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Windows 2000 Desktop Deployment at Dell
By Max Thoene (Issue 3 2000)
An enterprise­wide migration to a newer version of an operating
system is challenging in any business environment. Dell Computer
is upgrading more than 30,000 worldwide Windows clients to the
new Windows 2000 environment. This article describes Dell's
methodology and offers key insights into the challenges of a mass­
production migration environment.
With its new power management and plug­and­play features, the Windows 2000 Professional
OS enables businesses to lower the total cost of ownership for their desktop environments;
Active Directory is already a generally accepted model for managing an information
infrastructure. As a result, the momentum in favor of Windows 2000 has been increasing
steadily, and nearly every major Windows NT­based enterprise is planning to move to Windows
2000 as soon as possible.
To save companies time and money in this process and help them create better managed
desktop infrastructures, Dell has drawn on its strategic relationship with Microsoft and
experience with its own internal migration to develop the Dell Windows 2000 Desktop
Deployment Package. This product migrates user systems from Windows 95, Windows 98, and
Windows NT 4.0 desktop systems to Windows 2000. Developed as an automated, one­click
process, the Windows 2000 Desktop Deployment Package is repeatable, sustainable, and
scalable to meet the migration needs of businesses of any size. It can be updated to handle
future versions of the OS. The documentation, project plan, and schedule included with the Dell
Windows 2000 Desktop Deployment Package can be used as a template for any regional
Windows 2000 deployment.
This article describes the Dell migration experience, explains how the Dell Windows 2000
Desktop Deployment Package works, and reviews factors companies should consider before
migrating to Windows 2000.
The Dell Migration Experience
Because of its strategic relationship with Microsoft, Dell was a critical partner in the development
and testing of the Windows 2000 OS. Dell's internal migration was conducted in two distinct
phases. The first phase, completed between September 1998 and February 1999, included a
joint development program, a rapid deployment program, and an internal adoption program.
This phase focused on the infrastructure side of Windows 2000. It included production of the
Domain Name Service (DNS) structure and design of the Active Directory (AD) and
Organizational Unit (OU), as well as testing of the production infrastructure. Phase I concluded
with the infrastructure deployment project to migrate Dell production server platforms to
Windows 2000 Server and Advanced Server.
Phase II, which began in March 2000, focused on the production deployment of Windows 2000
Professional to the desktop and laptop computers of Dell employees. Dell's goals for the
deployment were to keep migration costs below the industry average and achieve 25 percent
client penetration in the first three months of the deployment period.
Success Factors
In planning the production rollout of the Windows 2000 client to its internal business segments,
Dell quickly discovered that the success of the project would depend on the team's ability to:
Define the scope of the project (that is, to identify, qualify, select, and schedule the
existing clients to be migrated from the current OS to Windows 2000)
Select appropriate deployment methods and apply them efficiently and effectively
Limit user downtime during the migration process and improve on industry averages for
migration times
Select and integrate internal and external tool sets for efficient use during the migration
process
Integrating Customized Solutions
Dell learned many lessons in its deployment project. To give Dell customers the benefit of this
experience, Dell decided to develop a repeatable, sustainable, and standardized turnkey
solution for migrating from Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows NT 4.0 to Windows 2000:
the Windows 2000 Desktop Deployment Package. To meet mission­critical user and business
requirements for the migration, Dell determined that the Package must:
Provide a user­friendly, Web­enabled process aided by tools, wizards, and online
guides
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2. Be usable during a normal business schedule or after hours to reduce impact on critical
business activities
Require a smaller amount of downtime than other migration alternatives
Ensure data security and preservation through a storage area network (SAN)
Dell took advantage of the Dell enterprise server environment to develop an end­to­end
migration process driven through and controlled by end­user interaction with a secure Web site.
The Dell enterprise server environment includes database and application servers, backup tape
libraries, and a SAN data environment.
Operating in this environment, Dell was able to design an automated migration process
requiring minimal user input. The challenges identified early in the Dell migration project were
resolved through proof­of­concept and pilot testing.
Dell's migration strategy used both in­house Dell solutions and vendor applications. Figure 1
summarizes the functions handled by these applications.
Figure 1. Dell and Third­Party Applications Used in the Dell Windows 2000 Desktop
Deployment Package
With these Dell and third­party solutions, Dell was able to achieve its overall goals for the
migration by largely automating the process. Migration time was two to three hours, a 50 percent
reduction compared to the four to six hours required for other migration solutions. The average
transition cost per system was less than one­half of the original internal forecast. Performing
migration activities at night rather than during normal business hours further reduced the impact
on end users. Dell completed the first phase of the client deployment two weeks ahead of
schedule, also as a result of automation.
The Dell and third­party solutions listed in Figure 1 had the following effects on the success
factors defined above:
Define the scope of the project: SQL queries from human resources, Remedy,
applications certification, and premigration databases quickly identify, qualify, select,
and schedule migrations, and also handle communications with targeted system
owners.
Select appropriate deployment methods and apply them effectively: Dell's effort to
automate the migration process resulted in two methods that use the same tools—Night
Migrations (the en masse scenario) and Self­Install (the one­off scenario). In Night
Migrations, technicians migrate a large number of co­located systems outside normal
working hours. The Self­Install method allows Dell users with some technical
background to migrate their own systems to Windows 2000 with little or no outside
assistance.
Limit user downtime during the migration process and improve on industry
averages for migration times: With automation, migration time was two to three hours,

