The Old Joel on Software Forum: Part 4 (of 5) - Keeping track of server changes?

Keeping track of server changes?

I know this is largely a software forum, but I figure a handful of you are responsible for IT systems as well.

How do you handle change control on your servers? That is, how do you keep track of what patches, hotfixes, updates or software have been installed to what servers?

Our network is quickly growing beyond our abilities to keep everything in our heads, or even a simple paper log. We'd like a simple tool where we can enter in what change was made, the reasoning, etc.

Preferably, we'd like this to be web based and offer basic reporting features. For example, we'd like to ask questions like "Show me the history for of Server X for this time period."

Any suggestions?

Confused
Thursday, March 4, 2004

The people here that run the business databases use phpBB. I think they have forums for each of the servers. I know another group that uses a blog. Big databases, lots of servers, more than a few TB.

Andrew Hurst
Thursday, March 4, 2004

Funnily enough my company is going to officially release our new product in June and it does just the sort of thing you want to do. Because I've been there too and there was nothing that did the job.

It's not cheap as chips though (about $1300/user on average), but if your company is in this sort of market then send me an email via the link below and I can give you some more details. Oh and we're gonna do a single user non-client server "evaluation" edition at some point for FREE! This might suit some people.

Gwyn
Thursday, March 4, 2004

Unix admins solved this awhile back. Usaully it involves a web based frontend to a database of info about servers. You might look through back issues of sysadmin mag for specifics.

Mike
Thursday, March 4, 2004

Take a look at http://www.infrastructures.org/ . They provide a solid methodology on how to keep your configuration management in a sane fashion. In partiuclar, take a look at the Checklist.

joev
Friday, March 5, 2004

If you're a Microsoft shop, check out SMS 2003.

(disclaimer: I'm a Microsoft employee)

Philo

Philo
Friday, March 5, 2004