Question

Explain and give an illustrative example why Involve appropriate hardware and software suppliers can improve the quality of configuration management

Answer 1

Explanation of why involving appropriate hardware and software suppliers improves the quality of configuration management:

It is a practical tip to match the task at hand to the documentation skill levels of technicians from appropriate hardware and software supplier groups. It should be considered a supplier can be a partner in innovation.

Involving appropriate hardware suppliers:

Various server hardware models support only limited and certain versions of operating system software. Different sized disk arrays are compatible with different quantities and types of channels, cache, disk volumes, and densities. It is the same case with tape drive pieces of equipment. Further, desktop computers and network components such as routers and switches come with various features, options, specifications, interconnections, and enhancements.

Hardware suppliers are the most qualified, however the least involved in preparing or assisting with a client’s documentation. There are the most qualified hardware suppliers such as experienced server and disk suppliers who have the capability and skills to generate, free of charge, and detailed diagrams about all aspects of a layout. However, most suppliers would keep documentation about their equipment current and understandable. They are interested in doing so, both, from serviceability and marketing perspectives.

Involving appropriate software suppliers:

Infrastructure software suppliers are an excellent source of help in documenting software levels compatibility with their corresponding models of hardware. On the other hand, with servers and operating systems, the hardware and software suppliers are mostly the same, reducing supplier number required to work with, however, it does not mean it reduces the complexity of the configurations.

There are various levels of database management, performance monitoring, and data backups software available and compatible only for specific platforms. Suppliers help in setting up initial configurations such as, for the complex disk to tape backup schemes and offer online tools helping in the upkeep of the documentation.

Also, from the supplier involvement's perspective, it is required to assess, measure and streamline the configuration management process maintaining a worksheet determining to what degree key suppliers documenting and updating configuration diagrams, are involved in the design of the process.

An illustrative example:

One of the clients had hundreds of servers almost evenly divided among HP, Sun, and NT with three or four different versions, releases, and patch levels for each supplier manufactured product. Changes to the software levels were made very frequently, almost weekly to one or more servers requiring almost continual updates both, to the software and hardware configurations. Assistance from the suppliers as to the predictable release levels and online tool usage simplified the process to a great extent.