June 2008 - Posts - Ronaldg's Ramblings

Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 3.1 RTM/RTWs
30 June 08 10:27 PM | ronaldg

As you should know, the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit (MAP) is a Solution Accelerator. This new edition can help you assess and advise your customers on how they can implement and use the newer technologies. I believe it’s an indispensable tool for a partner, you should check it out if you haven’t already.

As a quick review, a Solution Accelerator (SA) is a combination of automation tools and guidance that is designed and provided to help you accelerate the use of Microsoft technology, such asVista, servers, virtualization, and mobility. SAs are free.

The new MAP tool, previously known as “Windows Vista Hardware Assessment” has been expanded to not only provide hardware assessment for Windows Vista, and Microsoft Office 2007 but, in this newest version, it now also assesses existing servers for hardware and device compatibility with Windows Server 2008 and offers server virtualization candidates reporting and desktop infrastructure assessment for Microsoft Application Virtualization (formerly SoftGrid).

MAP doesn’t require the installation of agent software on any computers or devices, but does provide data and analysis that can significantly simplify the planning process for migrating to Windows Vista®, Microsoft Office 2007, Windows Server® 2008, Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V, Virtual Server 2005 R2, SQL 2008 and Microsoft Application Virtualization (formerly SoftGrid).

The MAP has three main functions: Secure and Agentless Inventory, Comprehensive Data Analysis, and In-Depth Readiness Reporting. It includes a Word-based proposal generator and can also generate a set of Microsoft Excel workbooks with detailed information to help you plan for an OS migration or virtualization project. And I’ve included a screenshot of it’s new UI below.

get it at: http://www.microsoft.com/MAP

also check out the MAP blog at: http://blogs.technet.com/mapblog/

and check out other SAs at: http://microsoft.com/solutionaccelerators

Hyper-V launches
28 June 08 03:02 PM | ronaldg

Hyper-V, which you know I’m excited about and have discussed on this blog, has been released to manufacturing (RTM) early. Instead of the planned Aug time-frame RTM (Windows Server 2008 RTM + 180 days), it was officially put on the Microsoft Download Center last Thursday (6/26). And, it should be available through Windows Upgrade after July 8th.

As most of you know, Microsoft has been ahead of its scheduled timetable for Hyper-V availability, and we even made the unprecedented move to include the beta of the technology in the RTM version on Windows Server 2008. Obviously, Microsoft is very confident and pleased with the progress of Hyper-V thru the beta program.

Just as a quick review, Hyper-V is a bare-metal hypervisor, meaning it sits directly on hardware and controls the creation and operation of virtual machines (VMs). It’s “thinner” than other hypervisor technologies and potentially more secure because of all the code, like drivers, it doesn’t contain and for the same reason would logically require less maintenance or updating. Of course, we are somewhat new to the virtualization game, so to make it worth the while of customers to try, it’s being priced very aggressively (essentially $28) and requires no additional licensing over the basic server licensing. Although some other vendors tout the fact that they are more “mature” technology, I believe, in this case, that building a “new”, smaller, simpler Hyper-V (using a microkernel architecture) may well prove a more compelling story, and given Hyper-V’s track record in beta, I think we’re off to a good start.

BTW, did you know that three of our major websites (Microsoft.com, MSDN.com, and Technet.com, with a combined 42+ million page views per day) have been running on Hyper-V for months now.

Stay tuned for more blogs on Hyper-V in the coming months.

Action Pack update
20 June 08 12:28 PM | ronaldg

Most of you are already familiar with this new policy but just in case…

Beginning June 19^th, 2008 a one-hour online assessment is required to initiate a new subscription, or to renew your subscription, to the Action Pack.

You can learn more about the renewal instructions by visiting: https://partner.microsoft.com/US/program/managemembership/40049687,
or to re-enroll call: 1-800-993-7764.

The Action Pack is a subscription-based program, available exclusively to Registered Members of the Microsoft Partner Program, that gives you access to internal-use licenses of Microsoft Software, as well as up to date marketing materials and localized offers – all for just US$299.00.

You can learn more about the Action Pack program in general by visiting: https://partner.microsoft.com/US/program/managemembership/actionpack”

Hyper-V information resources
20 June 08 11:21 AM | ronaldg

Hey everyone, here’s a pretty comprehensive list of resources for information on Hyper-V, enjoy…

Websites

Microsoft Virtualization Home Page

http://www.microsoft.com/virtualization/default.mspx

Virtualization Case Studies

http://www.microsoft.com/virtualization/case-studies.mspx

Virtualization Solution Accelerators

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/solutionaccelerators/cc197910.aspx

Windows Server 2008 Virtualization & Consolidation: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/virtualization-consolidation.aspx

Hyper-V FAQ