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We'd like to hear from you regarding your satisfaction of the MAP Toolkit 4.0 Beta program!

Please fill out this short satisfaction survey before July 2nd, 2009 (5pm Pacific Time) and you may be one of the first 20 respondents who will get a free copy of OneNote 2007 software. Note that only completed surveys via the Connect site from US customers will be accepted.

How Do I Get Started?

Thank you for your feedback and support.
Baldwin Ng

I often ran into customers and partners who wish they could have spent LESS time on deployment planning and deploy faster and start benefitting from the value of the software earlier.  Picking the right technologies like server, desktop, and application virtualization could seem daunting at times to some.  Fortunately, help is on the way from a team called Microsoft Solution Accelerators Team.

Consider using three of the top Microsoft planning tools and you're well on your way to a more cost-effective, agile and optimized server and desktop infrastructure:

  • Infrastructure Planning and Design Guides for Windows Server, Virtualization, System Center, SQL Server 2008, Microsoft Online Services, and other infrastructures: 
    • Use this series of proven guidance to speed up and clarify your infrastructure design process as well as technology selection process
    • Download or read more about this accelerator: IPD Blog Post or IPD TechNet Page
  • Windows Optimized Desktop Scenario for Windows 7, App-V, MED-V, VDI, RDS, and more
    • Use this set of proven guidance and selection tool to help you quickly map your desktop user requirements with the optimized desktop technologies that you need to enable a more optimized user experience
    • Download or read more about this accelerator: WODS Blog Post or WODS TechNet Page
  • Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit for Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Hyper-V, App-V virtualization and more
    • Use this assessment and planning tool to create an inventory of your desktop and server environment and get migration readiness report and recommendations in just a few hours for most cases.
    • This toolkit can offer environment-specific recommendations for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 migration as well as Hyper-V projects.
    • Download or read more about this accelerator: MAP Blog Post or MAP TechNet Page

 

Cheers,
Baldwin Ng

 

Have you tested the latest Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 4.0 Beta yet?

To express our thanks for your beta program participation, we will offer a Zune 120GB music player to one beta participant.

 

The criteria are simple. At the end of the Beta Program, the development team will select the most impactful code-specific bugs for the RTM release. The filer of this bug will be the winner.

Note: It is the quality of the bug on our software code that counts and not the number of bugs that you filed. We welcome you to file bugs on typos and grammatical errors; however, these bugs will not be accepted for this contest.

This contest is for Microsoft customers and partners only. Microsoft employees and vendors are encouraged to submit their feedback but they will not be able to enter the contest. Deadline is July 2, 2009 (5:00 pm Pacific Time, extended from the original deadline of June 30).  All bugs must be submitted via the Connect.microsoft.com site where MAP 4.0 beta is located.

Happy Testing!
Baldwin Ng

For those of you who are fans of the MAP Toolkit, you ought to consider this hidden gem from Microsoft Solution Accelerators team. 

If you are interested in deployment cost-saving technologies for your desktop infrastructure, read on...

Windows Optimized Desktop Scenarios (WODS) Solution Accelerator 1.1 is a new tool that relates the IT and user business requirements for a flexible, efficient, and managed desktop environment to sets of complementary Microsoft technologies. It accomplishes this by defining and using five standard user scenarios that map business requirements to technology solutions. These core scenarios cover most desktop user situations including: Office Worker, Mobile Worker, Task Worker, Contract Worker, and workers who need to Access from Home.

The WODS solution accelerators has 2 parts - an assessment tool and a planning guide.  Use both to expedite your user requirements gathering and start simplifying your desktop project planning projects.

 

Many of the WODS users told us that this accelerator saves them time and help them select the RIGHT desktop technology, whether it is Windows 7, App-V, MED-V, VDI, RDS (TS) or others.

Why wait?  Download the Windows Optimized Desktop Scenarios Solution Accelerator for free now.  Or, visit the Optimized Desktop Team Blog for more details.

Cheers,
Baldwin Ng (Sr. Product Manager, Windows Optimized Desktop Scenarios Solution Accelerator)

 

Hello,

Microsoft Solution Accelerators team has recently released the IT Infrastructure Threat Modeling Guide.  You may want to check it out! 

