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## Prerequisites

  • Knowledge of cloud-based development, and Microsoft Azure in particular, is valuable to get the most out of DXP. See [Microsoft Azure](🔗) to learn more.

  • Before you start, ensure that you are using [compatible versions of software, services and tools](🔗) for a smooth deployment procedure.

  • To access the [Self-Service for DXP](🔗) and information about your [projects in the Azure portal](🔗), you need an **Optimizely cloud account**. See [Creating an Optimizely cloud account](🔗).

## Service provisioning

When your order is provisioned and activated, a **technical contact** associated with your order receives an email form Optimizely with the following information:

  • **Default URLs** for each of the [environments](🔗)  included in your order.

  • **Contact information** for support from Optimizely.

  • **Login credentials** needed to log in to the Optimizely environments.

  • **Contact information** for support from Optimizely. 

After receiving this information, you are ready to onboard and deploy websites.

## Deployment scenarios

  • [Create a new Optimizely Content Management System (CMS) site and deploying](🔗) - I want to **create a new site** **based on the Optimizely CMS sample templates**, and start development using Optimizely Digital Experience Platform.

  • [Deploy an existing CMS site](🔗) - I have an **existing Optimizely CMS site** that I want to onboard to Optimizely Digital Experience Platform, and continue to develop it using this service.

  • [Create a new Optimizely Customized Commerce site and deploying](🔗) - I want to **create a new site with Optimizely Customized Commerce**, and start development using Optimizely Digital Experience Platform.

  • [Deploy an existing Customized Commerce site](🔗) - I have an **existing Optimizely Customized Commerce site** that I want to onboard to Optimizely Digital Experience Platform, and continue to develop it using this service.

  • [Deploy code changes](🔗) - I am already using Optimizely Digital Experience Platform, and have an existing site for which I want to **deploy upgrades**.

  • [DXP self-deployment guide](🔗)

  • I want to **create a new site** **based on the Optimizely CMS sample templates**, and start development using Optimizely Digital Experience Platform. See [Create and deploy a CMS site](🔗).

  • I have an **existing Optimizely CMS site** that I want to onboard to Optimizely Digital Experience Platform, and continue to develop it using this service. See [Deploying an existing CMS Site](🔗) .

  • I want to **create a new site** **with Optimizely Customized Commerce**, and start development using Optimizely Digital Experience Platform. See [Create and deploy a Commerce cloud site](🔗).

  • I have an **existing Optimizely Customized Commerce site** that I want to onboard to Optimizely Digital Experience Platform, and continue to develop it using this service. See [Deploy an existing Customized Commerce Site](🔗).

  • I am already using Optimizely Digital Experience Platform, and have an existing site for which I want to **deploy upgrades**. See [Deploying code changes](🔗).

  • See also [Deploy changes in DXP manually](🔗).

## Cloud Accelerator Package

The _Cloud Accelerator Package_ is an offer designed to increase working knowledge around Optimizely Digital Experience Platform (DXP). The package includes tools to help bridge technical and operational gaps, and to ensure a firm onboarding and deployment process.

### Onboarding process

This section shows the components of Cloud Accelerator.



  1. [Technical overview – kickoff](🔗)

  2. [Training](🔗)

  3. [Implementation and testing support](🔗)

    • [Deployment scenarios](🔗)

    • [Testing](🔗)

  4. [Go Live Certification](🔗)

    • [Managed Services task checklist](🔗)

    • [Partner/developer task checklist](🔗)

    • [DNS provider task checklist](🔗)

    • [Backup/Restore management](🔗)

  5. [Go Live Support](🔗)

### 1. Technical overview - kickoff

When an order is provisioned, and you have received the service provisioning information from Optimizely, a Customer Success project manager sets up a kickoff meeting. During this meeting, you go through DXP services, roles and responsibilities, and steps to successfully develop and launch to Production. Information also includes expectations for communication, processes, and deadlines.

#### About DXP

In Optimizely DXP, a Web App is a solution built on the Optimizely platform, and operating as an Azure Web App including an SQL Database, a BLOB storage, and an Optimizely Search & Navigation index. See [Development considerations](🔗).

#### Environments

Separate environments ensure that your websites have content that is developed and tested before it is viewed in public. See also [Environments](🔗).

  • **Integration environment** – Involves the process of moving code and content between environments, such as from [Development considerations](🔗) to preproduction (UAT) to production, as part of a continuous deployment process. You can deploy Optimizely solutions using methods supported by most development environments and tools.

  • **Preproduction environment** – A staging website where you test and assure quality of content before it is transferred to the production environment.

  • **Production environment** – The live, public website where editors and visitors interact with your website.

Elastic auto-scaling occurs when performance criteria are exceeded. There is no set number of servers, CPUs, or memory; extra allocation is provided when needed. If a sudden spike in activity occurs, capacity scales up quickly, and scales back slowly as demand ebbs.

During deployment, a copy of the content called a "slot" is created. Configuration transforms are applied to the slot and when it is verified, it is swapped with the content on the website for a seamless interaction. See [Deployment process](🔗).



### 2. Training

_Developing for the DXP_is a one-day training course where two seats are included with your Cloud Accelerator Package purchase. Persons attending this course should have skill equivalent to \_CMS Development Fundamentals_. See [Optimizely Education Services](🔗).

### 3. Implementation and load test monitoring

Deployment to Preproduction provides the opportunity to load test and validate sites before going live. Through the DXP Management Portal, you can access self-service functionality for deploying between environments. Features include:

  • One-click deployment

  • Configuration transforms

  • Validations when deploying

  • Maintenance page

  • Deployment progress and details

  • Error handling and logging

See [DXP self-deployment guide](🔗).

