The ISSUE...

In addition to managing software components (files, programs, etc.) for which (software vendors) often offer their own automation solutions, the challenge is now to integrate a new dimension: changes to configuration data. In fact, application configuration levels have been steadily growing and becoming more complex. Changes made to these configurations can have a very powerful impact on an application’s behavior and the results it will produce. To deal with this risk before it becomes a problem, companies need rigorous organization and targeted tools.

THE ARCAD SOLUTION...

Our DTC (Data Type Components) solution is designed to collect the configuration changes made to an environment and then automatically transfer these changes to production. ARCAD-Open Repository and the ARCAD-Skipper suite are the modules involved in DTC.

Within the ARCAD Repository, the configuration values contained in database or data area files can be turned into components. Each parameter can then be identified with a unique mark in the Repository.
DTC definition allows identification in the database of fields with one or more files. These fields can then be linked using:

• Structural links, which permit coherent coverage of copy, deletion and comparison functions. Some of these functions are a necessary basis for data deployment.
• Cross referenced links for impact analyses.

The ARCAD-Skipper suite covers the entire configuration data change process:

• Versioning:
  • Allocation by a user into a given version (the check-out principle)
  • Automatic transport of support files into a development environment
  • Automatic storage of all changes made
  • Maintenance Report referencing
  • Transfer to test and production
• Deployment to one or more production servers:
  • Transport and automatic installation of modified data into production or pre-production bases
  • Resolution of potential conflicts with local data.

Advantages

Security of your configuration data. Once the data is stored in the ARCAD Repository, it is protected. All archives of previous values can be consulted online.
Traceability of all changes made, including online access to n archive levels
Management of concurrent changes, contributing to rigorous CM organization
Automated transfers to production, to guarantee reliability and security.