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This page aims to give a detailed overview of customer-projects accompanied by the Open-Xchange professional services team: The different phases and decisions as well as the documents necessary to accompany this process are listed here.
This article gives a detailed overview of the process  to run an Open-Xchange implementation project together with the OX Professional Services team.
 
The phases and decisions are documented here, as well as the documents and tools used to accompany this process.
 
The following diagram gives a birds-eye view of the whole process:<br>
The following diagram gives a birds-eye view of the whole process:<br>
<div style="min-width 840px;">[[File:birdseye4.png]]</div><br>
<div style="min-width 840px;">[[File:birdseye7.png]]</div><br>
=Initialization=
 
During this phase the product gets demoed and the doability of the project is checked. After this phase a detailed offer is made and the customer decides whether to start the project or not ("Go" / "No-Go").
=Initialization Phase / Pre-Sales=
* Technical Demo (webcast or on-site)
 
** presentation of the product including all features relevant to the customer
The first phase of the project, the "Initialization Phase" is typically the pre-sales cycle to evaluate the product and to evaluate the feasibility of the project as well as to identify potentially necessary customization to integrate into every environment.  
** determine customer´s goals (replace webmail? operating parallel to MS Exchange?)
 
** OX USPs: Fast even with many mails, drag-n-drop in the browser, syncing with many different clients, social, upsell
At the end of this phase, the results of the evaluation are used to provide a detailed offer and to make the final "Go" / "No-Go" decision.
** demo-systems could be http://ox.io, https://ox6-dev.open-xchange.com, own VM -> 2 users and some data are needed
 
** recommend ox.io-account to the customer for own tests
Typical activities and topics in this phase are as follows:
* Architecure Overview
** Integration with customer systems instead of out-of-the-box (provisioning, mailsystem [none is included!], CPanel, PBA/POA, Plesk)
** There are many ways to OX and its data. Broad range of supported devices and browsers
** Java, no proprietary formats or protocols, Apache, MySQL
** scales horizontally as well as vertically. Cluster size is entirely choseable, multiple tenants on one system -> "server density"
** show examples for [[OX_HE_Tutorial_10K|10K users]], [[OX_HE_Tutorial_100K|100K users]], [[OX_HE_Tutorial_1M|1M users]]
** APIs ([[HTTP_API|HTTP]], [http://software.open-xchange.com/OX6/doc/SOAP/admin/OX-Admin-SOAP.html SOAP], [http://software.open-xchange.com/OX6/doc/RMI/admin-core/ RMI], ex- and import)
** whitelabeling for  GUI, Outlook, OutlookInstaller, MobileGUI (branding, theming, detailed configuration with ConfigCascade)
* Proof Of Concept (POC)
** needs server (real or VM) with SSH-access, a few accounts on the existing mailsystem
** inform customer as soon as it is ready, get feedback after 2 weeks, are there still open issues open in R&D, Sales or Marketing?
* Technology Transfer
** approximately 10 mails.
** evaluate customer-environment (what kind of mailsystem, loadbalancer, storage, number of mailboxes?)
** hardware-sizing (how many concurrent sessions)
** provisioning (existing or custom?)


==Tools==
*User Interface Demo and Evaluation (webcast or on-site)
*[https://ox6-dev.open-xchange.com/publications/files/1/projectTemplates/22276/current?secret=30e01261e422f9ec9b0af51b0d3319e2 Project Charter] The Project Charter contains the goals and scope of the whole project. Stakeholders on both sides are defined here as well as detailed responsibilities and milestones to measure progress. Also further organization of the project is specified including details about documentation, reporting and communication.
* Architecture Overview
** Integration into existing customer systems
** Sizing, Scalability
** Available APIs, standards and programming languages
** Branding / Whitelabeling
* Proof Of Concept Installation (POC) in target environment
* Technology Transfer / Workshop
** Using the agenda given below
** Evaluate existing environment (mailsystem, loadbalancer, storage, provisioning, ..)
** Results in Customer Implementation Concept
* Request For Information (RFI) / Request For Quotation (RFQ)
 
==Tools and Results in Initalization Phase==
* [https://ox6-dev.open-xchange.com/publications/files/1/projectTemplates/21816/current?secret=30e01261e422f9ec9b0af51b0d3319e2 Workshop Agenda]
* [https://ox6-dev.open-xchange.com/publications/files/1/projectTemplates/21816/current?secret=30e01261e422f9ec9b0af51b0d3319e2 Workshop Agenda]
*[https://ox6-dev.open-xchange.com/publications/files/1/projectTemplates/21758/current?secret=30e01261e422f9ec9b0af51b0d3319e2 Customer Implementation Concept] This is a "living document" as well in that it is updated during the project to reflect the current state of affairs
* [https://ox6-dev.open-xchange.com/publications/files/1/projectTemplates/22277/current?secret=30e01261e422f9ec9b0af51b0d3319e2 Basic SOW] The basic SOW describes in detail all Open-Xchange implementation-efforts already known and agreed upon at this point in time.


