The next version of the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Solution Accelerator (MAP) is just around the corner. Baldwin Ng Senior Product Manager, Microsoft Solution Accelerators revealed that the Redmond giant is gearing up for the release of the final version of the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 3.1. Baldwin Ng did not pinpoint the deadline for the availability of MAP 3.1, however, he did invite customers to "stay tuned for the release announcement shortly," on June 26, 2008.

MAP is the evolution of the original Windows Vista Hardware Assessment tool focused entirely on the company's latest Windows client and the Office 2007 System. Following the release of Windows Server 2008, Windows Vista Hardware Assessment 2.1 became MAP 3.0. Earlier this month, at TechEd 2008, Microsoft dropped a Beta of MAP 3.1, but now the solution accelerator is close to finalization.

"Our team is in the final stretch to release the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 3.1 (MAP). We have incorporated many net new features including: Hyper-V Server Consolidation Assessment; Enhanced Virtual Machine Assessment; SQL Server Discovery and Assessment and PC Security Assessment," Baldwin Ng said.

In anticipation of the final release of MAP 3.1, Microsoft is offering the video fragments embedded at the bottom of this article, aiming to give a taste of what the solution accelerator will bring to the table. The resources are focused on performing a hardware assessment and inventory for Windows Server 2008 and a server virtualization inventory.

"As we count down to the final few days into the MAP 3.1 RTM date, I'd like to offer you a sneak-peek of how to use the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 3.1 to 1) conduct a migration assessment of your existing servers to Windows Server 2008 and 2) determine if a select set of your servers are good candidates for virtualization using the Hyper-V hypervisor technology from Windows Server 2008," Baldwin Ng added.