See here for advanceinfo on Deployment Units
Introduction
Deployment Units (DUs) simplify the planning of the deployment phase of the migration. They allow users to be split into groups which will typically represent a location or department that is being migrated during a specific period.
By default, DUs are enabled for User Migrations only but also apply to the Applications, Devices, Mailboxes and Bespoke modules.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Introduction
- Enabling DUs at the Module Level
- Creating a New Deployment Unit
- Deployment Unit Tabs
- Further Support
Enabling DUs at the Module Level
DUs are enabled in the Administration section for supported modules:
| Step | Example |
|---|---|
| Switch to Administration and choose a module. User Migrations, Applications, Devices, Mailboxes, and Bespoke support DUs. Click DeployUnit & Self-Schedule in the Surveys, Sign-Offs & Self Schedule panel. |  |
| Click the toggle at the top to switch the DU status from Disabled to Enabled (1). Click Save Changes (2). |
Creating a New Deployment Unit
Switch to the Deployment Unit module and click click the New button in the Toolbar:
Information Required for a New DU
The Create New Deployment Unit wizard requires the information specified below. Once populated, click the New button at the bottom to create the DU.
|  |
Deployment Unit Tabs
Details
The Details tab contains the core information about the DU:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Deploy Unit Id (read-only) | The internal ID that is used to reference the DU throughout ManagementStudio. |
| Target Module (read-only) | This field refers to the target module specified during creation. DUs can target User Migrations, Applications, Devices, Mailboxes, and Bespoke modules. |
| Deployment Unit | The name of the DU. |
| Location | The geographical location of the DU. |
| Start Date | The DU start date and time. |
| All Day (SD) | Tick if the start of the DU is an all-day event and does not require a time. |
| End Date | The DU end date and time. |
| All Day (ED) | Tick if the end of the DU is an all-day event and does not require a time. |
| Use Global Schedule | Ticked by default, applies the Global Schedule to the DU. Untick to define a local schedule (E.g. to create a schedule with fewer but longer slots for VIPs). |
| Process | The process identifies the current stage of the deployment workflow. For example, the process might be set to 3. Scheduling if users are being scheduled for migration. |
| Sub Process | The sub-process of the deployment workflow. For example, the sub-process Invites Sent would be used for 3. Scheduling. |
| Process Status (read-only) | Marks the internal status of the DU. Statuses are Inactive, In Progress, and Complete. |
| Date Entered Process (read-only) | The time and date that the DU entered the current Process. |
| Primary Contact Email | The email address of the primary contact. |
| Secondary Contact Email | The email address of the secondary contact. |
| Is Base Line Locked | This should be used to lock the users in the DU. When a DU base line is locked, users cannot be added to or removed from the DU. Note that the users can still be added to migration slots, and the DU details can still be updated. |
| Is Signed Off | Used to mark when the DU schedule and migration slots have been signed off by the person responsible for the users in the DU. |
| Is Completed | Use this to mark when all the users in the DU have been successfully migrated. |
| Base Line Locked Date (read-only) | This is auto-populated when the DU is base line locked. |
| Signed Off Date (read-only) | This is auto-populated when the DU is signed off. |
| Completion Date (read-only) | This is auto-populated when the DU is marked as completed. |
| Status | Signifies the overall status of the DU. Out of the box, options are GO, No GO, and Reschedule. |
| Priority | This identifies the priority of the DU. For example, Low, Medium, and High. |
| Assigned To | The ManagementStudio project user that is allocated to the DU. This will default to the user that initially created the DU. |
| Created By (read-only) | The ManagementStudio project user that created the DU. |
| Created On (read-only) | The date on which the DU was created. |
| Archived | Tick to signify that the DU is archived. |
| Locked | Tick to lock the DU and prevent further changes. |
| Prevent New Links | Tick to prevent new links to users, applications or devices from being created. |
| Description | A text area to add a description of the DU. Notes should be added using the New Note Quick Action or by expanding the Notes panel on the right. |
| Blueprints (read-only) | Lists all Blueprints associated with the DU. |
| Attachments (read-only) | Lists attachments against the DU (managed via the Attachments tab). |
| Contacts (read-only) | Lists all contacts associated with the DU (managed via the Contacts tab). |
| Defects (read-only) | Lists all defects associated with the DU (managed via the Defects tab). |
| Deleted (read-only) | If checked, the record was deleted. |
| Tasks (read-only) | Lists all tasks associated with the DU (managed via the Tasks tab). |
| Dependencies (read-only) | Lists the DU's dependencies (managed via the Dependencies tab). |
Discovery
The Discovery section contains information about the DU that isn't related to the scheduling, such as the address and primary contacts. By default, ManagementStudio ships with three tabs:
- Site Information: Site address, contacts, nature of the site, DR site, and operating hours
- PPE & Safety: Health and safety summary, contacts, site access pre-requisites, allergy information, and site restrictions
- Asset Shipping: Information about assets shipped to site
For further information about managing the Discovery tab, please refer to:
https://support.managementstudio.com/a/solutions/articles/14000108621
Schedule
The Schedule tab is prefixed by the DU's target type. For example, the tab title for a user-based DU would be User Migrations Schedule.
