Case Study: EchoStar Transforms Complex Software Releases to Customer Network Set Top Boxes with CA Release Automation Continuous Delivery Edition
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The document outlines Echostar's implementation of CA Release Automation to address issues in their Software Configuration Management (SCM) and Download Configuration Management (DCM) processes, which were plagued by manual errors and inefficiencies. By automating these workflows, Echostar aims to enhance efficiency, reduce errors, and improve customer experience in delivering software to their set-top box customers. Future phases of the project will build on these enhancements to increase functionality and real-time reporting capabilities.
Case Study: EchoStar Transforms Complex Software Releases to Customer Network Set Top Boxes with CA Release Automation Continuous Delivery Edition
- 2. 2 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD © 2016 CA. All rights reserved. All trademarks referenced herein belong to their respective companies. The content provided in this CA World 2016 presentation is intended for informational purposes only and does not form any type of warranty. The information provided by a CA partner and/or CA customer has not been reviewed for accuracy by CA. For Informational Purposes Only Terms of this Presentation
- 4. 4 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD About EchoStar Industry leader in earth to satellite communications to transfer data to over 10M set-top box customers in Mexico, United States and Canada We are a global powerhouse § Multibillion-dollar public company (NASDAQ:SATS) § Built and launched DISH the 2nd largest direct to home entertainment content provider We shape the future of our industry § Inventor of Hopper whole-home HD DVR family product line § Developed first satellite TV Digital Video Recorder (DVR) ⎻ Inventor of the commercial satellite very small aperture terminal (VSAT) ⎻ First to implement UHF/RF remote control technology
- 5. 5 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD Let’s step through how SCM and DCM works to deliver content to your set top box Our Satellite Communications and Software Transfer Were Being Impacted by Ongoing SCM / DCM Issues Software Configuration Management (SCM) § Builds set-top-box software § Verifies the reproducibility of the build § Audits the changes included in the build § Encrypts the software § Distributes to other groups Download Configuration Management (DCM) § Takes the software SCM builds/audits § Creates an MPEG stream § Passes the stream to test § Routes the approval § Sends to the Uplink for spooling to the general population SCM output triggers DCM process
- 8. 8 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD § SCM output triggers DCM process but today, the communication between them is not automated § Each group has over 40 manual processes § Prone to redundancy errors – copy/paste § Tools out of date – some 10 years old § Difficult to track work load – no metrics § Limited internal development support Summing Up the Challenges Posed by DCM / SCM Processes
- 9. 9 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD § Start with download configuration management (DCM) = Phase 1 ⎻ DCM errors are more visible than SCM errors to our stakeholders ⎻ Impact on customer experience is greater because DCM delivers code to the viewer § Find a way to automate as many of the manual processes as possible § Alleviate the simple errors § Create new expandable/adaptable tools § Have the system integrate with other organizations within EchoStar § Track metrics Established Clear Objectives to Tackle SCM/DCM Challenges
- 10. 10 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD Pinpointed Corrective/Preventative Actions to Address High Error Rate During DR Build Process Identified several issues that, if addressed, could resolve as much as 79% of issues for Download Request (DR) Builds 14 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 5 33% 45% 55% 64% 71% 79% 83% 88% 100% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 Approval Doc/Targeting Table Label/Set-up Network - Stream/zip File Poing Stream dat File App Version Build Stream Transactions Passcode Other XiP DR Failures by DR Build Process 1/5/15 – 8/20/15
- 11. 11 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD § Improve efficiency § Remove miscommunication § Information centralized into a single data store Imperative to Automate Most of DCM Process Flow Phase Current Process Process Type Proposed Process Process Type Initiate Request Request Created Manual Create Package Request Assigned Manual Review Beta List Manual Build Files Enter into Status sheet Manual Status Sheet Pop Up Create Directories Manual System Determine Stream Type Manual Web Page Drop Down Obtain SW Manual Manual Validate SW (md5) Manual System Tools Add to md5 file Manual System Tools Create Documents Create Documentation Manual Package Create Determine release type Manual Selector/Web Page Manual Modify Excel files Manual Pop Up Start Approval Doc Manual Web Page Drop Down Stream Build Build Stream file Manual Web Page Pop Up Create zip file Manual System Update Status sheet Manual Web Page Obtain zip password Manual Web Page Pop Up Create Test streams Manual System Peer Review Manual Web Page Logic Test Stream Submit to Test Manual Web Page Logic Attach Files Manual System Tools Attach Approval Doc Manual Package Create Attach Test Docs Manual Package Create Attach data file Manual Web Page DL Approval Disposition request Manual Web Page Audit Complete Manual Interface Create Sharepoint folder Manual System Tools Upload docs to Sharepoint Manual System Tools Validate SW on FTP Validation Web Page Logic Send Approval email Manual Web Page Logic Send To Spool Create Uplink email Manual Web Page Logic Attach Approval docs Manual Package Create Verify spooling Manual Interface with Uplink Send Spooling update email Manual Interface with Uplink Update Status sheet Manual Web Page Logic Request complete N/A Web Page Notification
