Documenting the Test Lab Configuration

Applies To: Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows Server 2003 with SP1, Windows Server 2003 with SP2

Design the test lab in a way that allows you to test as much of the proposed logical and physical production environment as possible, including computer hardware, network topology, WAN connections, domain architecture, services, databases, business applications, administrative tools, security model, application deployment methodology, and network server storage methods.

Design the client computer portion of the test lab so that you can test the same functions and features that you currently use and that you plan to use in your production environment. Include the same types of hardware, applications, and network configurations.

As you design the test lab, document it with both a text description and a diagram. Post the diagram in the lab to provide easy access to lab information and to keep lab users up-to-date on design changes.

For additional information about components that you might need to include in your test lab to fully test Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP Professional, see "Simulating the Proposed Server Environment" "Simulating the Proposed Client Computer Environment" and "Designing Domains for Testing" later in this chapter.