Before you begin an VMware Smart Assurance deployment, you must meet the requirements described in Before-you-begin checklist. Each chapter in this guide includes a checklist. For ease of use, the checklists are all grouped together in Appendix E, “Design and Deployment Checklists.”

Table 1. Before-you-begin checklist

Complete

Requirement

Description

Possess an understanding of the VMware Smart Assurance architecture and capabilities.

At a minimum, you must understand the concepts and VMware Smart Assurance architecture described in the following documents:

  • VMware Smart Assurance IP Manager Concepts Guide

  • VMware Smart Assurance IP Manager User Guide

  • VMware Smart Assurance IP Manager Reference Guide

  • VMware Smart Assurance Service Assurance Manager Configuration Guide

  • VMware Smart Assurance Service Assurance Manager Introduction

  • VMware Smart Assurance Service Assurance Manager Adapter Platform User Guide

  • VMware Smart Assurance System Administration Guide

  • VMware Smart Assurance Installation Guide for SAM, IP, ESM, MPLS, and NPM Managers that accompanied your software product suite

To improve your understanding, attend VMware Smart Assurance training courses. Typically, deployment requires the knowledge equivalent to what is provided in the training courses on:

  • VMware Smart Assurance IP Manager

  • VMware Smart Assurance Service Assurance Manager (Global Manager)

  • VMware Smart Assurance Service Assurance Manager Adapter Platform (Adapter Platform)

Obtain contact information for the deployment team.

The contact list should include titles, responsibilities, and contact methods for all team members.

Get nondisclosure requirements and negotiate an agreement.

Be aware of the requirements of the non-disclosure agreements that are in place for the deployment.

Develop schedules and set milestones for early deliverable.

Scheduling a software deployment varies based on the size and scope of the deployment and the organization’s requirements. Typical milestones might include:

  • Initial project meeting to define the deployment scope

  • Purchase of VMware Smart Assurance software

  • Project development begins

  • Installation in test environment complete

  • Testing complete

  • Installation in production environment complete

  • VMware Smart Assurance deployment goes live

Additional information on scheduling is beyond the scope of this guide.