SharePoint Deployment Methods Comparison (Site/SubSite)

Recently i was assigned a task to compare the different deployment methods for SharePoint site/subsite. I searched over web but found nothing in a single piece. I combined the results from different sources and shaped the following

1. Import/Export
   
   
   
   • Pros
   • Allows incremental releases (patches)
   • Users and Security inclusion is optional
   • Can carry site structure as well as data
   • Import on same level as the export was prepared
   • Cons
   • Before running selective migrations, you must run a full migration in order to set up your destination server
   • Complex procedure of preparing Import and export packages for incremental releases
   • Site Name and description will remain same and cannot be changed during import
   
   
   Selective Migration: Export Flowchart
   

   
   
   
   

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Backup/Restore


• Pros
• Easy to use
• One step command for backup and one for step restore
• Can carry site structure and data as well
• Cons
• Users and Security will be included automatically
• Only restorable on Root Site (Even sub site back will be restored on root site)
• Site Name and description will remain same and cannot be changed during restore
3. STP
• Pros
• Site Name and description can be changed during site creation with STP
• Users and Security inclusion is optional
• Can carry site structure as well as data
• Can be deployed on any level regardless of source site level of STP
• Cons
• No incremental release supported
• Does not include Users and Security
• Inclusion of data is optional

References:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc768566.aspx
http://onetidbit.wordpress.com/

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb530303.aspx