A method of deploying enterprise applications or updates to data processing systems in a complex data processing environment. The enterprise applications or updates are phase deployed to the target data processing systems. Phased deployment includes the steps of preparing one affected node, quiescing all affected servers in the node, stopping all affected servers in the node, synchronizing the node, delivering the applications or updates, starting all affected servers, reactivating all affected servers, restoring the affected node, and repeating these steps for each affected node one at a time until all targeted data processing systems have been affected.