We are pleased to announce the next version of the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit—version 6.0— is now available for beta download. To participate, register for the MAP Toolkit 6.0 Beta at Microsoft Connect. Join the MAP Beta . Members, bookmark this link to get the...

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...

Last week, in his blog " Identifying Browsers and Plugins That Might Represent a Risk" Gartner's Neil MacDonald stressed on the significance of MAP 5.5 Internet Explorer discovery scenario. With the proliferation of web browsers, and plugins such as toolbars, browser helper objects, Active -x controls...

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...

We are pleased to announce the next version of the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit-version 5.5- is now available for beta download. To participate, register for the MAP Toolkit 5.5 Beta at Microsoft Connect. Join the MAP Beta. Members, bookmark this link to get the latest project...

In the last couple of posts, I discussed SQL server discovery feature as well as Software Usage tracking feature of MAP toolkit. In this blog, I would like to introduce you to some of the technical specifics of the MAP toolkit. What the MAP Toolkit Does The MAP Toolkit is designed to let you...

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 Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit has a new Software usage tracking capability so that partners can help customers evaluate their Server and CAL licensing needs. This new Software usage tracking feature is a positive step forward to support our customers. With MAP 5.0 toolkit, customers...

In the previous blog , Joyce discussed the MAP 5.0 features, specifically SQL server instances and databases discovery. Continuing the discussion, I would like to share with you the sample proposals and worksheets that the MAP 5.0 toolkit p rovides as part of the discovery process. These worksheets provide...

We have announced the general availability of MAP 5.0 during Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC). We are excited to see strong response and following to MAP 5.0. In this blog, we would like to explore "SQL Server Consolidation report", one of the new features of MAP Toolkit 5.0. With MAP 5.0, SQL server...

We're happy to announce that the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit 5.0 is now available. The MAP Toolkit 5.0 is an agentless tool designed to simplify and streamline the IT infrastructure planning process across multiple scenarios through network-wide automated discovery and assessments...

One of the newest features in development for the MAP Toolkit is the ability to track usage data for Microsoft products. With the MAP Toolkit 5.0 Beta, you can intelligently track usage to determine your licensing needs for Exchange Server 2003 and 2007. MAP is an agent-less tool that allows you to inventory...

MAP 5.0 Beta 2 is currently available, and the beta program is under way. Traditionally, MAP performs inventory and assessment of IT environments running Microsoft platforms, and virtualization platforms including VMware technologies. With MAP 5.0, the Solution Accelerator Team has extended the heterogeneous...

We're happy to announce that the beta for the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit 5.0 is now open. We encourage you to join the beta review program and help influence the development of the toolkit. To participate, register for the MAP Toolkit 5.0 Beta 2 at Microsoft Connect. The MAP...

We’re happy to announce that the beta for the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit 5.0 is now open. We encourage you to join the beta review program and help influence the development of the toolkit. To participate, register for the MAP Toolkit 5.0 Beta 1 at Microsoft Connect. The Microsoft...

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! ...

Have you considered consolidating your datacenter servers down to a more manageable number? Are your servers taking up too much of your IT budget simply to power and cool them? Did you know that many organizations like yours may have under-utilized servers lying around that ought to be virtualized? ...

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...

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...

The Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit (MAP) Facebook Group Page is now launched. Join this community site to share your ideas with other MAP users on how to use the MAP Toolkit for your IT planning and deployment projects for a variety of products such as Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Hyper...

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...

BACKGROUND INA is a Croatian oil company. Its IT staff did not have efficient tools for testing and upgrading software, which slowed deployment to the production environment. Staff also had problems accessing information from an aging file server. INA deployed Windows Server® 2008 Hyper-V™ and automated...

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...