How to "MAP" Your Infrastructure for Windows 7 and Server 2008

Author: Mark Mizrahi

Abstract

The Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit is a powerful inventory, assessment, and reporting tool that can securely inventory small or large IT environments without requiring the installation of any agent software. The data and analysis that this tool provides can significantly simplify the planning process for a wide range of migration projects. This automation tool helps IT professionals and consultants 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. The tool uses a Graphical User Interface (GUI) that is familiar and easy to use.

What It Does

The Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit finds computers on a network and performs a detailed inventory of the computers using Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) and the Remote Registry Service. It makes it easier for you to assess your current IT infrastructure and determine the right Microsoft technologies for your IT needs. MAP offers easy inventory, powerful assessments and makes recommendations for many major Microsoft products. The data and analysis provided by this toolkit can significantly simplify the planning process for migrating to:

• Windows 7 
• Windows Server 2008 R2 
• Hyper-V for Windows Server 2008 R2 
• Windows Vista 
• Windows Server 2008 
• Hyper-V for Windows Server 2008 
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008 
• Microsoft Office 2007 
• Microsoft Application Virtualization 
• Microsoft Online Services (e.g., Exchange Online) 
• Forefront Client Security and Network Access Protection

Assessments for Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Windows Vista include device driver availability as well as recommendations for hardware upgrades.

MAP provides the ability to gather performance metrics from computers you are considering for virtualization and a feature to model a library of potential host hardware and storage configurations. This information can be used to quickly perform "what-if" analysis using Hyper-V and Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 as virtualization platforms.

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.

This platform replaces the popular Windows Vista Hardware Assessment readiness tool.

It is suggested for home users and users with a few computers that need to be migrated, to use the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. This tool will help determine readiness of your computers for Windows 7.

Key Benefits

• Quick Assessment of Your Existing infrastructure and assets 
• Adaptive Guidance and Actionable Proposals that provide specific recommendations that will help simplify your planning and deployment of Microsoft technologies 
• One-Stop Shop for All Your Planning (or Pre-Sales) Needs

New Features for Version 4.0

• Windows 7 Hardware and Device Compatibility Assessment 
• Windows Server 2008 R2 Hardware and Device Compatibility Assessment 
• Virtualization ROI Tool Integration 
• VMware Virtual Machine Discovery 
• Hyper-V 2008 R2 Virtualization Planning 
• Proposal Customization for Microsoft Partners 
• Performance Enhancements & Enhanced Usability

Below is a screen shot of the MAP Inventory and Assessment Screen showing the number of computers ready for Windows 7 and What If scenarios in the event a Hardware Upgrade took place how many more machines will be ready for Windows 7.

The MAP Toolkit includes the following components:

• Microsoft_Assessment_and_Planning_Toolkit_Setup.exe. Installation package containing the tool, release notes, Getting Started Guide, and toolkit help (chm file). 
• Release_Notes_en.htm. Available as a separate download. Provides information to read before installing the MAP Toolkit, including installation prerequisites and known issues. 
• Getting_Started_Guide.en.doc. Available as a separate download. Provides information about toolkit installation, environment preparation, and assessment scenarios supported by toolkit wizards and the UI. 
• MAP Sample Documents.zip. Available as a separate download. Contains sample reports and proposals that the MAP tool generates in Word and Excel formats

Computer Discovery Methods

MAP can discover computers in your environment or you can specify which computers to discover using one of the following methods.

• Active Directory® Domain Services (AD DS) 
• Windows® networking protocols 
• Import computer names from a file 
• Scan an IP address range 
• Manually enter computer names

Inventory Methods

The MAP Toolkit uses multiple inventory methods. For each computer in a network that is to be included in the inventory and assessment process, you must specify an account that is a member of the local Administrators group on that computer. To inventory domain controllers in your network, you need to specify domain administrator credentials. The inventory methods used include:

• Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI). This inventory method is used to collect hardware, device, and software information from the remote computer. 
• Remote Registry service. The Remote Registry service is used to discover a variety of items, such as roles installed on a server and software.

Related Courses

Configuring, Managing, and Maintaining Server 2008 R2 (M6419)
Defending Windows Networks
Implementing and Administering Windows 7 in the Enterprise (M50292)