Before you deploy Microsoft Provisioning System (MPS) in your production environment, you should first implement a test configuration. With a test configuration, you can perform a trial run of the MPS deployment and configuration process and then test the functionality of your provisioning system in a controlled environment without affecting your production systems. This enables you to model and validate the deployment, configuration, and use of MPS prior to your actual production environment deployment.

You might use a router or bridge to partition a portion of your network for this purpose and then merge the tested provisioning system into your production environment when you are finished. However, if you cannot access or create a test bed on your network, consider setting up an MPS test configuration with virtual servers. With virtual servers for MPS and other hosted services, you can minimize the number of computers you will require. You can also use this configuration for test or training purposes while still performing provisioning tasks, just as you might in a small production environment.

See Deployment Walkthrough for the procedures to deploy your MPS test configuration, at which time you will run the MPS Deployment Tool to automate both the deployment and configuration of the test provisioning system.