Configuration Management
(CM):
To understand configuration management, we will first look
at the bookish meaning of Configuration.
What is
configuration?
Configuration means the way a system is arranged. The
arrangement of parts or elements in a particular form or combination.
Once configuration is clear, we can try to know what the
management of the configuration is. In very simple words the purpose of CM is
to maintain software integrity throughout the software development lifecycle and
can also be defined as the best solution to handling changes in software
projects.
Configuration management includes 4 procedures:
1.
Configuration Identification
2.
Configuration control
3.
Configuration status accounting
4.
Configuration audits
We will now see each of the procedures.
Configuration identification:
In this process we identify the attributes that define every aspect of a
configuration item. The attributes are then recorded in the configuration
documentation and baselined. These ate later tracked through design, development , testing and
final delivery.
What is configuration
item?
A product that has end user purpose can be termed as
configuration item. The product can be any hardware or software.
Configuration control: This
is the process of controlling changes to the system’s design, hardware,
firmware, software and documentation. It also includes the approval stages of
the change and re-baseline them
Configuration status accounting: This
is the process of recording and reporting
configuration item descriptions from the baseline and if any problems
found the approved modifications can be quickly determined.
Configuration audits: The
audit ensures that functional and performance attributes of a configuration
item are achieved.
The benefits of a SCM are being able to perform functions
like
1. Root cause analysis
2. Impact analysis
3. Change management and
4. Current state assessment for the future state strategy
development.
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