Microsoft is not lingering on Windows Vista SP1 with its solution accelerators. In fact, the Redmond company has revealed that it is moving past the first service pack for its latest Windows client, as well as Windows Server 2008 to upcoming releases of its Windows operating systems. Next month, the Redmond company will release a private Beta for approximately 100 users of the Microsoft Assessment and Planning 3.1 Tool. The beta build of MAP 3.1 is designed to bring to the table assessment support for the upcoming Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V, now at the at the Release Candidate 1 stage.

"In case you're on the MAP tool beta before for the version 3.0, you should already have received a notification to join the Private Beta for MAP 3.1 slated to release in June 2008. This MAP 3.1 beta will include the much anticipated Hyper-V modeling and assessment for server virtualization. Due to massive demand, we are soon going to reach the capacity limit of this Private Beta," informed Baldwin Ng, Sr. Product Manager, Microsoft Assessment and Planing Tool.

At this point in time, the Microsoft Assessment and Planning 3.1 Private Beta (via Connect, Enter Invitation Code: MP31-GT76-X98X) is open for registrations, with the first download planned to go live in the coming weeks. MAP 3.0 is already available for download as of February 27, 2008, when it accompanied Windows Server 2008 to the market. And just as version 3.0 delivered tools and guidance enabling inventory, assessment and recommendations in terms of an IT infrastructure for Windows Server 2008 RTM and Vista SP1, so will build 3.1 provide an integrated evaluation platform for Hyper-V.

"This automation tool helps IT professionals and consultants like you establish a clearer understanding of your infrastructure, desktop and virtualization needs through network-wide assessment of your assets including desktops, laptops, servers, applications and network devices. Actionable recommendations are provided through the auto-generated migration proposal reports and documents. In addition, the new MAP user interface also offers a 'resource center' where users can download other relevant tools and useful resources such as white papers and technical guidance from Microsoft and other sources from the IT community," reads a fragment of the official description for MAP 3.1 Private Beta.

Microsoft Assessment and Planning Solution Accelerator 3.0 is available for download here.