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1. Software

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1. Policies & Procedures

1. Best Practices

1. Product Lifecycle
2. Evaluate
3. Procure
4. Deploy
5. Operate
6. Extend
7. ITIL
8. Service Support
9. Service Delivery

1. Contact Support

Product Lifecycle: Procure

The Procure workflow helps you determine the components of your complete Packeteer solution, place your order, and prepare personnel.

If you have not yet determined if the Packeteer solution is right for you, explore the Evaluate section of Best Practices. If you have already ordered product and are moving on to plan your deployment, then consult the Deploy section of Best Practices. The Procure workflow is relevant if you have already decided you want a Packeteer solution but are trying to determine which components and services to order.

In addition to following these instructions for determining what products to order, we recommend that you enlist the help of your Packeteer representative.

• Assign personnel
  Some organizations have one person or group handle all the responsibilities associated with selection, installation, and operation of a Packeteer solution, and some distribute the responsibilities. Decide who in your organization will handle different aspects of your Packeteer deployment:
  
  • A person or team to attend to the tasks in this workflow (Procure), including determining deployment topology and appropriate products for each location.
  • A person or team to manage installation and initial deployment of Packeteer products. Even if you decide on centralized management, you will still need somebody at each branch office to actually put the Packeteer boxes in a rack and connect two cables. (See the Deploy workflow.)
  • A person or team to attend to day-to-day operations for Packeteer products. (See the Operate workflow.)
  • Some customers engage third-party professional services help for initial configuration, although many customers just follow the instructions in Best Practices, the Quick Start Guide, and the Getting Started Guide.
    
    
• Consider training needs
  Each individual or team you assigned in the previous step will need appropriate training. Many organizations rely on Packeteer's online information resources, and some prefer to get focused classroom training. Have your assigned personnel explore available resources to decide which they prefer.
  
  • PacketGuide is Packeteer's online product information source. You can think of it as a combination of a user's guide, reference guide, narrative overviews, and recommendations on how to address common network or application issues.
    
  • Explore all of Packeteer's documentation resources including Quick Start Guide, Getting Started Guides, release notes, and more.
  • Remember this Best Practices website as a resource for the future.
  • Packeteer offers beginning and advanced training courses, online seminars, and some self-paced training materials. Explore the types of training available from Packeteer and its partners. In addition, Packeteer offers a certification program and examinations to become a Packeteer Certified Specialist (PCS) and Packeteer Certified Expert (PCE).
    

• Select products
  Figure out which Packeteer products are right for you.
  

• Determine product models
  To determine the model you need for each location's particular circumstances, consult Sizing: Choosing an Appropriate Model.
  Explore datasheets for Packeteer products. The specifications at the end of each datasheet will also help you determine which models you need.
  
  
• Determine support needs
  Packeteer offers a variety of service and support options, collectively called PacketCare.
  
  • Do you want access to software upgrades and new features?
  • If Packeteer releases new plug-in modules to automatically detect and identify new applications, do you want to download them?
  • Do you want to be able to call a customer support representative with questions?
  • Would you like to receive a replacement unit by the next business day after an unlikely unit failure?

  Learn about the types, features, and benefits of Packeteer's service and support contracts.
  Select an appropriate plan for each unit. Add the support plan(s) to your order list.

• Place your order
  Place all product orders through your Packeteer reseller.