ChaRM dual landscape design with single Preproduction/Staging system

Hi All,

Currently we have below dual track landscape with single Pre-Production/Staging system

Maintenance Landscape:

MSD -> MSQ -> PRE -> PRD

Project Landscape:

DEV -> QAS -> PRE -> PRD

Currently using manual retrofit to synchronize the landscape .After development transport release move the changes to N or N+1 systems and synchronize the landscape.

For ChaRM workflow design options:

PRE system will refresh form PRD before monthly or quarterly releases.

Option:1( Permanently linked the Preproduction(PRE) in N landscape and move the change as show below

• For N landscape changes move like MSD -> MSQ -> PRE -> PRD and auto retrofit to DEV system
• For N+1 landscape chanegs move like DEV -> QAS -> MSD -> MSQ -> PRE -> PRD .Here retrofit change move with project change like quarterly, monthly,...
• Use overwrite option during cut over from PRE -> MSD ( due to Development) .so we need to cleanup all the open transport before cutover movement to N landscape.
• Using this design Support change move two times to N landscape upto PRD due to retrofit.
• Project change integration testing happen in QAS
• Scenario/Regression happen in MSQ
• UAT\Performance test happen in PRE
• So most of the defect will identify in the QAS\PRE systems. So this required more effect and time consuming process to move the defect all over the landscape again.

Option:2 ( Permanently linked the Preproduction(PRE) in N+1 landscape )

• For N landscape changes move like MSD -> MSQ -> PRE -> PRD and auto retrofit to DEV system
• For N+1 landscape chanegs move like DEV -> QAS -> MSD -> MSQ -> PRE -> PRD .Here retrofit change move with project change like quarterly, monthly,...
• Use overwrite option during cut over from PRE -> MSD ( due to Development) .so we need to cleanup all the open transport before cutover movement to N landscape.
• Using this design Support change move two times to N landscape due to retrofit.
• Project change integration testing happen in QAS
• Scenario/Regression testing happen in PRE
• Smoke test happen in MSD
• UAT\Performance test happen in MSQ.So most of the defect will identify in the PRE systems (N+1 landscape) and fix the defect easily in N+1 landscape itself and do the cutover to N landscape

Option:3 ( Existing process)

• For N landscape changes move like MSD -> MSQ -> PRD and auto retrofit to DEV after development transport release and import in MSQ.
• For N+1 landscape changes move like DEV -> QAS -> PRE -> PRD and auto retrofit to MSD after PRD import.
• In this option, Retrofit happen on both the landscape and it is difficult to handle the retrofit process.

Question:

• Which is the best option for ChaRM workflow design
• Are any other way to manage the single Preproduction/Staging system for dual track?
• What are the pros and cons in option 1 ,option 2 and option 3.

Rg,

Karthik