Organizations today face an increasing number of threats to their computing environments. You need a proactive approach to assist you in your efforts to protect your organization's assets and sensitive information. This guide provides an easy-to-understand method that enables you to develop threat models for your IT environment and prioritize your investments in IT infrastructure security.

Download the IT Infrastructure Threat Modeling Guide!

 

Baldwin Ng

 

Are your customers planning on deploying remote access solutions like DirectAccess? Join this Microsoft Partners Focus Group at the Worldwide Partner Conference and tell us what you need to help you design the security and remote access infrastructure to support mobile and remote workers.

Your input will help drive the development of new guidance and tools (Infrastructure Planning and Design Series – Solution Accelerators) for building a DirectAccess infrastructure.

  • Date:       July 15, 2009
  • Time:       3:00 pm to 5:00 pm Central Time
  • Location:  Ernest N. Morial Convention Center (Room 240)

Seats are limited so please RSVP by July 6, 2009 at IPDFG@microsoft.com or via Facebook link: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=112744420476

Cheers,

Baldwin Ng

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 will be available in the near future.  Are you thinking about deploying these new operating systems?  Get a head start with Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 4.0 Beta. Over 680,000 Microsoft customers and partners including Costco Wholesale Corporation, Continental Airlines, and Banque de Luxembourg have already downloaded and used this toolkit to date.

Introducing Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit

Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit 4.0 is an integrated planning toolkit that makes it easier for Microsoft customers and partners to quickly identify what servers, workstations, and network devices are in their IT environment. This agentless and scalable toolkit has the ability to discover all computers within Active Directory and workgroup environments. It performs key functions that include hardware and device inventory, hardware compatibility analysis, and generation of actionable, environment-specific IT proposals for migration to most major Microsoft technologies.

 

What’s New in MAP Toolkit v4.0?

MAP Toolkit 4.0 Beta has the following new features:

  • Windows 7 Hardware and Device Compatibility Assessment
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 Hardware and Device Compatibility Assessment
  • Virtualization Candidates Assessment for Hyper-V R2 Server Consolidation
  • Integration with the Microsoft Integrated Virtualization ROI Calculator
  • Inventory of VMware Server Hosts and Guests
  • User Interface and Proposal Customization for Partner co-branding
  • Enhanced Usability and Improved Inventory Performance

    

Additional Features

Other features from version 3.2 have also been carried over to version 4.0:

  • Virtualization Candidates Assessment for Hyper-V Server Consolidation
  • Windows Vista Hardware and Device Compatibility Assessment
  • Windows Server 2008 Hardware and Device Compatibility Assessment
  • 2007 Microsoft Office Readiness Assessment
  • SQL Server Instance Discovery
  • Desktop Security Assessment for Anti-virus and Anti-malware Programs Installation
  • Forefront Client Security/NAP Readiness Assessment
  • Online Services (Exchange Online) Assessment
  • App-V Infrastructure Readiness Assessment
  • Power Savings “Green IT” Calculator

Benefits to Customers and Partners

Saves Planning or Pre-Sales Time. For most IT consultants and Microsoft Partners, a detailed network inventory and assessment of servers and desktops often takes days of manual labor. With Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit, you can now conduct an environment inventory of up to 100,000 computers in a matter of hours instead of days, giving you extra time to focus on critical planning or pre-sales tasks. For IT professionals, this toolkit can significantly reduce the time it takes to gather the information necessary to make the business case for client, server, and virtualization projects.

Provides Actionable Recommendations and Reporting. MAP Toolkit provides valuable inventory and readiness assessment reports with environment-specific upgrade recommendations and virtualization candidate reports, making it easier for IT migration and deployment projects to get off the ground and running.

Covers Wide Range of Scenarios--from Desktops to ServersMAP Toolkit offers technology assessments and planning recommendations for many Microsoft desktop and server products including Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Hyper-V R2, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Hyper-V, Virtual Server 2005 R2, 2007 Microsoft Office, SQL Server 2008, Forefront Client Security, Network Access Protection, Microsoft Online Services, Microsoft Application Virtualization (or App-V), and more.

