Software deployment

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_deployment

Software deployment is all of the activities that make a software system available for use.

Deployment Activities

Release 

The release activity follows from the completed development process. It includes all the operations to prepare a system for assembly and transfer to the customer site. 

 

Install and activate 

Activation is the activity of starting up the executable component of software. For simple system, it involves establishing some form of command for execution. For complex systems, it should make all the supporting systems ready to use.

In larger software deployments, the working copy of the software might be installed on a production server in a production environment. Other versions of the deployed software may be installed in a test environment, development environment and disaster recovery environment.

 

Deactivate 

Deactivation is the inverse of activation, and refers to shutting down any executing components of a system. Deactivation is often required to perform other deployment activities, e.g., a software system may need to be deactivated before an update can be performed. The practice of removing infrequently used or obsolete systems from service is often referred to as application retirement or application decommissioning.

 

Adapt 

The adaptation activity is also a process to modify a software system that has been previously installed. It differs from updating in that adaptations are initiated by local events such as changing the environment of customer site, while updating is mostly started from remote software producer.

 

Update 

The update process replaces an earlier version of all or part of a software system with a newer release.

 

Built-In 

Mechanisms for installing updates are built into some software systems. Automation of these update processes ranges from fully automatic to user initiated and controlled. Norton Internet Security is an example of a system with a semi-automatic method for retrieving and installing updates to both the antivirus definitions and other components of the system. Other software products provide query mechanisms for determining when updates are available.

 

Version tracking 

Version tracking systems help the user find and install updates to software systems installed on PCs and local networks.

• Web based version tracking systems notify the user when updates are available for software systems installed on a local system. 
• Local version tracking system notifies the user when updates are available for software systems installed on a local system. 
• Browser based version tracking systems notify the user when updates are available for software packages installed on a local system.

 

Uninstall 

Uninstallation is the inverse of installation. It is the removal of a system that is no longer required. It also involves some reconfiguration of other software systems in order to remove the uninstalled system’s files and dependencies.

 

Retire 

Ultimately, a software system is marked as obsolete and support by the producers is withdrawn. It is the end of the life cycle of a software product.