My teammate Manu Namboodiri, Sr. product manager for Windows Vista deployment technologies, wanted to make sure more IT professionals know about the Microsoft Solution Accelerator for Business Desktop Deployment 2007 (aka BDD) and some of the philosophy on why we think this will be such a valuable resource for deploying Windows Vista. From Manu:
Microsoft has invested a lot to provide innovative technologies that help customers deploy desktops effectively. You can look at all the new capabilities around file-based imaging, component based architectures, hardware independence, etc. However, where we have heard a lot of feedback from our customers and partners is around the best practices and methodology to use these tools most effectively. We also hear from industry analysts that most of the migration challenges customers face is around building teams, schedules, project plans, business cases as well as process and methodology. Technology, in itself, plays a smaller role than we would think in successful deployments.
The challenges our customers face are the following:
· No standard set of deployment guidelines – this results in widely varying results and costs for desktop deployments
· Focus has been more on technology and less on methodology – this has caused varying types of solutions and therefore results
· Customer perception of cost/complexity –due to the lack of repeatable and consistent process around the technology
· Unclear guidance on which of our many new tools to use when
This realization is the reason, with Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office System, we have been extremely focused in enhancing our guidance around deployments. The result is the significantly improved Business Desktop Deployment (BDD 2007) methodology for desktop deployment. We are working with industry experts, system integrators, deployment/management software providers in building this guidance so that it captures best practices from throughout the industry.
BDD 2007, both the guidance and Microsoft’s implementation of this guidance, is available as a single free download from Microsoft (www.microsoft.com/desktopdeployment). All our Windows Vista deployment tools and technologies (ImageX, Windows PE, Application Compatibiity Toolkit, System Image Manager, User State Migration tool, BDD Workbench, etc) will be available to IT Pros, only as part of this free download. We also will be providing all the Microsoft Office deployment tools as well with BDD. The reason is that we want our customers to benefit from the guidance as well as the tools so that they can use them more effectively. We don’t want them to be going to different sites and trying to search for tools – BDD will be the one stop shop! This guidance can be used by IT professionals and partners to see how the new technologies and tools can be used end-to-end, from planning, building and deploying the desktops.
In addition, our zero touch deployment solutions are also developed based on BDD methodology – and we use our SMS, MOM, and Biztalk products to develop this extremely effective solution. Talk to your Microsoft account or deployment partner to take advantage of the BDD zero touch solution.
BDD will help our customers and partners:
· Create deployment and planning teams staffed with the right skill sets
· Create a software and hardware inventory for deployment planning
· Test applications for compatibility with Windows Vista and mitigate the compatibility issues discovered during the process.
· Think through and implement the new volume activation process of Windows Vista
· Develop a migration strategy and solutions for user, application and data
· Develop a strategy to create the fewer number of flexible images
· Set up an initial lab and test environment with deployment and imaging servers
· Decide on a strategy for customizing and packaging core and supplemental applications
· Automate processed for desktop image creation and deployment – including updates
· Help harden the desktop to improve security within the environment
· Develop options for remote, lite or zero touch deployments – including branch offices and mobile users
· Have a successful, efficient Windows Vista and 2007 Office deployment!
The key point is that methodology is important and we hope you will find value in the work we have done to highlight this. You shall see this improving as we go along this path.
The version of BDD currently available for download is designed to work with Windows Vista RC1. The RTM version is expected to be available a few weeks after RTM (testing time!) We will notify you on this blog as soon it is released.
- Manu