Enterprise PeopleTools 8.50 PeopleBook: Change Assistant

Getting Started with PeopleSoft Change Assistant

This chapter provides a high-level overview and describes:

What needs to be in place before you can configure and use PeopleSoft Change Assistant.
A 'quick start' list to help you understand the technology and get you up and running with Change Assistant.
Where you can look for other sources of information.

PeopleSoft Change Assistant Overview

PeopleSoft Change Assistant is a standalone, Windows based, Java program that expedites the process of a PeopleSoft software update or upgrade by automating most of the steps. Change Assistant utilizes all of the elements included in the Environment Management Framework to monitor information specific to your PeopleSoft implementation and deploy the necessary updates throughout your system.

Change Assistant provides these main benefits:

Automates many of the steps in an upgrade or update process.
Provides a clear step-by-step definition of the process for applying maintenance or performing an upgrade. Whether the process is automated or manual, as long as you complete each step, you will successfully apply the application maintenance or perform the upgrade.
Provides in-line documentation for each of the steps in the process.

The Environment Management Framework performs these key tasks:

Crawls a PS_HOME to discover and validate the components associated with a given PeopleSoft environment. Change Assistant uploads this environment information to the Update Gateway in order to produce a list of maintenance required for the given environment.
Facilitate the deployment of files to various components in the PeopleSoft environment.

Installation

Prior to using Change Assistant the following items must be in place:

Step	Reference
Install PeopleTools	Enterprise PeopleTools 8.50 Installation for your platform
Install the elements required for the Environment Management Framework and Change Assistant	Enterprise PeopleTools 8.50 Installation: Installing PeopleSoft Change Assistant
Install your PeopleSoft application	Your PeopleSoft application installation guide

Quick Start

The following items provide a quick start reference for the main steps and concepts related to the implementation and use of Change Assistant. This list is designed to help get you up and running with Change Assistant as well to help you to understand the main functions for which Change Assistant was designed.

The steps appear in the logical order that you would perform them, and the links point to the location where the information for a specific item exists within this PeopleBook.

Step	Reference
1. Configure and start the PSEMHUB within your PeopleSoft environment.	See Configuring the Environment Management Hub.
2. Configure and start the PSEMAgent on every server within your PeopleSoft environment.	See Configuring an Environment Management Agent.
3. Install and configure Change Assistant, specifying the proper directories for file download and storage, and ensuring it can connect to the PSEMHUB.	See Configuring Change Assistant.
4. Upload your PeopleSoft environment information to Oracle.	See Uploading Environment Data.
5. Use Change Assistant to access My Oracle Support and identify the bundles and updates that need to be applied to your specific environment.	See Discovering Updates.
6. Download the required bundles and updates.	See Discovering and Downloading Updates.
7. Use Change Assistant to apply the bundles and updates.	See Applying Updates.

Other Sources of Information

This section provides information to consider before you begin to use PeopleSoft Change Assistant. In addition to implementation considerations presented in this section, take advantage of all PeopleSoft sources of information, including the installation guides, release notes, PeopleBooks, and training courses.