3. compared with four to six hours required by other migration solutions. Night migration
further reduces the impact on end users of migration during regular business hours.
Select and integrate internal and external tool sets for efficient use: To automate
migration, Dell integrated third­party applications with internally developed applications
and Dell hardware and knowledge platforms to enhance the overall process.
Risks and Lessons Learned
In migrating its clients to Windows 2000, Dell identified numerous project risks and learned a
variety of lessons applicable to other organizations considering a migration, as outlined below.
Risks . Dell documented and mitigated a variety of risks during the migration effort. Four risks
seem to be the most prevalent and persistent threats to successful project completion:
1. Application certification. Success depends on ensuring that all third­party and internally
developed business­critical applications are identified, tested, and certified as Windows
2000 compliant prior to migrating systems in any business segment.
2. Business partner involvement. Business segment support, involvement, and
participation are required to effectively target, qualify, schedule, and migrate systems
within a particular business segment.
3. Hardware compatibility. Only systems that meet minimum systems component
requirements for Windows 2000 compatibility should be migrated. (Up to 30 percent to
50 percent of potential targets may not meet this criterion.) Methods for making systems
Windows 2000 compliant and criteria for deciding which systems to upgrade should be
determined in advance.
4. Desktop settings. Determining the security context of end users (Administrator, Power
User, or User) is necessary to avoid creating security problems in migrating their
systems.
Lessons Learned . The lessons learned from Dell's internal deployment include the following
best practices:
1. Use a formal program/project management approach. The core project team should be
an experienced group of information technology (IT) project or program managers.
2. Involve business segment leadership early and often. The leaders of each business
segment should appoint knowledgeable business liaisons for migration who are
responsible for defining clear functional requirements and promoting communication
between the migration team and the business segments regarding all aspects of project
progress.
3. Solicit executive sponsorship. Executive support for project success should be clearly
communicated throughout the project life cycle.
4. Encourage cross­functional teaming. Cross­functional teams including representatives
from all IT groups (engineering, support, applications development, database
management, and the core migration team) as well as other corporate functions
(business segments, corporate communications) serve as catalysts for project success.
5. Maintain a strong Web site presence. The Web site is a critical tool for all aspects of the
project. It gives users access to information, answers to frequently asked questions,
reports on project progress, and end­user documentation and feedback. It also
provides tools for migration technicians and self­installers and a central location for
reporting and displaying project progress metrics.
6. Choose a powerful storage solution. The storage solution is a critical tool to ensure the
preservation of end­user data, personal settings, mapped drives, printer settings,
shortcuts, favorites, and wallpaper settings. The storage solution must be scalable to
meet the number of systems to be migrated while maintaining sufficient space to store
data to meet business expectations for online and off­line storage if data retrieval
becomes necessary.
7. Handle scheduling carefully. Constant attention to logistics is needed to connect the
qualified targets and geographic locations while meeting the needs of business
segments and migration technicians. Scheduling will require the efforts of one or more
full­time staff members, depending on the number of targets.
8. Plan a productive application certification effort. A proactive and continuous effort must
be made to identify, catalog, and test both third­party and internally developed
applications to certify them as Windows 2000 compliant. Business segments should be
the final certification authorities.
9. Use flexible deployment methods. The migration team must be able to change
deployment methods to address business needs related to time windows and time­of­
day requirements for upgrades.
The Recommended Migration Process
Dell distilled the results of its own migration experience into a set of guidelines for production
migration to Windows 2000. Businesses that follow these guidelines and use the Dell Windows
2000 Desktop Deployment Package will save time and money in their migration efforts.
Dell uses a Web­enabled, user­interactive, 10­step process to migrate each client. Figure 2
illustrates the migration process. The box describes each step. All 10 steps can be completed
through the Web using Dell's Windows 2000 Desktop Deployment Package.

