CCNP Routing and Switching TSHOOT 300-135: Official Cert Guide

Change Management

Managing when changes can be made and by whose authority helps minimize network downtime. In fact, these two factors (that is, when a change is allowed and who can authorize it) are the distinguishing factors between making a change as part of a routine maintenance plan and making a change as part of a troubleshooting process.

The process of change management includes using policies that dictate rules regarding how and when a change can be made and how that change is documented. Consider the following scenario, which illustrates how a maintenance change could be a clue while troubleshooting a problem report:

Last week, a network administrator attempted to better secure a Cisco Catalyst switch by administratively shutting down ...