We launched MAP 5.5 couple of weeks ago. In the last blog, we explored on the Internet Explorer discovery scenario within the context of Windows7 deployment. In MAP 5.5, we extended the scope of MAP toolkit beyond the traditional server and desktop hardware readiness assessment and toward cloud deployment...

We are pleased to announce the next version of the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit-version 5.5- is now available for download. Download MAP 5.5 Simplify planning for migration to the latest Microsoft products and technologies with the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP...

The Infrastructure Planning and Design (IPD) team has released a new guide: Windows User State Virtualization (USV). The Infrastructure Planning and Design guide for Windows User State Virtualization (USV) helps IT get started with planning a Windows USV solution. It can be difficult for IT to find...

The Infrastructure Planning and Design (IPD) team is working on two new guides: Microsoft Forefront™ Identity Manager 2010 and Active Directory® Certificate Services. The Infrastructure Planning and Design guide for Microsoft Forefront Identity Manager (FIM) 2010 provides actionable guidance for...

The Solution Accelerator team has released a new guide: Dynamic Data Center . The design process in the free Infrastructure Planning and Design Guide for the Dynamic Data Center allows your organization to strategically plan a Dynamic Data Center infrastructure that is designed for ease of manageability...

The Solution Accelerator team has released a new guide: Microsoft Forefront Unified Access Gateway . This free guide outlines the critical infrastructure design elements that are key to the successful implementation of Forefront Unified Access Gateway (Forefront UAG). The logical three-step process...

Interested in Microsoft Forefront Unified Access Gateway? Check out the new beta Infrastructure Planning and Design Guide for Microsoft Forefront Unified Access Gateway, and learn a logical three-step process for selecting Forefront UAG features required, determining the number of instances, and designing...

With the new DirectAccess feature in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 you’ll now have the ability to allow remote users to seamlessly access enterprise shares, websites, and applications without the need to connect to virtual private network (VPN) systems. DirectAccess also gives IT managers the...

Microsoft Solution Accelerators Team is currently looking for deployment stories around the use of the Infrastructure Planning and Design (IPD) Series . Winners chosen by the IPD Team will each receive a Zune HD music player. Infrastructure Planning and Design Series gives you architectural guidance...

Here's my latest blog post on the " Because It's Everybody's Business " site on Microsoft.com. The article titled " Don't Compromise Your IT! Modernize It! " lays out a few key challenges and solutions to help you save IT costs while maintaining agility and operational efficiency. Check it out! ...

The Infrastructure Planning and Design (IPD) Team from Microsoft Solution Accelerators recently released two new IPD guides to help customers with deployment planning for these Microsoft products: System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2 Windows Deployment Services (WDS) as part of Windows Server...

Today, the Infrastructure Planning and Design Team from Microsoft Solution Accelerators is pleased to announce the immediate availability of the Infrastructure Planning and Design (IPD) Guide for Windows Server Virtualization and System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM). Now updated for Windows...

Today, the Solution Accelerators Team is pleased to announce the release of the initial version of the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit for IBM . This release, based on the MAP Toolkit platform, was developed by IBM at the IBM Center for Microsoft Technologies to help IT organizations...

The Infrastructrure Planning and Design Team is pleased to announce the new web portal that will help Microsoft customers and partners more easily find the IT guidance for different product and technology scenarios. The Infrastructure Planning and Design Guides (IPD) offers practical architectural...

Are you looking to deploy DirectAccess available from the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 operating systems? And, are you planning to allow users to access corporate resources (such as e-mail servers, shared folders, or intranet Web sites) securely without connecting to a virtual private network...

Language(s): English. Product(s): Windows Server 2008,Windows Server 2008 R2. Audience(s): IT Generalist. Duration: 60 Minutes Start Date: Thursday, September 24, 2009 11:00 AM Pacific Time (US & Canada) Event Overview...

Windows 7 has been released to manufacturing last month and one of the best enterprise features is DirectAccess . This feature allows remote users to securely access enterprise shares, Web sites, and applications without connecting to a virtual private network (VPN). DirectAccess establishes bi-directional...

Windows Server 2008 R2 and Hyper-V Are you interested in helping your customers reduce cost in your datacenter? Considering upgrading to Windows Server 2008 R2 and Hyper-V technologies.Starting this week, Microsoft will host 4 web seminars for Microsoft Partners on how to plan and deploy Windows Server...

SQL Server 2008 R2 CTP Announced The SQL Server 2008 R2 August Community Technology Preview (CTP) rollout continues today with the availability of the Microsoft SQL Server StreamInsight August CTP. We’re excited to announce that SQL Server StreamInsight is officially shipping as a component of SQL...

Good news! Last week, Microsoft announced the Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 products have been released to manufacturing (RTM). What it means is that you will be able to get these products on the shelves very soon. Windows 7 Sneak-Peek from MGX To get you started with deployment planning...

In support of the upcoming Windows Server 2008 R2 launch, Microsoft announced at the Worldwide Partner Conference 2009 this week the public release of Infrastructure Planning and Design Guides Series for Windows Server 2008 R2 - free best practice and guidance available to help Microsoft customers and...

The Windows® 7 and Windows Server® 2008 R2 launches are just around the corner. As you prepare to deploy these operating systems, consider jumpstarting your project with Microsoft® Deployment Toolkit (MDT) 2010 Beta 2. Leverage this Solution Accelerator to achieve efficient, cost-effective deployment...

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...

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...

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...