Infrastructure Optimization

Over my years as an IT consultant, it’s become clear that assessing a client’s infrastructure and systems is a time-consuming and tedious task. And, horror of horrors, what do you do if the client is not running any systems management software (read: SMS/SCCM, please!)? Well, you hunker down for some challenging work, and you pray that the IT staff will be responsive and already have some reliable data for you. It has also become clear, over my years, that this is often not the case.

If you are planning a Vista migration, or a desktop optimization, or hardware refresh, or are upgrading to Office 2007, or wanting to deploy an AppVirt solution, how do you decide if the environment is ready?

Well, from a MS POV, they have done a pretty darned good job of releasing tools to help: The Application Compatibility Toolkit (ACT), the Vista Hardware Assessment tool, the Office Migration Planning Manager, etc. But these tools were always somewhat flawed: they didn’t work together, many deployed agents (which clients really, really hate if you do without telling them!) etc.

Our fantastic colleagues at Getronics in the Netherlands put together an awesome tool, called MOVE (Migration to Office Vista and Exchange) intended to help our consultants combine a number of Microsoft assessment tools (ACT, VHA, OMPM, etc.) into one system, and provide a unified report with easily understood charts and tables that could not only benefit IT folks, but was readable and “talked the talk” of Business Decision Makers.

MOVE is a great product, and adds real value to these disparate tools. However, from a deployment and client-friendlines POV, it is only as good as the MS Tools it aggregates and controls. For example, the agents are still there (I’m looking at you, ACT 5.0!)

We’ve used the MOVE tool on many engagements, and it’s a powerful way to demonstrate a lot of value and begin building a strong story on migration and optimizing your environment.

However, while we were out busting a MOVE, Microsoft was revving up to 3.0 it’s stealthy and similar product called “MAP - Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit.” MAP was an attempt to combine these tools into one interface and to begin incorporating some capacity planning for its server software as well. A VERY cool tool, if you knew about it, and could get permission to run it in your client’s environment.

Those of us on the using-the-tool side (as opposed to the writing-the-tool side) were worried that our investment in using MOVE was for naught, as MAP would soon supplant it in functionality. More on this in a moment.

Back to MAP 3.0. A few weeks ago, Microsoft posted on its Connect site a MAP 3.1 private beta. MAP 3.1 is hot hot hot. Check it:

The Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit
(or MAP) is the next-generation version of the agent-less assessment
platform from Microsoft. In this new version, MAP has expanded its
capabilities into assessment areas of Hyper-V server virtualization,
desktop security, and SQL 2008 migration. In summary, MAP 3.1
assessment areas now include:

• Server Migration Reports and Proposals (Windows Server 200
• Server Consolidation Reports and Proposals (Virtual Server 2005 R2 and Hyper-V) (NEW!)
• Desktop
  Security Assessment to determine if desktops have anti-virus and
  anti-malware programs installed or if the Windows Firewall is turned on
  (NEW!)
• Application Virtualization Assessment Reports (Microsoft Application Virtualization, formerly SoftGrid)
• SQL 2008 Migration Assessment Reports (NEW!)
• Windows Vista and Microsoft Office 2007 Hardware Assessment Reports and Proposals

The Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit performs three key functions - including hardware and device inventory, compatibility analysis, and readiness reporting.

MAP
is based upon an agent-less infrastructure scanning technology that allows users to conduct a network inventory of their servers, desktops, applications, and devices - all without installing any software agents on each machine being assessed. This tool has the ability to discover machines within Active-Directory managed domains and forests as well as workgroups.

With the new user interface and enterprise-scale inventory engine, users can generate multiple technology migration reports and proposals for their OS migration and virtualization projects in a matter of hours.

Fast and Zero-Touch.
MAP provides secure network-wide assessment of a typical environment in a matter of hours instead of days, all without the deployment of any software agents on each inventoried machines.

Saves Pre-Sales and Planning Time.
For most IT consultants and Microsoft Partners, a detailed network inventory and assessment of servers and desktops would typically take days of manual labor. With MAP, they can now drastically reduce the time it takes for the same inventory to a matter of hours; allowing
them more time to focus their efforts on critical pre-sales engagement tasks. For IT professionals, it significantly reduces the time it takes to gather the information to make the business case for client and server migration as well as for their upcoming virtualization projects.

Actionable Recommendations and Reporting.
MAP offers valuable inventory and readiness assessment reports with specific upgrade recommendations and virtualization candidate reports that make it easier for IT migration and deployment projects to get off the ground and running.

From Desktops to Servers.
MAP provides technology assessment and planning recommendations for many Microsoft products including Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Hyper-V, Virtual Server 2005 R2, Microsoft Application Virtualization (SoftGrid), Terminal Services, System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2007, SQL 2008, and also desktop security.

Try the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 3.1 Beta now.

Did you catch that first bit: “Agentless”?? I sure did. This makes these tools incredibly more useful and viable in a foreign (read: client) environment where you don’t have the luxury or permission to install agents on thousands of desktops.

Also - how about that last bit where it helps provide planning recommendations for all those server types. Note especially the Application Virtualization attention. Are you excited yet?

Ok, so whither MOVE? Word on the streets of Amsterdam is that MOVE is undergoing a major overhaul and will be integrated with MAP, meaning that the disproportionate value that MOVE brought to ACT, etc. will live on in its new iteration. The current version of MOVE is still very useful - some of the reports we do are fantastic. You should definitely see them.

We’re very excited to see what our sistren and brethren in NL come up with. For now, we’ll be putting the MAP 3.1 installer on our USB keys, nestled right up next to our MOVE installer, and bringing them to an environment near you.

I’ll be doing a review on the reports that MAP generates soon. Stay tuned.

Download it Now, or call me, and I’ll come out and show you how it works!

During a client-call yesterday, once again, we heard the “very many challenges” that data centers have with all of the issues that come with the incredible and never-ending demand for application services within enterprises.

A solution that’s well-tested and well-vetted for these ever-increasing demands for applications is the propping of virtual infrastrucutres. Nothing new here: just prop a virtual server or two, install the application, and voila - the enterprise is on its way, with no new hardware purchase.

But, taking this concept further - given this demand, and the repeatability of the process, how does this mode get streamlined? For a while we have known of a company that is offering the ability to create complete infrastructures in virtual design environment.

With their service, you draw in a Visio -like web-based program what infrastructure you want, how would you like to connect it, and such and then click on “build.”

In just a few minutes, all of your servers are created dynamically in the background. If you need more servers, you simply add to the visio-like diagram and they are added.

The company name is 3tera and can be found at: www.3tera.com

The demo of their control panel AppLogic can be found at: http://ns1.netclime.net/online-demo.html (also on their home page.)

The demo is particularly interesting (even for those of us that are not technical!)

And, in the interest of full-disclosure and above-board etceteras, the IO Team is not affiliated / associated with this company, but we know a good idea when we see one, and we believe this is the future of IT infrastructures.

With Google, Yahoo, Microsoft (and now Amazon.com) building monster (500,000+ servers) data centers, and touting grid-based computing to offer services, like those discussed above, you can see we are not too far from being there. Now imagine an organization built on a virtual infrastructure, with application virtualization all the way to the desktop. Now that’s powerful.

How does this affect the landscape of our future?

As more and more IT services get commoditized and virtualized, fewer technical folks will be needed on-site, and the need for good processes and people trained in technology will grow, resulting in business alignment along with managing demand. In our opinion, this the keystone for future IT departments.