Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit Team Blog

As the year of 2008 draws to a close, I thought I would highlight the Top 10 Microsoft Tools (my personal favorites) that will help you save your precious IT dollars in 2009! 

Some of these you know.  However, there could be some that didn't get onto your radar screen.  So, check them out and you'll be happy that you did. No more looking into the IT crystal ball - just use these tools and start saving!  :-)

1. Hyper-V - Use this new hypervisor technology to consolidate under-utilized servers in your datacenters
2. System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 - Use this management solution to manage Microsoft and VMware-based virtual machines
3. App-V 4.5 - Leverage this technology to better manage your application conflicts and issues.  Application management has never been so easy!
4. Simple to Save site - Want to save IT costs for 2009?  Use this tool to create good business case for your projects!
5. Hyper-Green site - Find out how you can save the environment and go green with Hyper-V!
6. Integrated Virtualization ROI Tool - Build a ROI/TCO business case for your next virtualization project with this free tool!
7. Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit for Hyper-V and App-V virtualization - Run a free network-wide infrastructure assessment and see what servers and apps are good candidates for Hyper-V and App-V virtualization!!  Download the MAP Toolkit for free here!
8. Offline Virtual Machine Servicing Tool - Use this free tool to patch and service offline virtual machines.
9. Infrastructure Planning and Design Guides for Virtualization - Design your server, desktop and virtualization infrastructure with Microsoft best practices.
10. Environmental Sustainability site - Save the environment and save your plant with "green" Microsoft solutions and technologies

Happy Holidays and New Year of 2009!

Baldwin Ng (Sr. Product Manager, Microsoft Solution Accelerators)

Virtualization can be manageable and here's the latest Virtualization Solution Accelerator that helps you service the frequently-offline virtual machines more easily!

Introducing Offline Virtual Machine Servicing Tool 2.0...

This tool offers an easy way to patch virtual machines within a System Center Virtual Machine Manager library by leveraging technologies such as Windows Server Update Services or System Center Configuration Manager 2007.  This new release now supports Hyper-V, Windows Server 2008, and System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008.

Download Offline Virtual Machine Servicing Tool 2.0 today!  There's also a video demo link as well:  http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?vid=8b4ff511-feba-4741-9595-09836ddcae7a

Also, you may check out other related virtualization solution accelerator that will help you with assessing server candidates for Hyper-V virtualization and guiding you through the decision-making process:

• Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit for Hyper-V
• Infrastructure Planning and Design Guides for Virtualization
• Other Virtualization Solution Accelerators

Cheers!
Baldwin

Do you want to lower IT operation costs for your business? Take advantage of this new tool from Alinean, "Simple to Save" cost calculator and you can be a cost-cutting hero!

How It Works?

1. This tool is very simple to use.  First you need to go through a short set of questions to help the tool better understand your IT organization.
2. Then, you'll be presented with a list of scenarios where you can saving costs.  It includes savings for each of these scenarios:
• Deploy Virtualization
• Database Consolidation and Application Platform Agreement
• Enterprise Systems Management
• Desktop Management and Application Virtualization
• Standardized Desktops
• Upgrade to Windows Vista
• Unified Communications
• Collaboration

Why Wait?  Get Started Now with this simple 3-Step Process!

1. Use the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit to gather network inventory statistics (e.g. number of servers you have deployed, number of PCs you have installed, or number of servers you can consolidate via Hyper-V virtualization) 
2. Use the data from the MAP Toolkit in Step 1 and then input them into the brand new "Simple to Save" cost calculator to get cost savings calculation
3. Read the whitepaper titled "Simple Savvy Savings - 9 ideas to make anyone a Cost-Cutting Hero"
4. Present your cost-cutting proposals to your management team and START SAVING!!

Cheers,

Baldwin

Are you under pressure to control your IT operational costs?  Are your companies or local governments encouraging "Green IT" practices?

Here's a great NEW TOOL that you should know about.  Microsoft just launched the Hyper-Green site designed to help you cut costs and energy.

To give it a go, please visit us at the new Hyper-Green site. To get more accurate results about what kind of consolidation ratio (# of servers after virtualization to # of servers before virtualization), use the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit to inventory your server environment and assess the virtualization candidates.

Don't wait!! Visit the Hyper-Green site now and start saving your precious IT dollars and your environment!

Cheers,

Baldwin (Sr. Product Manager, Virtualization Solution Accelerators)

Wow!  If you have a Windows Vista machine, you should probably take a look at this series of how-to articles on making your beloved Windows Vista machine FASTER!

Top 5 Ways to make Windows Vista Faster!

1. Add more memory
2. Use your USB flash drive
3. Configure ReadyBoost
4. Pick a new UBS flash drive
5. Overclock your graphics card

If you want more, please visit the entire article on Windows Vista Magazine site here:

http://www.windowsvistamagazine.com/UK/4352741769746825868/50-ways-to-make-windows-vista-faster-part-1.html#mpuEnd

Oh, don't forget, you can use the FREE Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit to assess if your PCs are ready for Windows Vista migration.  It's quick and painless.  Why not conduct a Windows Vista hardware assessment check today? Learn more on TechNet about Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit.

Baldwin

Today, at a launch event in San Francisco, Stephen Elop, president of the Microsoft Business Division at Microsoft Corp., announced the availability of Microsoft Exchange Online and Microsoft SharePoint Online for businesses of all sizes in the United States. These subscription-based online services offer businesses a new and cost-effective way to purchase, deploy and manage e-mail and calendaring solution (Exchange Online) as well as collaboration software (SharePoint Online).

To help businesses and partners accelerate their migration and on-boarding process to Exchange Online, Microsoft also announced the availability of several FREE Solution Accelerators for Exchange Online - free tools and guides available at no charge.

What Are Solution Accelerators?  How Can They Help?

Microsoft Solution Accelerators are free automated tools and technical guidance designed to help IT professionals and consultants like you to quick adopt Microsoft products.  They take out the guess-work during assessment and planning phases of your projects and help you do much of the "heavy lifting" throughout the entire IT project life-cycle.  For example:

• Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit for Exchange Online - This free toolkit offers fast network-wide readiness assessment of your desktop infrastructure to see if your desktops' hardware is ready for migration to Exchange Online.  In addition, the new survey feature of this toolkit can make it easier for you to conduct a needs assessment and collect technical and business requirements for your online messaging service migration.
• Infrastructure Planning and Design Series [Exchange Online - Evaluating Software-plus-Services] - This guide provides a clear comparison of e-mail technologies across on-premises, standard hosting, and dedicated hosting scenarios. Use the guide as a framework for evaluating the technical feasibility of Microsoft Exchange Online. In addition, this guide provides an overall scoring assessment for each option, identifying key mail services and requirements for your organization.
• Microsoft Operations Framework Companion Guide - This guide helps you determine where software-plus-services can assist you, how to select a service provider, and considerations for the service-provider contract.

Next Steps for You!

• Learn more about Microsoft Online Services
• Learn more about Exchange Online Offering
• Get started now with FREE Solution Accelerators for Microsoft Online Services
• Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit for Exchange Online (released!)
• Infrastructure Planning and Design Series: "Exchange Online—Evaluating Software-plus-Services" (released!)
• Microsoft Operations Framework Companion Guide (get beta or learn more)
• Are you a Microsoft Partner?  Visit our special Partner Solution Accelerators site to learn how you can be part of the Microsoft Online Services wave of opportunities.
• Keep in touch with new Solution Accelerators for Online Services
• Learn more on Microsoft Online Services Solution Accelerators Team Blog (note the special Online Services Blog Post)
• Stay in touch and subscribe to Microsoft Online Services Solution Accelerators Team Blog (RSS Feed)

Thank you!
Baldwin Ng

Good news to all of you who are IT professionals out there!  Microsoft Learning team is now offering a second shot for you to take a Microsoft certification exam for free.  This is a great way to get the SQL Server 2008, Windows Server 2008, Hyper-V and many other certifications that you've always wanted!

Have a second shot on us! 

• Learn more about the Microsoft Learning "second shot" promotion
• DON'T FORGET - Learn how to use Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit for SQL Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 and Hyper-V projects.  Who knows, we may ask you about this tool on the exam!

Baldwin

Today, the Microsoft Solution Accelerators Team is pleased to announce the RTM release of the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit 3.2 that sports news features such as Power Savings Calculator. Click here to learn more about today’s FULL ANNOUNCEMENT OF MAP TOOLKIT 3.2 RTM RELEASE.

Why build MAP Toolkit with a Power Savings Calculator?

During the current challenging economic times, your business is probably looking for ways to lower your IT operation costs. Well, good news! With Hyper-V, you can now consolidate many of your under-utilized servers in your datacenters and branch offices so you can PAY LESS for power and cooling!

In addition, did you know that you can save lots of power by leveraging the power management features of Windows Vista (for your desktops) and Windows Server 2008 (for your servers)?

The MAP Toolkit 3.2 now offers the Power Savings Calculator and Proposal that walks you through the many ways that you can save those precious IT dollars.  What a great way to learn how to "go green!"

What can you get from MAP Toolkit 3.2 for Power Savings and Management

With MAP Toolkit 3.2, you can get a proposal in just a matter of hours. It includes a detailed proposal that will tell you what the potential savings are for your desktops and servers including benefits of virtualization via Hyper-V.

Next Steps for You!

Now that you know the power of the MAP Toolkit 3.2, why stop here?  Give the MAP Toolkit a try and tell your friends about it.  If you are a blogger, tell the world about it!

• Download Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 3.2 (RTM Bits)
• Learn more about MAP on TechNet or Microsoft Partner Program Portal
• Check out the Microsoft Environmental Sustainability Site
• Read the MAP Team Blog
• Join the TechNet Forum Community for MAP
• MAP is a member of the family of Solution Accelerators

Baldwin Ng

Sr. Product Manager, Microsoft Solution Accelerators Team

Today, the Microsoft Solution Accelerators Team is pleased to announce the RTM release of the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit 3.2 that sports news features such as readiness assessment for Forefront Client Security and Network Access Protection (NAP). Click here to learn more about today’s FULL ANNOUNCEMENT OF MAP TOOLKIT 3.2 RTM RELEASE.

Why build MAP Toolkit for Forefront Client Security and Network Access Protection?

As your business continues to grow, your installed base of PCs probably grew at the similar rate. What does that mean? Unless you protect and secure your business desktops, your business may be vulnerable to data loss or malicious attacks. Look to Forefront Client Security and Network Access Protection to help you ward off those viruses and malware in your IT environment.

With the MAP Toolkit 3.2, you can now quickly assess your PCs to see if they have anti-virus software and anti-malware software installed. We even tell if you they are out of date!

And wait, there’s more. The MAP Toolkit 3.2 will tell you if your current PC and server infrastructure is already ready for installation of Forefront Client Security and NAP or not, making it easier for you to get on the path of IT security.

What can you get from MAP Toolkit 3.2 for Forefront Client Security and NAP Readiness?

With the MAP Toolkit 3.2, you can get a set of reports and proposals to report potential issues with computers without installation of anti-virus or anti-malware.  This toolkit also assess the readiness to migrate the PCs to Forefront Client Security and Network Access Protection/NAP.

Next Steps for You!

Now that you know the power of the MAP Toolkit 3.2, why stop here?  Give the MAP Toolkit a try and tell your friends about it.  If you are a blogger, tell the world about it!

• Download Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 3.2 (RTM Bits)
• Learn more about MAP on TechNet or Microsoft Partner Program Portal
• Try Forefront Client Security and Network Access Protection Now!
• Read the MAP Team Blog
• Join the TechNet Forum Community for MAP
• MAP is a member of the family of Solution Accelerators

Baldwin Ng

Sr. Product Manager, Microsoft Solution Accelerators Team

Today, the Microsoft Solution Accelerators Team is pleased to announce the RTM release of the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit 3.2 that sports news features such as Microsoft Online Services Needs Assessment and Survey.  Click here to learn more about today’s FULL ANNOUNCEMENT OF MAP TOOLKIT 3.2 RTM RELEASE.

Why build MAP Toolkit for Microsoft Online Services?

During challenging economic times, many businesses like yours look to cloud-based services, such as Microsoft Online Services including Exchange Online, to outsource their IT e-mail services and reduce capital expenditures. But how can you quickly determine what it takes to migrate to Exchange Online?  What is your messaging needs for the next few years? Are your business desktops ready for the migration to “the cloud”?

The MAP Toolkit 3.2 can give you the answers you need. By creating a brand new survey assessment capability and through the use of its powerful network-wide assessment engine, the MAP Toolkit can help you conduct a survey on your messaging needs and generate a Microsoft Online Services proposal that based on your specific set of business PCs. In a matter of just a few hours, you will be well on your way to migration to Exchange Online.

What can you get from MAP Toolkit 3.2 for SQL Server 2008?

With the MAP Toolkit 3.2, you now have the ability to walk through a guided survey to help you self-assess your messaging needs (e.g. E-mail).

This toolkit can also conduct readiness assessment of your networked PCs to help you determine if they meet the basic requirements.

Next Steps for You!

Now that you know the power of the MAP Toolkit 3.2, why stop here?  Give the MAP Toolkit a try and tell your friends about it.  If you are a blogger, tell the world about it!

• Download Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 3.2 (RTM Bits)
• Learn more about MAP on TechNet or Microsoft Partner Program Portal
• Try Exchange Online and other Microsoft Online Services offerings now!
• Read the MAP Team Blog
• Join the TechNet Forum Community for MAP
• MAP is a member of the family of Solution Accelerators

Baldwin Ng

Sr. Product Manager, Microsoft Solution Accelerators Team

Today, the Microsoft Solution Accelerators Team is pleased to announce the RTM release of the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit 3.2 that sports news features such as SQL Server Database Instance Discovery.  Click here to learn more about today’s FULL ANNOUNCEMENT OF MAP TOOLKIT 3.2 RTM RELEASE.

Why build MAP Toolkit for SQL Server 2008?

Since the SQL Server 2000 mainstream support has already expired a few months ago, our research told us that many of our customers want to quickly migrate their legacy database servers to SQL Server 2008.  However, locating and discovering SQL instances remained a labor-intensive task or a “chore.”

The MAP Toolkit 3.2 solves the problem by creating new collection mechanism to find these hard-to-find SQL Server 2000 and 2005 database instances.  In just a hour or so, you will now be able to discover and report on these instances by version and edition, making it easier for you to collectively understand your install base of database servers.

What can you get from MAP Toolkit 3.2 for SQL Server 2008?

With MAP Toolkit 3.2, you can now get an auto-generated set of report and proposal in just an hour or so. The SQL Server assessment proposal offers a high-level look at the assessment of SQL Server instances while the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet offers an in-depth machine-by-machine (or instance-by-instance) view.

Next Steps for You!

Now that you know the power of the MAP Toolkit 3.2, why stop here?  Give the MAP Toolkit a try and tell your friends about it.  If you are a blogger, tell the world about it!

• Download Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 3.2 (RTM Bits)
• Learn more about MAP on TechNet or Microsoft Partner Program Portal
• Try SQL Server 2008 now!
• Read the MAP Team Blog
• Join the TechNet Forum Community for MAP
• MAP is a member of the family of Solution Accelerators

Baldwin Ng

Sr. Product Manager, Microsoft Solution Accelerators Team

Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkt 3.2 New Features

Expanding to assess readiness for Microsoft Online Services, SQL Server 2008, Forefront Client Security, and Network Access Protection