get Sign-Off From App Owner

Testing w/ App Owner

Pass

Application Packaging

Deployment TESTING


-Deployment of Gold Prod Package

-Monitor Results \ Support Calls

PRODUCTION

Deployment

PASS

Testing

PASS

Testing

FAIL

PILOT Testing


-Test (Deployment) to 10% of Target

-Gather Results for Support Doc’s

PILOT 1/2 Deployment

TESTING

Application

Catalog

UPDATED

Now Available

For Support Install

SUCCESS

Application Integration Process WorkFlow

Application

CatalogNOT

In Catalog



ii. Application Remediation Workflow

Packager is Assigned

Application

Windows 7

Compliance Testing

Vendor

Team Lead

Loads into

Deployment Method

Packaging

Solution

MSI App-V Other

Transform

SnapShot

CMD Line

Package

Sequenced CMD Line

FileShare

Special

WORKING

File Store

Packager

Basic

Testing

HOLD

For

Decision

Deployment

Solution

SCCM App-V Other

Collection

Package

Advertisemnt

Package

Streaming Manual

Special

PRODUCTION

File Store

TL UAT

HOLD

For

Decision

Cached

Update

Application Catalog

Page 1

Application Integration Remediation

Application List

Provided

Solution From

Vendor

Temporary

Hold

Application

Documentation

Application

Documentation

d. Outline Plan Document for Remediation

i. Packaging & Deployment Solutions for Applications

ii. Project Estimates for Remediation (Cost \ Time \ Resources)

iii. Options Available for Execution of Remediation



X. Term Definitions

a. ACPS – Application Compatibility Planning Service

b. BAU – Business As Usual: This is the steady state daily operations

c. Package- an installable media customized for standardization, could be MSI\App-v

d. Source- the installation media files as they were provided by the vendor

e. UAT- User Acceptance Testing

f. Packaging Solution- Method an application is packaged Virtualized, MSI, Other

g. Deployment Solution- Method an application is configured for Distribution

h. Packager- Person responsible for creating Packages by utilizing Packaging Solutions

i. Technical Coordinator \ Lead: Packager with advanced skills and project management methodologies to

assign and coordinate packages to the other packagers.

j. Deployment Tech- Person responsible for creating a Deployment Solution. Usually the SCCM

Administrator.

k. ACPS Liaison- Employee that is a Stakeholder to the ACPS Team that acts as a go between the Packaging

efforts and the company.

l. SCCM – Microsoft Systems Center Configuration Manager 2007 R2: Enterprise Client Management Tool

for the distribution of MS Patches, Service Packs, Updates, Hotfixes, Applications, Operating Systems



Appendix A.

Planning Service Engagement Options

ACPS: Discovery & Evaluation A. Application Compatibility Planning Service

a. 5 Day Planning Service

Overview Discussions of Collection of Data Phase

Discussions \ Beginning Planning of Analysis of Data Phase

Design & Implementation of Tools & Utilities

Discovery & Documentation of Current Environment Phase

Documentation & Discussion of Migration Plan

b. 10 Day Planning Service

All of 5 Day Planning Service

Execution Start of Application Inventory Portfolio

Execution Start of Application Documentation Templates

Execution of Folder Hierarchy for Application Repository

Execution of Collection Phase

Beginning Analysis of Data Phase

Planning of Testing \ Remediation \ Rationalization Phase

c. 20-30 Day Planning Service

All of 10 Day Planning Service

Complete ACPS – When Complete you will have a fully known Application Inventory Portfolio

along with Reports and Documentation of the Strategy around Application Compatibility in your

Organization.



Appendix B.

Planning Service Engagement Options

ACPS: Remediation

B. Application Management Remediation Service

This is the service that deals specifically with the execution of the Remediation of the Applications in the

organizations environment. This Remediation Service Includes the Complete ACPS as a milestone where

your organization has the ability to choose which option best suites the culture of the company.

Milestones are placed at specific points in the Remediation process to ensure that your organization is

satisfied with the level of service that is being provided. All of these solutions are completely customizable

according to the company and culture being remediated.

a. Application Management Consulting Service

ACPS Technical Project Manager will be onsite to consult your team and lead them through the

entire process of Remediation of your Application Portfolio. The ACPS Technical Project

Manager will work with your Resources to ensure your Application Compatibility is performed

by the industry best practices and in a way that ensures the most productive efficient use of

your organizations resources, or will assist with the acquisition of resources if needed.

b. Resource Augmentation

We can provide excellent resources in any of the required areas for your project and ensure they

are of the highest caliber, these resources can also become regular consultants after the project

has completed to perform BAU Business As Usual Operations.

ACPS

Our

Technical PM

Your

Technical Lead

Your

Packaging Team

Your

UAT Team Your

Deployment Tech Your

ACPS Liason

ACPS Project

Lead

Technical Lead

Packaging Team

UAT Team Deployment

Tech



c. Outsource Total Project Remediation

This solution is a complete end to end solution for your Application Remediation Challenge. All

resources necessary for the Completion of the Application Remediation Process are from our

company. At the end of the solution you are provided with Application Packages available for

distribution by your Deployment Solution, along with complete documentation and application

portfolio. Training and Workflows will be introduced and implemented on your Support Center.

On-Site Team

o All resources located On-Site

o All Remediation is performed On-Site with Organization Equipment

o User Acceptance Testing is Performed

o Progressive Handover

- Application Packages

- Documentation

- Processes & Workflows

- Support Center Integration

o Post – Project Completion

- Ability to keep Application Packaging Solution Engineers as Consultants for BAU

ACPS

Our

Project Lead

Our

Technical Lead

Our

Packaging Team

Our

UAT Team Our \ Your

Deployment Tech

Your Liason



Off-Site Team

o All resources located at Off-Site (US) DataCenter

o All Remediation is performed at Off-Site Location

o Organization must Provide Pre-Requisite Requirements

o Your Resources perform Progressive \ Post UAT

o Progressive \ Closeout Handover


- Documentation



Hybrid Team

o Team Off-Site \ Team Lead Consultant On-Site

o Team Lead Consultant Performs UAT

o Team Lead Consultant Assists with Deployment Solution

o All Packaging performed Off-Site with Team Lead Consultant Performing Progressive

Handover Concurrently On-Site

o Progressive Handover


- Documentation



o Post – Project Completion

- Ability to keep Team Lead Consultant as Consultants for BAU

ACPS

Off-Site

Our

Technical Coordinator

Our

Packaging Team

On-Site Your Liason

Your

UAT Team

Your

Deployment Tech

ACPS

Off-Site

Our

Technical Coordinator

Our

Packaging Team

On-Site

Our

Technical Lead

Your \ Our

UAT Team

Your \ Our

Deployment Tech

Your Liason

Application Compatibility Planning Service

Technology

Transcript of Application Compatibility Planning Service