Categories

After prioritizing the application list, you must categorize each high- and medium-priority application. You can drop the low-priority applications from the list, as you have no intention of addressing them. The following categories help you determine the best way to deploy an application:

• Core applications Core applications are applications common to most of the computers in the organization (typically 80 percent or more) or applications that must be available the first time you start a computer after installing the operating system. For example, virus scanners and security software are usually core applications because they must run the first time you start the computer. Mail clients are core applications because they are common to all users and computers. The following list contains specific examples of what most organizations might consider core applications:
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader
  • Corporate screen savers
  • Database drivers and connectivity software
  • Macromedia Flash Player
  • Macromedia Shockwave
  • Microsoft Office
  • Network and client management software, such as OpenManage clients
  • Terminal emulation applications, such as TN3270
  • Various antivirus packages
  • Various Windows Internet Explorer plug-ins
  • Various Microsoft Office Outlook plug-ins
• Supplemental applications Supplemental applications are applications that aren't core applications. These are applications that are not common to most computers in the organization (department-specific applications) and aren't required when you first start the computer after installing a new operating system image. Examples of supplemental applications include applications that are department specific, such as accounting software, or role specific, such as dictation software. The following list contains examples of what most organizations consider supplemental applications:
  • Microsoft Data Analyzer 3.5
  • SQL Server 2005 Client Tools
  • Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 and Visual Studio 2008
  • Various Computer-Aided Design (CAD) applications
  • Various Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems