Overview

Background

Scope

1. All active EUCLID SITS environments - DEV , TEST , LIVE, TRN & DUST  are upgraded to a supported version of SITS ( expected to be 9.8.0 and then 9.9.0). Note: there is a new environment FUT (Data Future is in the pipeline, and this need be upgraded as well.)
2. Testing of  other dependent downstream systems: EUGEX and other systems directly connected to SITS
3. Refresh of all environments from LIVE
4. Performance testing before and after upgrades on all environments
5. Automation of read-only performance testing on LIVE environment 
6. Investigate increasing coverage of automated testing 

Out of scope

• No end-to-end testing to all downstream systems fed from EUGEX, as no expected impact on EUGEX views which feed local school data feeds, feed to counselling, disability systems etc…
• Load testing (other than comparison of performance before and after upgrade as above)

Objectives

1. Upgrade SITS Student Record to a supported version of SITS (9.8.0/9.9.0)
2. Minimise downtime for the LIVE system during upgrade
3. Refresh DEV, TEST, TRN, DUST from LIVE (also include FUT)
4. Allow sufficient time for  testing to reduce chance of critical post-go live issues
5. Minimise overall time duration of the upgrade project - so that there is minimal disruption to other project work (i.e. quick back-to-back deployments into DEV / TEST / LIVE)

Acknowledging that Objectives 4 and 5 are in conflict with one another. The more time taken for testing in each environment, the slower the progression from DEV to TEST to LIVE, and more disruption to other projects although the testing should result in lower risk of issues in LIVE. Such testing time will be reduced by re-using automatic testing and performance scripts.

Deliverables

Benefits

• Student Record system remains within the standard support contract with SITS supplier Tribal 
• Access to new functionality in new version
• Understanding of any impact that the upgrade has on performance

Success Criteria

• Minimum disruption to LIVE service during upgrade. Aim to complete it over a week-end
• Minimum impact to training in TRN
• Successful liaison with project teams working on other projects within SITS
• Few open issues, and quick resolution of any critical issues in DEV / TEST/ TRN and LIVE - as these could impact other project work and testing in DEV and TEST, and will impact business users in the LIVE environment.
• Minimum impact on downstream systems
• No long term degradation in the performance of the service

Project Milestones