Next Steps--How can I get Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 4.0 Beta?

Thank You!
Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit Team - Solution Accelerators

The new Infrastructure Planning and Design (IPD) Guide: SharePoint Online—Evaluating Software-plus-Services presents a clear comparison of SharePoint collaboration technologies across on-premises, standard hosting, and dedicated hosting scenarios. Use the guide as a framework for evaluating the business and technical feasibility of moving to Microsoft SharePoint Online.

Download the NEW IPD Guide for SharePoint Online and other related design guides for Exchange Online, Windows Server 2008, Virtualization and more today!  They're free!

Baldwin

PS: Also check out our TechEd Online video on IPD Guides from a recent conference (TechEd 2009 in Los Angeles)!

Diagram 1: Infrastructure Planning and Design: Decision Flowchart

 

Diagram 2: Infrastructure Planning and Design: Client Experience Requirements Rating Table

 

 

Back in April I mentioned about the Service Level Dashboard 2.0 Beta.  Well, it's been just released recently.  Check it out! 

This free Solution Accelerator collects and monitors operational measurements for your line of business (LOB) applications. Its graphical dashboard makes it easy to keep tabs on service availability and performance, letting you:

  • Spot trends in service availability and performance
  • Head off problems before they occur
  • Reduce costs by streamlining IT operations

Get SLD free download here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=67EF9823-631B-49B7-9D7F-9F125BDF27AE&displaylang=en&displaylang=en

Learn more from my previous blog post on SLD here:  http://blogs.technet.com/mapblog/archive/2009/04/03/news-service-level-dashboard-2-0-beta-for-system-center-operations-manager-2007-r2-rc1-now-available.aspx

Baldwin

 

You're invited to join us for a special LIVE webcast to see how you can use the MAP Toolkit 4.0 Beta to determine the readiness of your infrastructure for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. This webcast will also include a live demo and Q&A session.

Also, please join the MAP Toolkit 4.0 Beta now so you will receive email notification when the beta is available for download.

 

According to the Windows Server Division Blog and Windows 7 Team Blog, the RTM and general availability (GA) dates of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 are as follows:

  • Windows 7 RTM:   On track for July 2009 (2nd half)
  • Windows 7 GA:     October 22, 2009
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM:   On track for July 2009 (2nd half)
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 GA:     October 22, 2009

To learn more about Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, check out these important resources:

Thanks.

The Solution Accelerators team is researching the Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity space, and would like to better understand the challenges you face when planning for a Disaster Recovery scenario. Please complete this 5-minute survey, and be entered to win a $200 Amazon gift card.

Thanks,

Baldwin 

 

In case you weren't able to attend TechEd 2009, here're a few important announcements made earlier this week.

  1. Windows 7 is tracking well for holiday availability to customers.  Windows 7 RC is available now.
  2. Windows Server 2008 R2 will be released in the same timeframe as Windows 7.  Try the Windows Server 2008 R2 RC bits here.
  3. Office 2010 Community Technical Preview will be available in July 2009.  Join now!
  4. SQL Server 2008 R2 Community Technical Preview will be available in 2nd half of 2009.
  5. Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit for Windows 7 hardware assessment will be available for beta testing in early June.  Join the MAP Toolkit Beta Program today!

Cheers,
Baldwin Ng

 

Are you ready for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2? Were you not able to attend TechEd 2009?

Check out this TechEd 2009 video interview as Bryan Von Axelson and Baldwin Ng discuss how you can use the free solution accelerator, Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit to determine which of your desktops and servers are good candidates for the new OS migration efforts to Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2. The free toolkit also covers ROI analysis for virtualization and Hyper-V virtualization assessments.

Thanks,

Baldwin Ng

 
 
Are you ready for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2? Were you not able to attend TechEd 2009?
 
Check out this video interview at TechEd 2009 North America as Bryan Von Axelson and Robin Maher discuss how you can use the free solution accelerator, Infrastructure Planning and Design (IPD) Guides to chose the right technologies, and implement them quickly for your IT organization. Products covered include Windows 7, App-V, MED-V, Windows Server 2008 R2, Hyper-V and RDS.

Enjoy,

Baldwin

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