The Migrations Schedule tab provides a summary of all the items belonging to the DU, including the status, and start/end-time of the migration.
For further information about working with the Schedule tab, please refer to:
https://support.managementstudio.com/a/solutions/articles/14000110582
Schedule Config
The Deployment Unit schedule is by default based on a globally defined schedule. The Schedule Config tab is used to apply the global schedule or to create a customised local schedule, specify days that should be excluded from the schedule, and view slot utilisation to maximise engineering resource.
The tab consists of five core sections:
- Toolbar (1)
- Slot Configuration Grid (2)
- Suspended Days Grid (3)
- Slot Utilisation (4)
- Slot Calendar (5)
For further information about working with the Schedule Config tab, please refer to:
https://support.managementstudio.com/a/solutions/articles/14000110583
Defects
Defects are used throughout ManagementStudio to track issues that impact the project. For Deployment Units, this could be an issue with an application that's required by a user in that DU or a site that doesn't meet particular health and safety requirements (e.g. not nut-free).
The Defects tab is used to view and manage the defects associated with the DU, including adding new defects, attaching existing defects, and viewing the defect details.
For further information about working with the Defects tab, please refer to:
https://support.managementstudio.com/a/solutions/articles/14000108622
Tasks
Tasks are a versatile way for project administrators to record and track outstanding activities with a Deployment Unit. Project users that are assigned to a task will be notified by ManagementStudio. The Tasks tab is used to view and manage all tasks associated with the DU.
For further information about working with the Tasks tab, please refer to:
https://support.managementstudio.com/a/solutions/articles/14000122464
Contacts
Individuals that are involved with the deployment for a particular site or area are linked to the DU in the Contacts tab. This could be the Site Manager, Office Administrator or Health and Safety Coordinator. Linking a contact makes it easier for a project user to identify primary contacts for the deployment phase and access key contact information, such as email and telephone numbers.
A DU can have one or more contacts linked to it.
For further information about working with the Contacts tab, please refer to:
https://support.managementstudio.com/a/solutions/articles/14000108623
Surveys
Surveys are web-based forms that are used to gather additional information about a DU from users that don't have access to the ManagementStudio interface. For example, the project team are creating a new DU for the Trentham office and require information regarding location, office opening times, and PPE to build the DU schedule. The primary contact will receive an email that invites them to complete the information via ManagementStudio's web portal.
In this example, the information returned is located in the Discovery tab, providing the project team with quick access to real-time information.
For further information about working with the Surveys tab, please refer to:
https://support.managementstudio.com/a/solutions/articles/14000108626
Dependencies
A DU might have several dependencies that could impact the rollout. For example, before upgrading a site to the latest version of Windows, a new link needs to be installed to support the deployment method. The Dependencies tab lists all the items that a DU is dependent on and the status.
In addition, the Dependencies tab will also list the other objects that the DU is a dependency of. In the example above, the DU ST4-Trentham is a dependency of Ea-Cambridge. Viewing the Cambridge DU (below) will show the Trentham DU as a primary dependency in addition to all the children dependencies. This enables the project team to fully manage and track all activities related to the deployment.
For further information about working with the Dependencies tab, please refer to:
https://support.managementstudio.com/a/solutions/articles/14000114086
Attachments
Whilst preparing a site or office for a deployment, it may be necessary to add supporting documentation to the DU record. For example, this could include health and safety certificates or induction documentation. In addition, all Survey responses are also stored as PDFs that can be downloaded and shared with colleagues that don't have access to ManagementStudio. These documents are stored in the Attachments tab.
For further information about working with the Attachments tab, please refer to:
https://support.managementstudio.com/a/solutions/articles/14000108628
History
All activities made against a DU record within ManagementStudio are recorded in the History tab. This enables project administrators to review changes and data-mine for specific events or activities during certain time frames.
For further information about working with the History tab, please refer to:
https://support.managementstudio.com/a/solutions/articles/14000108629
Further Support
If you require further support, please visit ManagementStudio's Service Desk to search the knowledge base or create a new support ticket.