Cover story: Mapping Out an Efficient Migration Strategy
Date
:
3/4/2010
Migrating to a new OS can be a complex undertaking—so it is essential for IT leaders to build consensus from the outset about how they will plan, assess, design, build, deploy, manage, and support their Microsoft® Windows® 7 OS migrations. In the planning and assessment phase, the first step should be to develop a comprehensive application inventory and a list of applications that must be migrated. Organizations should also consider mobile worker productivity, remote systems management, and how the Windows 7 and Windows Server® 2008 R2 operating systems can work together to bolster efficiency and productivity.
Determining hardware readiness is the first step of the design and building phase. Automated testing tools can help streamline the task of determining application and peripheral compatibility. Organizations also must determine whether to use options such as Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V), Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V), and Windows XP Mode to enable use of incompatible applications. After completing the design process, organizations can take advantage of the latest Windows 7 tools for building and testing OS images.
In the deployment phase, best practices and automation can help ensure fast, stable, consistent rollouts across the organization; Dell offers open, flexible client management tools designed to reduce the complexity and cost of Windows 7 migrations. And, of course, the migration process does not end after Windows 7 is installed—ongoing management and support are key parts of maintaining a healthy infrastructure.
Dell Services offerings—based on firsthand experience deploying Windows 7 throughout the Dell global organization using patent-pending Dell deployment methodologies—are available to help organizations carry out all of these steps. Although Windows 7 deployments may vary widely, the common denominator is a comprehensive plan for the deployment life cycle. By creating a detailed road map guided by a comprehensive needs assessment, organizations can lay the groundwork for a successful transition to Windows 7.
Determining hardware readiness is the first step of the design and building phase. Automated testing tools can help streamline the task of determining application and peripheral compatibility. Organizations also must determine whether to use options such as Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V), Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V), and Windows XP Mode to enable use of incompatible applications. After completing the design process, organizations can take advantage of the latest Windows 7 tools for building and testing OS images.
In the deployment phase, best practices and automation can help ensure fast, stable, consistent rollouts across the organization; Dell offers open, flexible client management tools designed to reduce the complexity and cost of Windows 7 migrations. And, of course, the migration process does not end after Windows 7 is installed—ongoing management and support are key parts of maintaining a healthy infrastructure.
Dell Services offerings—based on firsthand experience deploying Windows 7 throughout the Dell global organization using patent-pending Dell deployment methodologies—are available to help organizations carry out all of these steps. Although Windows 7 deployments may vary widely, the common denominator is a comprehensive plan for the deployment life cycle. By creating a detailed road map guided by a comprehensive needs assessment, organizations can lay the groundwork for a successful transition to Windows 7.