Definition Of Configuration

We’re the world’s leading provider of enterprise open source solutions—including Linux, cloud, container, and Kubernetes. We deliver hardened solutions that make it easier for enterprises to work across platforms and environments, from the core datacenter to the network edge. 1) In computers and computer networks, a configuration often refers to the specific hardware and software details in terms of devices attached, capacity or capability, and exactly what the system is made up of. The consumers of this data have grown more numerous and complex with the growth of programs offered by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). These are designed to offer operators guaranteed availability and make the picture more complex with the operator managing the asset but the OEM taking on the liability to ensure its serviceability. Many types of component use electronic sensors to capture data which provides live condition monitoring.

The Promise theory of configuration maintenance was developed by Mark Burgess,[16][17][18] with a practical implementation on present day computer systems in the software CFEngine able to perform real time repair as well as preventive maintenance. Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform includes all the tools needed to share automation across teams and implement enterprise-wide automation. Ansible automates IT processes like provisioning and configuration management. Learn the basics of Ansible with this introduction to key concepts. The last known good configuration option is not provided in Windows 8 and Windows 10. Instead, there are other options like refresh, reset (reinstall), restore, etc.

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Configuration Management originated in the United States Department of Defense in the 1950s as a technical management discipline for hardware material items—and it is now a standard practice in virtually every industry. The CM process became its own technical discipline sometime in the late 1960s when the DoD developed a series of military standards called the “480 series” (i.e., MIL-STD-480, MIL-STD-481 and MIL-STD-483) that were subsequently issued in the 1970s. Many configuration of these functions and models have redefined CM from its traditional holistic approach to technical management. Some treat CM as being similar to a librarian activity, and break out change control or change management as a separate or stand alone discipline. For example, configuration requirements may be different for a network firewall that functions as part of an organization’s Internet boundary versus one that functions as an internal local network firewall.

• Some treat CM as being similar to a librarian activity, and break out change control or change management as a separate or stand alone discipline.
• The CM process became its own technical discipline sometime in the late 1960s when the DoD developed a series of military standards called the “480 series” (i.e., MIL-STD-480, MIL-STD-481 and MIL-STD-483) that were subsequently issued in the 1970s.
• For this reason, engineers, contractors, and management are frequently forced to develop documentation reflecting the actual status of the item before they can proceed with a change.
• As you grow, you can scale your automation with control and insight, foster collaboration across teams, and manage policy and governance.
• Blockchain is a record-keeping technology designed to make it impossible to hack the system or forge the data stored on it, thereby making it secure and immutable.

Thus, for example, two scientists won a 1962 Nobel Prize for their description of the configuration of the DNA molecule. Since then, researchers have studied what different configurations within the DNA strands mean and what they control, and genetic engineers have tried to configure or reconfigure DNA in new ways to prevent or treat diseases. Blockchain is a record-keeping technology designed to make it impossible to hack the system or forge the data stored on it, thereby making it secure and immutable. To sum up, this post has introduced what the last known good configuration is and shown the methods to enter Windows 7/10 into it. If your computer encounters some issues, you can try the last known good configuration to fix them. Please choose the computer to manage and click Connectin the Local section to enter the main interface.

What Is the Last Known Good Configuration

A structured CM program ensures that documentation (e.g., requirements, design, test, and acceptance documentation) for items is accurate and consistent with the actual physical design of the item. In many cases, without CM, the documentation exists but is not consistent with the item itself. For this reason, engineers, contractors, and management are frequently forced to develop documentation reflecting the actual status of the item before they can proceed with a change. This reverse engineering process is wasteful in terms of human and other resources and can be minimized or eliminated using CM. Change management is an ITSM process that is related to—but distinct from—configuration management. It describes the policies and processes your organization follows when updating infrastructure or responding to critical events such as service performance degradation or outages.

Due to the scale and complexity of most enterprise environments, IT teams now use automation to define and maintain the desired state of their various systems. 3) In installing hardware and software, configuration is sometimes the methodical process of defining options that are provided. Understanding the “as is” state of an asset and its major components is an essential element in preventive maintenance as used in maintenance, repair, and overhaul and enterprise asset management systems. Configuration management is used to maintain an understanding of the status of complex assets with a view to maintaining the highest level of serviceability for the lowest cost.

More from Merriam-Webster on configuration

The software configuration management (SCM) process is looked upon by practitioners as the best solution to handling changes in software projects. It identifies the functional and physical attributes of software at various points in time, and performs systematic control of changes to the identified attributes for the purpose of maintaining software integrity and traceability throughout the software development life cycle. CM applied over the life cycle of a system provides visibility and control of its performance, functional, and physical attributes. CM verifies that a system performs as intended, and is identified and documented in sufficient detail to support its projected life cycle.

As you grow, you can scale your automation with control and insight, foster collaboration across teams, and manage policy and governance. These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘configure.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘configuration.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. System misconfigurations were identified in Red Hat’s State of Kubernetes Security report as a leading cause of security incidents among containerized or Kubernetes-orchestrated environments. The introduction of minor inconsistencies or misconfiguration errors in IT systems can lead to configuration drift and ultimately slower systems, security and compliance exposures, and even outages. All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only.

Then the last known good configuration’s record will be used by the operating system to perform a successful boot. If Windows detects a problem during the startup process, the “Last Known Good Configuration” option will be added to the startup menu. Availability of accurate and timely data is essential in order for CM to provide operational value and a lack of this can often be a limiting factor. Capturing and disseminating the operating data to the various support organizations is becoming an industry in itself. Red Hat® Ansible® Automation Platform helps your organization accelerate, orchestrate, and innovate with automation.

In enterprise environments, IT teams manage a wide array of applications and systems, including clouds, networks, storage, servers, and edge devices. Just as it’s important to set up systems correctly, performing regular, thorough maintenance helps prevent more costly problems in the future. Configuration management is a process for maintaining computer systems, servers, applications, network devices, and other IT components in a desired state. It’s a way to help ensure that a system performs as expected, even after many changes are made over time.