- 12. 12 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD § A new front end system § The current home grown system was based on PHP § Internal support was slowing down § A tool to run processes automatically § Adaptability in integration with other systems § Capture metrics Our High-Level Criteria for Automation & Tooling WE NEEDED
- 14. 14 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD JIRA Benefits § Provides dashboard reporting § Provides visualization of workflow § Standard toolset used in company § Limited talent pool ASP.Net Benefits § Can be modified for other facets of company (e.g. Mux builder) § Talent Pool (in-house) § Well understood technology § Update technology of DSB § Mux Express (not Required) § Reduction in error rate § Future expandability CA Release Automation Benefits § Single logic tool for work flow § Ease of use § Underlying code maintained by vendor § In-house talent pool (Limited) (ASP.NET) - Data Collection module Solution A Technology Combination JIRA Management Oversight / Report CA Release Management (RA) - Automated Task Execution
- 15. 15 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD CDE/RA Benefits § Provides pre-built dashboards § Provides visualization of flow § Allows for more complex logic § Integrated with RA (REST Svc) § Vendor responsible for Code ASP.Net Benefits § Can be modified for other facets of company (e.g. Mux builder) § Talent pool (in-house) § Well understood technology § Update technology of DSB § Mux Express (not Required) § Reduction in error rate § Future expandability RA Automation Benefits § Single logic tool for work flow § Ease of use § Vendor responsible for code § In-house Talent pool (Limited) (ASP.NET) - Data Collection module Solution B Technology Combination CA Release Automation Continuous Delivery Edition (CDE) Management Oversight / Reporting CA Release Management (RA) - Automated Task Execution
- 17. 17 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD DCM Automation Collector Created by EchoStar Data collection hub for Download Requests Integrated with CA Release Automation (deployment engine) and CA Release Automation Continuous Delivery Edition (release management) Enables § Creation and configuration of DAT file data for building streams § Provides mechanisms to support the build process throughout communication, management review & approval, testing and real-time and historical reporting. This application is in development.
- 19. 19 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD Deeper Dive into CA Release Automation CD Edition Flow for each individual release corresponding to a Download Request CA Release Automation CD Edition takes over: § Triggers automated deployment in CA Release Automation to deliver the release § Monitors “Collector” to determine if can proceed with next task in CDE phase § Cancels release in CDE if a task fails Status of Tasks Updates CA Release Automation (Deployment Engine) CA Release Automation CD Edition DCM Automation Collector TriggersMonitors
- 21. 21 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD CA Release Automation CD Edition Dashboard Real-time visibility & troubleshooting of individual releases CA Release Automation CD Edition provides visibility into § Progress of release corresponding to a Download Request through pipeline § Time taken to complete a release § Resource conflicts & bottlenecks § Point where failures occurring
- 22. 22 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD PHASE 1 PHASE 2 Automation of Stream Build within DCM Launched September 2016 Automation of Documentation and Validation for SCM Launch December 2016 Q1 2017 Future Optimization of SCM/DCM Processes Integrate with other organizations § Test § Software PMs § Beta organization § Uplink centers CA RELEASE AUTOMATION CA RELEASE AUTOMATION CONTINUOUS DELIVERY EDITION § Reduce rework § Maintain quality § Improve productivity § Improve reporting § Reduce rework § Maintain quality § Improve productivity § Improve reporting § Streamline flows § Open communication with reduced email § Greater efficiency Benefits Benefits Benefits This Is Just the Beginning. We’re on a Roll. PHASE 3 PHASE 4 (and beyond)
- 23. 23 © 2016 CA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.@CAWORLD #CAWORLD Proposed Enhancements in Phase 2 – 4 Built on CA Release Automation and CA Release Automation Continuous Delivery Edition § SCM automation of workflow (re-use components from DCM) § Automation of “Push” Spooling directly to Satellite, § Automating intake process into SCM/DCM – Project management / engineering intake process – tools integration § Mobile devices capabilities for workflow approval § Advanced reporting (Auto-generated reports to management) § Customer reporting / synchronization – (Auto-generated reporting to DISH, Channel Master, other customers) § Updating DSB application to newer technology – Allowing for on-going support capabilities of application (PHP to ASP.net) § Can set the stage for further data analytics with other components of EchoStar – E.g., how long did a software patch take from request-through uplink?