System Deployment View

[BartM]

Hi

I'm looking for web application in which I can model deployment view of big software system in which there are lot of small applications. I need the following information from this application:

- What is currently installed in the system (in which version)
- Who, when and why installed particular applications
- What was installed by particular person recently
- And similar reports about state of the system

Additionally application should have interface which will allow entering such information. When person responsible for application deployment is installing anything then enters application screen and enters there all information about this deployment.

Do you know if ITIL can help me with this anyhow? Do you know some ITIL implementations which will realize such functionalities?

If not ITIL, then if anyone knows something different which can be useful for me?

Thanks for any help
BartM

[Guerino1]

Hi BartM,

We offer a platform called KnowIT that covers all of the requirements you listed, above, with the exception of being able to give you details of the runtime state of your system. You will need Systems Management & Monitoring tools to perform that task.

If you're interested in learning about the rest, feel free to check us out and send me any questions you have.

Regards,
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[Edited by Admin to remove link]

[m_croon]

Bart,

It seems you are asking more than 1 thing. You want to find out about the history of software deployment (who is using what? license count?). Who was responsible for any changes to the infrastructure? Also, you want to know about the state of your systems.

I think that ITIL could play a role, but you'd have to think about tooling first. Depending on your preference, you could select one of the larger toolsuppliers, who have different tools for different means. For instance:
HP has their tool Openview for system monitoring, and Radia for software deployment and licence count. Axios has tools for service management tooling (Assyst) and infrastructure inventory. CA has Unicentre (system monitoring tool) and Advanced Helpdesk (service management tool). May I suggest that you write down your demands in more detail and approach some vendors with them for a selection process.

ITIL will mainly come in after you have selected a tool (it might be wise to get anyone within your organisation who is responsible for processes such as availability and capacity management (state of the systems), configuration management (registering who changed what) and release management (software deployment) involved in this selection process.

When using such tools, you will find that they can have a major impact on topics such as:
* resourcing: centralisation of software deployment, less people needed, different release management process (=ITIL)
* accountability: control on number of licences (again: release management)
* pro-activity of IT dept through monitoring on state of the infrastructure (availability, capacity, computer operations)
* insight in your infrastructure (configuration management)

Do you already have these processes in place in your organisation? If so, you will likely find that you'll have to go back to the drawing board to redesign them. If not, implementing tooling in the proper way should force your organisation to think about the processes to use and control these tools.

About the web-part: ask yourself whether this is a need to have or a nice to have. Many suppliers nowadays have webinterfacing, just put it along your list of detailed requierements.

What is your role/function within your organisation?

Hope this is of some help,

Regards,

Michiel