Mike Peers talks Infrastructure Solutions : Infrastructure Optimisation (core IO)

Managed Technology Solutions - more info

Mike Peers — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 19:26:00 GMT

To provide some more background to the Managed Technology Solution - below I position how the solution fits in with the Core Infrastructure Optimisation and further detail on the architecture behind the solution.

The infrastructure optimisation model (www.microsoft.com/io) is a way for a customer to review how strategic IT is as an asset to their business. The IO model looks at how customers use technology in relation to the business needs. An example would be if a customer today uses manual install methods (such as a CD) to deploy desktops this is a basic method for deployment. Likewise – what tools do you have in place to respond to security threats or to roll out line of business applications.

The managed technology solution is a way to help customer rapidly move towards a strategic asset. So not only do you get to a strategic asset faster – but also much quicker, bringing much greater benefits in the short and long term. The diagram below shows the basic through to dynamic model.

Turning to the architecture of managed technology solution– this a pure Microsoft solution – but the benefit is this keeps the solution easy to deploy, manage, support and integrates very well. It is in part this reason partners can offer to run the service for an attractive price point.

Below is a diagram that shows what components make up a clustered managed solution.

· Windows 2003 as the core OS.

· Active Directory is used for authentication

· Windows Vista Desktop running Office 2007

· Storage is windows 2003

· Messaging on Exchange 2007.

· live communication server (corporate messenger amongst other things)

· Rights Management Server for securing and protecting documents.

· SMS and Zero Touch – for deployment of operating systems, audit, compliance, application delivery

· SQL – database

· Office Sharepoint Server 2007 – for document storage, search and collaboration.

· The technology is protected by ISA server .

"managed technology solution" from £2.60 per desktop per day

Mike Peers — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:15:00 GMT

Many mid market customers (using the definition of <1500 employees) have been looking at how they can upgrade their infrastructure creating an IT Asset rather than cost overhead. One option is to embark on several projects, such as desktop, messaging or security upgrades. Typically these projects are spread over financial years or take several years to roll out due to cost constraints.

Microsoft has been working with partners to create a Managed Technology Solution. The solution is a flexible framework that is based on a price per seat per month basis. This is financed via Microsoft Financing providing a monthly operational cost rather than capital cost to the customer. The solution is intended for customers from 250-1500 seats and covers an infrastructure refresh, migration as well as desktop deployment, including cost of desktop hardware, all licenses, partner implementation and support over a 3 year term. The flexible framework allows customers to select the level of resilience required, such as clustering, as well as the additional collaboration solutions. The price is dependent on customer requirements and the number of seats, but as an example a 500 seat organisation requiring the highest resilence level and collaboration solutions would pay £3.15 a day per desktop.

The approach allows customers to help elevate their infrastructure into dynamic IO (see www.microsoft.com/io) and move from capital to operational cost whilst taking advantage of the latest technologies to gain operational and efficiency gains.

The solution is offered via Microsoft Partners - To learn more you can view this video where I am joined by Tim Parker from Syntax to discuss the Managed Technology Solution.

http://blogs.msdn.com/ptstv/archive/2007/04/03/partner-spotlight-syntax.aspx

To learn more visit www.syntax.co.uk or send me an email.

Windows Vista Hardware Assessment

Mike Peers — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 19:16:00 GMT

As a follow on from the assessment tool earlier - here is information on a new Vista Hardare Assessment tool available to Microsoft Partners.

The Windows Vista Hardware Assessment solution Accelerator is an inventory, assessment, and reporting tool that will find computers on a network and determine if they are ready to run the Windows Vista™ operating system.

Feature Overview

The Windows Vista Hardware Assessment solution accelerator performs three key functions, including hardware inventory, compatibility analysis, and readiness reporting.

Secure and Agentless Inventory

The Windows Vista Hardware Assessment solution accelerator provides secure, agentless inventory for up to 5,000 computers. It collects and organizes system resource and device information, network wide and remotely, from a single networked computer. Assessment tools often require users to first deploy software agents on all computers to be inventoried. The Windows Vista Hardware Assessment does not require the deployment of any software agents on the individual computers.

The Windows Vista Hardware Assessment Wizard can inventory and scan computers on a network that are running an operating system that supports Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI). This includes the following operating systems:

•	Windows Vista (already migrated)
•	Windows XP® Professional (SP2)
•	Windows Server 2003™ or Windows Server 2003 R2.
•	Windows 2000 Professional or Windows 2000 Server

More information at:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/solutionaccelerators/hardwareassessment/wv/default.mspx

Assessment and Deployment Solution for Midsize Businesses

Mike Peers — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 17:37:00 GMT

I've been asked a few times over the last week where the Mid Market assessment tool is. This is a great Microsoft utility that audit an environment and can also generate proposal reports as output from the audit. These can then be changed and edited saving you a lot of time.

The below is taken from the web site referenced below.

Key Features:

Technology assessment
Inventory hardware and software
Dynamically generate a topology of the organization
Generate a proposal for upgrading an environment
Generate an implementation plan; Deploy new servers

When to Use:

Use the Assessment and Deployment solution when you have identified the core need is a server deployment. You would want to use this tool after you have performed a business assessment or when the customer has asked you for assistance with a server project. Focused on the small and midsize market space, this tool will help you perform a network inventory, generate a proposal, create a project timeline, and ultimately aid the deployment of new servers. The inventory analysis component is a very strong feature that can be used as a standalone feature.

Consider using the Assessment and Deployment solution for creating demand for your services. The assessment process can be sold as an offering to help identify project work with a prospect.

Synopsis:

While called the Assessment and Deployment Solution for Midsize Business the premise of the tool is to aid in the deployment of new servers. If you are working on a server rollout engagement for the midsize you will want to strongly consider utilizing this powerful tool. If you are performing an independent technology assessment you should consider utilizing the inventory analysis engine. The output is quite rich and provides you with an in-depth topology of what exists for software and hardware at a customer location.

Estimated Time to Complete:

16-80 hours (Time varies based on the specific components used. The high-end numbers are based on using this tool to perform customer deployments)

http://www.assessmentframework.com/Get-The-Tools/Pages/ToolDetails.aspx?ItemID=1