Configuration Management

Question 1

What is VM(Version Management)?

Answer 1

Version management (VM) is the process of keeping track of different versions of software components or configuration items and the systems in which these components are used

Question 2

What are VC’s (Version Control) systems?

Answer 2

Version control (VC) systems identify, store and control access to the different versions of components

Question 3

What are the two types of VC systems?

Answer 3

Centralized systems, where there is a single master repository that maintains all versions of the software components that are being developed. Subversion is a widely used example of a centralized VC system.
Distributed systems, where multiple versions of the component repository exist at the same time.

Question 4

What are the key features of version control systems?

Answer 4

· Version and release identification

· Change history recording

· Support for independent development

· Project support

· Storage management

Question 5

What is a repository?

Answer 5

a central location in which data is stored and managed.

Question 6

What are the benefit of a distributed VC?

Answer 6

· It provides a backup mechanism for the repository. If the repository is corrupted, work can continue and the project repository can be restored from local copies.

· It allows for off-line working so that developers can commit changes if they do not have a network connection.

· Project support is the default way of working. Developers can compile and test the entire system on their local machines and test the changes that they have made.

Question 7

What is sytem building?

Answer 7

The process of creating a complete, executable system by compiling and linking the system components, external libraries, configuration files, etc

Question 8

What are some build environments?

Answer 8

· The development system, which includes development tools such as compilers, source code editors, etc. Developers check out code from the version management system into a private workspace before making changes to the system.

· The build server, which is used to build definitive, executable versions of the system. Developers check-in code to the version management system before it is built. The system build may rely on external libraries that are not included in the version management system.

· The target environment, which is the platform on which the system executes.

Question 9

What functionalities do the build systems include?

Answer 9

· Build script generation

· Version management system integration

· Minimal re-compilation

· Executable system creation

· Test automation

· Reporting

· Documentation generation

Question 10

What is the process of agile building (continuous integration) ?

Answer 10

· Check out the mainline system from the version management system into the developer’s private workspace.

· Build the system and run automated tests to ensure that the built system passes all tests. If not, the build is broken and you should inform whoever checked in the last baseline system. They are responsible for repairing the problem.

· Make the changes to the system components.

· Build the system in the private workspace and rerun system tests. If the tests fail, continue editing.

· Once the system has passed its tests, check it into the build system but do not commit it as a new system baseline.

· Build the system on the build server and run the tests. You need to do this in case others have modified components since you checked out the system. If this is the case, check out the components that have failed and edit these so that tests pass on your private workspace.

· If the system passes its tests on the build system, then commit the changes you have made as a new baseline in the system mainline.

Question 11

What are the advantages and disadvantages of agile building?

Answer 11

Advantages of continuous integration (Sommerville, 2016):

· It allows problems caused by the interactions between different developers to be discovered and repaired as soon as possible.

· The most recent system in the mainline is the definitive working system.

Disadvantages of continuous integration (Sommerville, 2016):

· If the system is very large, it may take a long time to build and test, especially if integration with other application systems is involved.

· If the development platform is different from the target platform, it may not be possible to run system tests in the developer’s private workspace.

Question 12

What are the factors in change analysis?

Answer 12

· The consequences of not making the change

· The benefits of the change

· The number of users affected by the change

· The costs of making the change

· The product release cycle

Question 13

What can a system release also include?

Answer 13

· Configuration files defining how the release should be configured for particular installations;

· Data files, such as files of error messages, that are needed for successful system operation;

· An installation program that is used to help install the system on target hardware;

· Electronic and paper documentation describing the system;

· Packaging and associated publicity that have been designed for that release.

Question 14

What factors influence system release planning?

Answer 14

1. Competition: For mass-market software, a new system release may be necessary because a competing product has introduced new features and market share may be lost if these are not provided to existing customers.
2. Marketing requirements: The marketing department of an organisation may have made a commitment for releases to be available at a particular date.
3. Platform changes: You may have to create a new release of a software application when a new version of the operating system platform is released.
4. Technical quality of the system: If serious system faults are reported which affect the way in which many customers use the system, it may be necessary to issue a fault repair release. Minor system faults may be repaired by issuing patches (usually distributed over the Internet) that can be applied to the current release of the system.

Question 15

What is the release creation process?

Answer 15

· The executable code of the programs and all associated data files must be identified in the version control system.

· Configuration descriptions may have to be written for different hardware and operating systems.

· Update instructions may have to be written for customers who need to configure their own systems.

· Scripts for the installation program may have to be written.

· Web pages have to be created describing the release, with links to system documentation.

· When all information is available, an executable master image of the software must be prepared and handed over for distribution to customers or sales outlets.