Configuration Management-Configuration Management-Basic ConceptsBasic Concepts

AgendaAgenda

Configuration Management process OverviewConfiguration Management process Overview Process StagesProcess Stages

Planning & SetupPlanning & Setup ControlControl AuditAudit

Case StudyCase Study

Process Overview

Definition:-

Configuration Management (CM) is the process of identifying, organizing and controlling modifications to the work products in a testing project

Why CM?

To ensure that..• Software conforms to requirements• Software has undergone all reviews and tests• Right version of any work product is used at any point of time• All components of the delivered software are consistent with

each other• Right version of software components are shipped to customer

site

Do you know ………….Do you know …………. Estimated number of bugs due to CM problems

10% to 15%

Process StagesProcess Stages-(i)-(i)Planning & SetupPlanning & Setup

Planning involvesPlanning involves

• Identification of work components which needs Identification of work components which needs to be under configuration controlto be under configuration control

• Laying down procedures for controlling and Laying down procedures for controlling and implementing changes to the software items implementing changes to the software items within the project’s defined workflow.within the project’s defined workflow.

• Identification of tools used in the projectIdentification of tools used in the project

Planning & Setup contd….Planning & Setup contd….

The following should be ensured during planning:-The following should be ensured during planning:-

1.1. Version control Version control

2.2. Base-lining procedureBase-lining procedure

3.3. Change control procedureChange control procedure

4.4. Release procedureRelease procedure

5.5. Status accounting procedureStatus accounting procedure

6.6. Backup procedure Backup procedure

7.7. Archival procedure Archival procedure

Configurations itemsConfigurations items : :

Definition:-Definition:-

““Configuration items are the items that are Configuration items are the items that are directly related or involved in creation of work directly related or involved in creation of work product.”product.”

e.g. requirement specification document, design e.g. requirement specification document, design document, Source Code, Acceptance plan etc.document, Source Code, Acceptance plan etc.

Test Project work Products Test Project work Products do not need the formality of do not need the formality of configuration management but do need to be placed under configuration management but do need to be placed under some form of Version Control and Change control referred some form of Version Control and Change control referred to as “managed and controlled”to as “managed and controlled”

Some of the items which needs to be Some of the items which needs to be managed & controlled managed & controlled

PlansPlans• Test plans, test scripts Test plans, test scripts • Project plan Project plan • CM planCM plan

DataData• Planning and re-Planning and re-

planning dataplanning data• Test dataTest data

RecordsRecords• All review recordsAll review records• Causal analysis recordsCausal analysis records• Program level tracking Program level tracking

recordsrecords• Test recordsTest records• Release recordsRelease records• Status tracking recordsStatus tracking records

Customer supplied Customer supplied

Documentation orDocumentation or

manualsmanuals

Equipment’s or any other Equipment’s or any other itemsitems

OthersOthers• Standards used in projectStandards used in project• Contract /proposalContract /proposal

Participants in planningParticipants in planning

Test ManagerTest Manager, , Configuration Configuration Controller/ Configuration Control Controller/ Configuration Control BoardBoard

CM ActivitiesCM Activities

Identify configuration items Identify configuration items Identify items to be managed Identify items to be managed

& controlled& controlled Define the flow of Define the flow of

configuration items & identify configuration items & identify the baseline pointsthe baseline points

Define naming and numbering Define naming and numbering conventionsconventions

Identify the storage structureIdentify the storage structure Define the following Define the following

procedures for the procedures for the configuration items:configuration items:• Version ControlVersion Control• BaseliningBaselining• Change controlChange control• ReconciliationReconciliation• ReleaseRelease

• Status accountingStatus accounting• BackupBackup• ArchivalArchival

Define the following procedures Define the following procedures for the managed & controlled for the managed & controlled itemsitems• Version ControlVersion Control• BaseliningBaselining

Identify CM toolIdentify CM tool Prepare CM plan Prepare CM plan Review CM planReview CM plan Identify configuration controller Identify configuration controller

(CC)/CCB(CC)/CCB Train the team on projects’ CM Train the team on projects’ CM

planplan Setup configuration environmentSetup configuration environment

Process StagesProcess Stages-(ii)-(ii) Control Control

Configuration control involves controlling/tracking Configuration control involves controlling/tracking changes to the configuration items in a changes to the configuration items in a systematic way.systematic way.

