The Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit is the evolution of the original Windows Vista Hardware Assessment. The rebranding was a necessary move as the toll is no longer limited to just the latest Windows client and the Office 2007 System from the Redmond company, but has also come to encompass Windows Server 2008. Currently, Microsoft is testing MAP 3.1 and has made a Beta build of the solution accessible via Connect. Designed as a solution accelerator set up to streamline the migration to Vista, Office 2007 and Windows Server 2008, version 3.1 of MAP comes with a strong focus on the new virtualization features offered by Microsoft.

"The Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit (or MAP) is the next-generation version of the agent-less assessment platform from Microsoft. In this new version, MAP has expanded its capabilities into assessment areas of Hyper-V server virtualization, desktop security, and SQL 2008 migration," explained Nick MacKechnie, Senior Technical Account Manager at Microsoft New Zealand.

With MAP, Microsoft is providing corporate customers a comprehensive solution accelerator which will crawl an IT infrastructure and deliver a readiness report when it comes down to scenarios involving migration to Windows Server 2008, Vista and Office 2007. The reports produced by MAP are focused on the analysis of hardware and software compatibility as well in performing an inventory of the resources available.

MAP 3.1's agent-less infrastructure evaluation and inventory engine will scan desktops, applications, devices and servers via network and offer a complex perspective over an IT environment. For enterprises looking to ensure that their infrastructure is ready for the jump to the latest Microsoft technologies, MAP is the ideal solution accelerator.

"In summary, MAP 3.1 assessment areas now include: Server Migration Reports and Proposals (Windows Server 2008); Server Consolidation Reports and Proposals (Virtual Server 2005 R2 and Hyper-V); Desktop Security Assessment to determine if desktops have anti-virus and anti-malware programs installed or if the Windows Firewall is turned on; Application Virtualization Assessment Reports (Microsoft Application Virtualization, formerly SoftGrid); SQL 2008 Migration Assessment Reports and Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007 Hardware Assessment Reports and Proposals," MacKechnie stated.

Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 3.1 Beta is available for download on Microsoft Connect.