(Source: Deployment Options for Microsoft Office 2010)
Overview
Administrators can use change and configuration management software, such as Microsoft System Center Essentials and Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager, to deploy Office 2010 applications. The choice of System Center Essentials or Configuration Manager depends in part on the size of your organization.
Advantages
- Applications are deployed to thousands of workstations in a short period of time. Managed deployment systems can first push the installation bits to the targeted workstations over a specified period of time (such as over a week), which helps distribute the load to the network and allows for a quick deployment once the installation bits are on the targeted workstations.
- Makes network bandwidth management easier.
- Centralizes control, monitoring, reporting, and issue resolution of deployment.
- Reduces the need of sending helpdesk personnel to workstations for troubleshooting.
Limitations
- Requires supporting infrastructure.
- Expertise is required to manage the change and configuration management software.
Recommendations
- Use managed deployment systems when applications are deployed to thousands of workstations in a short period of time.
- Put change and configuration management policies in place.
- Plan, test, and validate before rolling out to production.
- Roll out in a phased manner. This is especially true for unattended installs — the most common issue is people not creating/configuring a valid unattended install experience.
- Schedule deployments for minimum network utilization times, such as evenings and weekends.