Participants :CC, Test Manager, Testing Team Participants :CC, Test Manager, Testing Team

ActivitiesActivities

For configuration itemsFor configuration items

• Get authorization for Get authorization for change requestchange request

• Checkout configuration Checkout configuration items items

• Update the status Update the status tracker (E.g. Schedule is tracker (E.g. Schedule is the simplest form of the simplest form of status tracker)status tracker)

• Update the items & Update the items & change version change version number /modlog number /modlog

• Verify Verify approval/authorization approval/authorization status of modified status of modified programs/documentsprograms/documents

• Check-in configuration Check-in configuration items items

• Update the status trackerUpdate the status tracker• Backup configuration Backup configuration

items items • Archive configuration Archive configuration

items as necessaryitems as necessary• Maintain a log of change Maintain a log of change

requests processedrequests processed

For Managed & controlled For Managed & controlled itemsitems

• Checkout configuration Checkout configuration items items

• Update the items & Update the items & change version numberchange version number

• Check-in configuration Check-in configuration itemsitems

Process Stages-(iii) AuditProcess Stages-(iii) Audit

Configuration audits are performed to verify Configuration audits are performed to verify thatthat• Configuration management activities are Configuration management activities are

conducted as per plan. conducted as per plan. • Compliance to the applicable standards is Compliance to the applicable standards is

maintainedmaintained• Integrity of the baseline is maintainedIntegrity of the baseline is maintained• Baseline contents are complete & correctBaseline contents are complete & correct• Status of each of the configuration items is Status of each of the configuration items is

correctly availablecorrectly available

There are 3 types of CM auditsThere are 3 types of CM audits

1.1. Baseline audit or Physical auditBaseline audit or Physical audit

2.2. Work product completion audit Work product completion audit or Functional auditor Functional audit

3.3. Release auditRelease audit

Baseline audit or Physical auditBaseline audit or Physical audit This audit is conducted on a periodic basis.This audit is conducted on a periodic basis. This audit involves checking This audit involves checking

• If CM activities are planned and available in scheduleIf CM activities are planned and available in schedule• Whether workflow is as per the CM plan Whether workflow is as per the CM plan • Where configuration items are stored and where they are Where configuration items are stored and where they are

supposed to besupposed to be• Are changes to the baseline controlled?Are changes to the baseline controlled?• Is the status of the configuration item available?Is the status of the configuration item available?

Physical configuration audits are performed as Physical configuration audits are performed as necessary to verify that all items identified as necessary to verify that all items identified as being part of the configuration are present in the being part of the configuration are present in the respective directory (baseline, release, etc.). respective directory (baseline, release, etc.).

Work product completion audit or Functional Work product completion audit or Functional auditaudit

To verify and validate that the configuration item To verify and validate that the configuration item has achieved the performance specified and the has achieved the performance specified and the documentation is adequate for a move to documentation is adequate for a move to production, production, i.e Any work product that is ready should undergo i.e Any work product that is ready should undergo a completion check to confirm that –a completion check to confirm that –• Performance criteria mentioned in the specifications of Performance criteria mentioned in the specifications of

the work product are metthe work product are met• All components are availableAll components are available• All the planned reviews have been performedAll the planned reviews have been performed• All the required tests have been completedAll the required tests have been completed• All the defects/ issues raised on the work product are All the defects/ issues raised on the work product are

closed.closed.• Traceability exists.Traceability exists.

Release AuditRelease Audit

At the time of release, an audit is done to At the time of release, an audit is done to ensure that –ensure that –

• Right version of the work product is shipped to Right version of the work product is shipped to the customerthe customer

• All components of the release are consistent All components of the release are consistent with each otherwith each other

• All defects are closed before All defects are closed before shipping/Unresolved issues/ defects are listed shipping/Unresolved issues/ defects are listed in the release notein the release note

ActivitiesActivities

Plan for the audit Plan for the audit Conduct the auditConduct the audit Generate audit reportGenerate audit report Ensure closure of defectsEnsure closure of defects

Case Study-ArgosCase Study-Argos

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