=Concept=
This document containing the "Workshop Agenda" is used to prepare for the initial technical workshop. The goal of the workshop is to get a common understanding of all existing infrastructure systems and the capabilities of the OX product. The preparation document lists all persons/roles, who should attend the workshop as well as the topics, which will be covered within a typical evaluation workshop. The workshop will take 4-6 hours.
During this phase it is decided what exactly there is to do, by whom and when. The resulting Customer Implementation Concept formalizes this information, accompanied by (several) SOWs which detail Open-Xchange efforts.
 
* Detail Workshop(s)
 
* Detailed architecture-description (which parts are delivered by operating system / customer / Open-Xchange)
* [https://ox6-dev.open-xchange.com/publications/files/1/projectTemplates/128210/current?secret=30e01261e422f9ec9b0af51b0d3319e2 Basic Statement Of Work]
* Installation of test-system
 
* Authentication
The "Basic Statement Of Work (SOW)" describes and offers all OX PS implementation efforts already known and agreed upon at this point in time. In addition this document is the one central document, outlining the whole project. It is used to document the common understanding of the whole project.
** explain separation of contexts. 2 separate roles: oxadminmaster (creates contexts) and oxadmin (creates users, but only in his context)
 
** explain resolving of usernames into contexts
It starts with the motivation to run the project and contains all goals and the scope of the whole project. Stakeholders on both sides are defined as well as detailed responsibilities and milestones to measure progress.
** Auth-Bundle: SSO, Auth-Plugin (DB, LDAP, IMAP, custom)
 
** Passwordchange (DB, LDAP, IMAP, custom)
All efforts, which are already known at this stage of the project are listed in this document.
* Integration into customer´s provisioning (choose API best suited. RMI preferred)
 
* Loadbalancing (existing / Apache / buy new one?)
*[https://ox6-dev.open-xchange.com/publications/files/1/projectTemplates/21758/current?secret=30e01261e422f9ec9b0af51b0d3319e2 Customer Implementation Concept]
** explain session-stickyness (1 session always resolved to the same host)
 
* Storage for Infostore (NFS / GlusterFS, existing / buy new?)
This "Customer Implementation Concept" outlines all results from the technical evaluation until this point in time, mainly resulting from the workshop. It contains all results from the initialization phase, as well as all already known topics, to be discussed and analyzed in the future.
* Monitoring (munin, nagios -> script that polls Open-Xchanges JMX-interface)
 
* Scaling (How to setup a cluster, high availability)
This is a "living document" as well in that it is updated during the project to reflect the current state of affairs.
* MySQL-Sizing (dedicated servers / on the ox-machine(s)? master-slave / master-master?)
* Branding (own heme, icons, login-page, wizard, about-dialog etc.)
* compatibility of the IMAP-backend (supported features vary between different MTAs)
* User-Migration
** import exiting users / contexts via CSV-Batch-Import
* Data-Migration
** from existing webmailers (Horde, @mail, squirrelmail)
** contacts, appointments, mailsettings (aliases, primary email-addresses, mailfilters) via import-interfaces (HTTP-API, supported: iCal, vCard)
* Upsell
* SPAM
* SMS/MMS


==Tools==
=Concept Phase=
* [https://ox6-dev.open-xchange.com/publications/files/1/projectTemplates/18613/current?secret=30e01261e422f9ec9b0af51b0d3319e2 Meeting Minutes] These minutes cover attendees to a meeting, topics discussed, decisions made and action items.
 
* [http://www.mindmeister.com/54884411 WBS (mindmap)]
The "Concept Phase" is the first one, after the joint project has started formally. During this phase, the basic implementation like installation of hardware starts, but most important, all necessary detailed concepts are created and finalized.
*several SOWs (preferrably one per topic)
 
During this phase it is decided what exactly will be done by whom and when.
 
The Customer Implementation Concept from the Initialization phase will be finalized. All tasks to be done by OX PS are documented and offered in (seperate) SOWs.
 
Typical activities and topics in this phase are as follows:
 
* Detail-Workshops for all complex integration topics, to finalize the Concept paper
* Time Planing and Milestones will be agreed on
* Resources are planned to define the responsibilities for each task
* Budget and associated costs are fixed
* Quality Management and Risk Management starts in this phase
 
==Tools in Concept Phase==
 
* The Customer Implementation Concept from the first phase will be enhanced and is used as a living document to contain all known and discussed technical details. This document will be used throughout the whole project. So it is a very important source of information not only for implementation, also post-implementation as part of the system documentation.
 