#### Deployment scenarios

See [Deploying](🔗) and [DXP self-deployment guide](🔗).

#### Testing 

Review these recommendations:

  • [Security](🔗)

  • [Penetration Testing Rules of Engagement](🔗)

  • [Optimizely Trust Center](🔗)

### 4. Go Live Certification

Before deploying to Production, Optimizely ensures that everything on the following checklists are completed, as part of the Go Live Certification.

#### Optimizely Managed Services task checklist

  • Set up Pingdom monitoring.

  • Set up Application Insights monitoring.

  • Enter Reporting Pingdom and Application Insights CI’s in Omni tracker.

  • Add the URLs for the above-created Pingdom alerts to the Zen Desk Pingdom Alerting CI App.

  • Verify Application Insights is gathering and displaying data.

  • Verify proper setup of local cache prior to Go Live.

  • Ensure auto-scaling is configured based on load test results.

  • Ensure proper number of default instances configured based on load test results.

  • Ensure proper App Service plan is configured based on load test results.

  • Ensure BLOBs are getting stored in Azure storage account and not in AppData.

  • Validate that SSL bindings are set up if required.

  • Validate CDN is properly configured to receive traffic.

  • If required, validate VPN is properly set up.

  • Ensure DNS mapping verification is complete.

  • Check the site with Host entry before DNS is mapped before Go Live (one working day in advance).

  • Ensure application and system logging are enabled on the production environment and pointing to the appropriate BLOB containers (log-events and log-web).

  • Verify that the cloud services packages are installed to configure for DXP.

  • Ensure the website and cloud services have the starting instance count configured correctly and auto-scaling is set up and properly configured on production.

#### Partner/developer task checklist

  • Review [Going live](🔗).

  • Set up development logging, see [Logging](🔗).

#### DNS provider task checklist

  • Reduce Time-to-Live (TTL) to 5 to 10 Minutes. This should take place several days in advance of Go Live.

  • Enter appropriate Go Live DNS records to cut over live traffic to the Microsoft Azure DNS app service.

#### Back-up and restore management

Optimizely provides the following redundancy precautions, see also [Failover](🔗).

  • Content Database

    • Transaction log back-up every 5 minutes

    • Full back-up hourly

    • Point-in-time restore up to 35 days in the past

  • Configuration and code

    • Entire application back-up every 24 hours

    • Configuration back-up on same schedule

  • Azure Storage Account (BLOBs)

    • Geo-Redundant

### 5. Go Live Support

_Optimizely's Customer Success_ team provides support throughout the onboarding process until your site goes live. During the onboarding process, ensure to copy your onboarding Customer Success project manager on all communications to assure prompt assistance.

Responsibilities from Optimizely DXP Support and Partner/Client Management:



_Optimizely's Support_ team is available throughout all phases of the onboarding process and after launch of your website. Optimizely Managed Services Service Desk will support with these service requests during business days:

  • Non-standard deployments.

  • CDN configuration changes.

  • Placing IP addresses on the allow list.

  • URL aliasing.

  • DNS changes.

  • Adding or removing user access.

  • VPN configuration.

#### Contact information

  • **Email.** [[email protected]](🔗) **CC**: Your onboarding project manager

  • **Web.** [Support Help Center (https://support.optimizely.com/)](🔗)

  • **Phone.**

    • **USA.** +1-888-726-8127 or +1-877-383-0885 (Toll free)

    • **AU.** +61 2 8036 3161

    • **UK.** +44 (0) 800 066 4784 (Toll free)

    • **SWE.** +46 8-555 827 50

## DXP Dashboard

The DXP Dashboard provides an overview of your site’s usage and performance. It includes self-service capabilities as part of your DXP, access to data about usage, and availability for components associated with your subscription.





## Related topics

  • **Request access to DXP Management Dashboard, Azure Portal Integration Environment, and Application Insights**

    • Access request form: [Accessing Azure information](🔗)

    • [DXP self-deployment guide](🔗)

  • **Optimizely Support Portal**

    • To register: [Authenticate to support.optimizely.com](🔗)

    • [Support Help Center](🔗)

Note

Password self-reset is disabled. Email  [customer support](🔗) to reset a password for you.

  • **Developer Documentation and Community for Optimizely**

    • [DXP Cloud Services documentation](🔗)

    • [Optimizely World](🔗)

Note

When using the Optimizely World website for the first time, you will need to register.

Password self-reset is disabled. Email [customer support](🔗) to reset a password for you.

  • **Visual Studio Publishing**

    • [Creating a new CMS site and deploying](🔗)

    • [Creating a new Customized Commerce site and deploying](🔗)

  • **How to Restrict Access**

    • [Environment configurations](🔗)

    • [Restricting login access](🔗)

  • **CDN Recommendations & Cache-control**

    • [CDN recommendations](🔗)

  • **Partner/Developer - Set up Development Logging prior to go live**

    • [Logging into the .NET Diagnostics Trace](🔗)

  • **Penetration Testing Rules of Engagement**

    • [Penetration Testing Rules of Engagement](🔗)

  • **Optimizely Security Information**

    • [Optimizely Trust Center](🔗)

  • **RACI for Optimizely Services**

    • [Roles and Responsibilities Matrix for Optimizely Services](🔗)

  • **Blog post**: [Options for migrating to Optimizely DXP](🔗) by David Knipe.