WDS Deployment Checklist

  • Article

Applies To: Windows Server 2008

The following table lists recommended actions an IT administrator should take to deploy Windows Desktop Search.

  Action Done

1

Read the WDS Administration Guide.

 

2

Ensure your corporate system standards meet or exceed minimum the WDS system requirements for the target platform.

 

3

Determine your users' indexing needs:

  • What local, system level content should be indexed (Documents folders, cached e-mail, other folders)?

  • What departmental or group information available on other network shares or sites should be indexed?

 

4

Determine your plan for indexing email (for example, cached versus uncached).

 

5

Determine which version of WDS best supports your organizations needs.

 

6

Define the user groups you need for WDS Group Policy settings:

  • Which users should have access to each share or network resource?

  • What should the default indexing scope be for each group?

  • What high volume network resources should be restricted from indexing?

  • What should your policy settings be?

 

7

Determine whether your organization requires international versions of Multilingual User Interface (MUI) Packs, and download if needed.

  

8

Identify any add-ins your users might need to index their data.

 

9

Determine the deployment mode you want to use (attended, unattended, Group Policy). If you deploy using Group Policy, write a deployment wrapper that contains the WDS executable file.

 

10

Plan a pilot test:

  • Choose a controlled test environment using your company’s standard system image that includes the operating system and commonly installed software, resources, and back end.

  • Select one department or a small group of users for the test.

 

11

Begin the pilot test and monitor the following for any problems or issues:

  • Deployment methodology

  • Network load

  • Server loads

  • Software conflicts

  • User requirements and comments

  • Any unexpected errors or issues

  • User expectations of indexing

  • Requirements for helpdesk and end-user training

Note
If the pilot test shows an abnormally high consumption of system resources or building the initial index takes a long time, your anti-virus software may be out of date. Consider updating your anti-virus software and re-testing, or re-test with the anti-virus temporarily turned off or Windows Desktop Search’s .exe excepted in a controlled, protected environment.

 

12

Plan enterprise-wide deployment:

  • Document successes and challenges of pilot test.

  • Resolve and document any outstanding issues.

  • Revise your deployment methodology, policies, access to resources, and other items as required.

  • Document a plan for enterprise-wide deployment.

 

See Also

Concepts

WDS 3.01 Troubleshooting Guide