For the Vista migration plans mentioned here, we had four steps. This is Step 1 which has a total of nine (9) stages.
Previously we had detailed Stages 1 thru 5 of Step 1. An overview of those stages is listed below followed by Stages 6-9.
At the Day Job, our plan for migrating client desktops to Vista was simple: know everything!
1. Partner with Microsoft closely in order to learn everything possible about Vista.
2. Migrate clients to a Windows Server SBS-based client-server operating environment.
3. Convert entire client base to Windows XP.
4. Introduce clients to the benefits of the Microsoft Licensing and Software Assurance, and Financing programs.
5. Inform the client base about the benefits of Vista.
6. Inventory the client’s hardware computing resources in order to identify systems requiring hardware upgrades in order to run Vista: By June 30, we had an inventory of all of our clients’ physical computing equipment. All computers, printers, switches, routers, everything. The inventory also included parameters such as NIC model, video card, sound card, etc. this allowed us to made recommendations, both internally and to the client, of what was needed to get Vista working optimally on each system. For our recommendations, we broke ranks with Microsoft, and made a decision for a baseline system consistent with our beta test. The Logikworx minimum baseline Vista system should have the following hardware minimums: AMD Athlon 3800, or Intel equivalent, 1 GB RAM, 1 GB flash memory (integrated or USB-based) for ReadyBoost™, 256 MB ATI RADEON x1300-class or Nvidia 5500 graphics, 100 GB hard disk drive
7. Make sure that clients’ software was compatible with Vista: Easily the trickiest part of this process, this involved us actually talking to and meeting with various ISVs and getting them t try out the public betas of Vista. For commercial applications, we used the compatibility mode in Vista to test for errors and corruption.
8. Create a timetable for training users on Vista: Migrating users to Vista without any training would have been useless. Any plan for Vista had to include training. The problem was, what level of training would management deem necessary?
9. Have a personalized plan for migrating both users and their data to Vista: This is accomplished with the input of the business owner/executive management with a view to migrating the company with the absolute minimum amount of disruption to the daily business flow of each company.
