On the "MAP"

While searching for information about the proper procedure for installing my first Windows Server 2008 box, I stumbled across “MAP”, aka Microsoft Assessment and Planning Solution Accelerator (what is it with Microsoft and their crazy-long names for things, anyway?). This nice free utility will scan your entire network/domain (or just the hosts you want it to scan) and report on the hardware’s readiness for handling Windows Server 2008, Office 2007, and a score of other “stuff.” It then generates some nice reports with lots of useful information about what you told it to scan for and offers proposals on how to proceed.

Regarding Windows Server 2008 deployment, it tells you where all of your critical roles are currently running, and consequently in what order upgrades to 2008 should occur.

I haven’t used it for any of the other functions beyond the Windows Server 2008 assessment, but I imagine it is just as useful for determining which PCs on your network can run Office 2007 well, etc.