* A [https://ox6-dev.open-xchange.com/publications/files/1/projectTemplates/52878/current?secret=30e01261e422f9ec9b0af51b0d3319e2 Requirements Checklist] will be introduced in this phase, which is used to track all open topics and issues. All closed topics will be moved to an "archive" to obtain a complete documentation of all project topics, as well as to be used for approval testing.
 
* WorkBreakdownStructure [https://ox6-dev.open-xchange.com/publications/files/1/projectTemplates/50871/current?secret=30e01261e422f9ec9b0af51b0d3319e2 mindmeister.com-format] [https://ox6-dev.open-xchange.com/publications/files/1/projectTemplates/50873/current?secret=30e01261e422f9ec9b0af51b0d3319e2 pdf] [https://ox6-dev.open-xchange.com/publications/files/1/projectTemplates/50872/current?secret=30e01261e422f9ec9b0af51b0d3319e2 rtf]
 
The "Work Breakdown Structure" is a tree-like view on all known topics "work items" known at the recent point in time. A template, based on OX project experience, is used during the workshops as starting point. Then the WBS will be enhanced in all workshops and discussions to build a tree, which is as complete, as possible.
 
* SOWs will be created for all topics, when implementation or customization is requested from the OX team. Each topic will be tracked in on separate SOW, to keep the process as transparent as possible.
 
=Implementation Phase=
 
Within the "Implementation Phase" everything that was planned before will be realized, like the name says. However, in reality there always is an overlap in Concept Phase and Implementation Phase.
 
Typical activities and topics in this phase are as follows:
 
* Installation / Configuration of the live-system
* Integration into infrastructure
* Customization, Branding, Theming
* Documentation
* Quality Management
* Change Management
* Training (Admin, Support, Sales)
 
 
==Tools in the Implementation Phase==
 
Typically all tools from the former phase will be used to track the implementation process.
 
=Approval Phase=


=Implementation=
During this last phase in the project, everything that was realized will be verified and approved against the documented requirements. After approval the launch process start, recommended in several steps, beginning with a soft-launch.  
During this phase everything that was planned before will be realized.  
* Weekly status calls
* Documentation of all installed systems & components
* Training workshops for admins / 1st level support
* Open-Xchange-internal time tracking
* Open-Xchange-internal change management
* Open-Xchange-internal approval (review of the complete system)
** Loadbalancing
** MySQL-Cluster
** automated tests
** jmeter tests
==Tools==
* [https://ox6-dev.open-xchange.com/publications/files/1/projectTemplates/18613/current?secret=30e01261e422f9ec9b0af51b0d3319e2 Meeting Minutes] These minutes cover attendees to a meeting, topics discussed, decisions made and action items.
* Requirements Checklist ... In this list all issues and todos, together with dates and the person responsible on either side, are tracked. It is expanded during meetings or calls as necessary. When the phase is over all items in the list should be checked, making the project ready for launch.  
* OX Test protocols


=Approval=
Typical activities and topics in this phase are as follows:
During this phase everything that was realized will be checked (again) to make sure it is ready and exactly to the customers wishes. As soon as that is the case it is our recommendation to do a "soft-launch", a launch of the production system but with only a limited number of users (ca. 5%). When that is done successfully and any last-minute issues are uncovered and fixed the product is launched.


* detailed technical documentation including test-accounts, credentials, people in charge etc.
* Testing, manually and automated
* Customer tests
* System- and Configuration Review
* Lessons learned
* Soft-Launch
* Open-Xchange-internal project retrospective
* Migration
* Training (Admin, Support, Sales)* Handover to Support
* Documentation including architecture, setup, test-accounts, etc.
* Project retrospective
* Handover to Open-Xchange support  
* Handover to Open-Xchange support  
** test OTRS process
 
==Tools==
==Tools==
* [https://ox6-dev.open-xchange.com/publications/files/1/projectTemplates/18613/current?secret=30e01261e422f9ec9b0af51b0d3319e2 Meeting Minutes] These minutes cover attendees to a meeting, topics discussed, decisions made and action items.
 
* Requirements Checklist ... This list produced during the previous phase contains agreed upon and done items. These should be checked again in this phase by the customer´s quality assurance team for the live system.
* [https://ox6-dev.open-xchange.com/publications/files/1/projectTemplates/52878/current?secret=30e01261e422f9ec9b0af51b0d3319e2 Requirements Checklist]  ... This list produced during the concept phase contains agreed upon and done items. These will be used in this phase to verify the correct implementation of all topics.
* Customer test protocols

Latest revision as of 14:27, 12 November 2013

This article gives a detailed overview of the process to run an Open-Xchange implementation project together with the OX Professional Services team.

The phases and decisions are documented here, as well as the documents and tools used to accompany this process.