4. Figure 2. Windows 2000 Migration Process
The migration team makes business decisions, such as scheduling the migration, and
communicates with targeted users. To reduce downtime, migration can be scheduled for periods
when targeted users expect to be out of their offices, possibly during off­business hours. The

5. ability to migrate many users at once simplifies the task of preparing employees for the
migration and helping them adjust to the new OS.
Details of the Windows 2000 Desktop Deployment Package
Dell's Windows 2000 Desktop Deployment Package is a total Web­based solution using portal
technology. Figure 3 shows the portal for the Package.
Figure 3. Windows 2000 Desktop Deployment Package Web Page
The Package provides an integrated suite of Web­based tools built on an advanced
infrastructure that is transparent to the user. The user community for the Package comprises
both basic users (who require assistance in migrating) and advanced users (who can install
through a Web site, guided by wizards and documentation).
Infrastructure
The Dell Windows 2000 Desktop Deployment Package uses a highly available, high­
performance, three­tier architecture, as illustrated in Figure 4 . This architecture results in
centralized management; increased bandwidth, data integrity, and storage space; and
increased reliability compared to Windows NT 4.0. The architecture is scalable to meet any size
business and can be easily expanded.

6. Figure 4. Windows 2000 Migration Architecture
Client Hardware Requirements
The minimum hardware requirements for a successful upgrade are listed below:
200+ MHz Pentium processor
128+ MB RAM
4+ GB hard drive
Floppy drive or CD­ROM Install
Systems that do not meet the minimum requirements should be upgraded or replaced before
migration.
Dell SAN Architecture
The Dell enterprise server environment includes database and application servers, backup tape
libraries, and a SAN data environment. The Dell SAN architecture:
Scales easily—it can be duplicated for different regions, and migration scripts can be
load balanced
Includes two terabytes of total storage for user data and system images
Includes one­quarter terabyte of storage for quick restores from tape
Issues to Consider Before Migrating
Migrating to Windows 2000 on a large scale requires preparation beyond the capacity of many
companies' IT departments. Without the proper assessment, planning, and execution, the
intended benefits may be delayed or diminished. Furthermore, if technical resources become
strained, the disruptions to the company's critical business can add unforeseen costs to the
project.
Preparation can reduce the risks associated with migrating users to a new OS. Companies can
use the tools provided with Dell's Windows 2000 Desktop Deployment Package to identify
needs and manage known risk factors before migrating users to the new operating system, and
they can leverage Dell's knowledge to optimize the migration. The Web­based tools provided
with the Dell Windows 2000 Desktop Deployment Package can help businesses manage the
known risks listed in the box.

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Cost­Effective Automated Deployment
Dell Computer is deploying Microsoft's new Windows 2000 Professional OS to its employees'
personal computers more quickly and less expensively than anticipated. To facilitate the
deployment, Dell developed an automated process that includes Web­based tools enabling
employees to automatically test their PC configurations for hardware and applications
compatibility with the new OS. This process helped Dell achieve its initial deployment objectives
two weeks ahead of its own aggressive schedule, with minimal inconvenience to employees.
Installation times were less than one­half of Dell's original estimates, and the average transition
cost per system was significantly lower than Dell's internal forecast.
This experience at Dell demonstrates that companies can rapidly and cost­effectively deploy
Windows 2000 Professional in a complex environment. The tremendous benefits associated
with Windows 2000 Professional, including improved reliability, stability, and performance
across the enterprise, provide a powerful incentive for Dell customers to make this transition as
quickly as possible. Dell expects the industry transition to Windows 2000 to accelerate during
the second half of this year.
To assist its customers in the transition, Dell is offering the Dell Windows 2000 Desktop
Deployment Package. This integrated, user­friendly suite of Web­based tools provides a
repeatable, sustainable, and scalable tool to meet the migration needs of businesses of any
size, and it can be updated to handle future versions of the OS. The documentation, project
plan, and schedule provided with the Package can be used as a template for any Windows
2000 deployment. For additional information on the Windows 2000 Deployment Package,
contact Dell Technology Consulting.
Max Thoene (max_thoene@dell.com) is a program manager in Dell Technology Consulting at
Dell Computer Corporation. He was program manager, product manager, and logistics manager
in IT Operations for the Windows 2000 client project at Dell. Max has a B.B.A. in
Marketing/Management from the University of Texas at Austin and M.S. degrees in Systems
Management and Information and Telecommunications Systems from Capitol College in Laurel,
Maryland.
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