The following diagram gives a birds-eye view of the whole process:

Birdseye7.png


Initialization Phase / Pre-Sales

The first phase of the project, the "Initialization Phase" is typically the pre-sales cycle to evaluate the product and to evaluate the feasibility of the project as well as to identify potentially necessary customization to integrate into every environment.

At the end of this phase, the results of the evaluation are used to provide a detailed offer and to make the final "Go" / "No-Go" decision.

Typical activities and topics in this phase are as follows:

  • User Interface Demo and Evaluation (webcast or on-site)
  • Architecture Overview
    • Integration into existing customer systems
    • Sizing, Scalability
    • Available APIs, standards and programming languages
    • Branding / Whitelabeling
  • Proof Of Concept Installation (POC) in target environment
  • Technology Transfer / Workshop
    • Using the agenda given below
    • Evaluate existing environment (mailsystem, loadbalancer, storage, provisioning, ..)
    • Results in Customer Implementation Concept
  • Request For Information (RFI) / Request For Quotation (RFQ)

Tools and Results in Initalization Phase

This document containing the "Workshop Agenda" is used to prepare for the initial technical workshop. The goal of the workshop is to get a common understanding of all existing infrastructure systems and the capabilities of the OX product. The preparation document lists all persons/roles, who should attend the workshop as well as the topics, which will be covered within a typical evaluation workshop. The workshop will take 4-6 hours.


The "Basic Statement Of Work (SOW)" describes and offers all OX PS implementation efforts already known and agreed upon at this point in time. In addition this document is the one central document, outlining the whole project. It is used to document the common understanding of the whole project.

It starts with the motivation to run the project and contains all goals and the scope of the whole project. Stakeholders on both sides are defined as well as detailed responsibilities and milestones to measure progress.

All efforts, which are already known at this stage of the project are listed in this document.

This "Customer Implementation Concept" outlines all results from the technical evaluation until this point in time, mainly resulting from the workshop. It contains all results from the initialization phase, as well as all already known topics, to be discussed and analyzed in the future.

This is a "living document" as well in that it is updated during the project to reflect the current state of affairs.

Concept Phase

The "Concept Phase" is the first one, after the joint project has started formally. During this phase, the basic implementation like installation of hardware starts, but most important, all necessary detailed concepts are created and finalized.

During this phase it is decided what exactly will be done by whom and when.

The Customer Implementation Concept from the Initialization phase will be finalized. All tasks to be done by OX PS are documented and offered in (seperate) SOWs.

Typical activities and topics in this phase are as follows:

  • Detail-Workshops for all complex integration topics, to finalize the Concept paper
  • Time Planing and Milestones will be agreed on
  • Resources are planned to define the responsibilities for each task
  • Budget and associated costs are fixed
  • Quality Management and Risk Management starts in this phase

Tools in Concept Phase

  • The Customer Implementation Concept from the first phase will be enhanced and is used as a living document to contain all known and discussed technical details. This document will be used throughout the whole project. So it is a very important source of information not only for implementation, also post-implementation as part of the system documentation.
  • A Requirements Checklist will be introduced in this phase, which is used to track all open topics and issues. All closed topics will be moved to an "archive" to obtain a complete documentation of all project topics, as well as to be used for approval testing.

The "Work Breakdown Structure" is a tree-like view on all known topics "work items" known at the recent point in time. A template, based on OX project experience, is used during the workshops as starting point. Then the WBS will be enhanced in all workshops and discussions to build a tree, which is as complete, as possible.

  • SOWs will be created for all topics, when implementation or customization is requested from the OX team. Each topic will be tracked in on separate SOW, to keep the process as transparent as possible.

Implementation Phase

Within the "Implementation Phase" everything that was planned before will be realized, like the name says. However, in reality there always is an overlap in Concept Phase and Implementation Phase.

Typical activities and topics in this phase are as follows:

  • Installation / Configuration of the live-system
  • Integration into infrastructure
  • Customization, Branding, Theming
  • Documentation
  • Quality Management
  • Change Management
  • Training (Admin, Support, Sales)


Tools in the Implementation Phase

Typically all tools from the former phase will be used to track the implementation process.

Approval Phase

During this last phase in the project, everything that was realized will be verified and approved against the documented requirements. After approval the launch process start, recommended in several steps, beginning with a soft-launch.

Typical activities and topics in this phase are as follows:

  • Testing, manually and automated
  • System- and Configuration Review
  • Soft-Launch
  • Migration
  • Training (Admin, Support, Sales)* Handover to Support
  • Documentation including architecture, setup, test-accounts, etc.
  • Project retrospective
  • Handover to Open-Xchange support

Tools

  • Requirements Checklist ... This list produced during the concept phase contains agreed upon and done items. These will be used in this phase to verify the correct implementation of all topics.
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