Windows 7 RTM may not be out just yet, and there is still quite some time to go until the operating system becomes generally available; but despite this you may already be dreaming about deploying Windows 7 at an enterprise level. For your upgrading needs, the Redmond-based software giant has made Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit (MAP) 4.0 Final available to customers and partners. Do not confuse it with the MAP 4.0 Beta from a while ago.

“The Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit is an agentless toolkit that finds computers on a network and performs a detailed inventory of the computers using Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) and the Remote Registry Service. The data and analysis provided by this toolkit can significantly simplify the planning process for migrating to Windows® 7, Windows Vista®, Microsoft Office 2007, Windows Server® 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Hyper-V, Microsoft Application Virtualization, Microsoft SQL Server 2008, and 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,” explained Microsoft.

Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 4.0 new features:
- Windows 7 Hardware and Device Compatibility Assessment
- Windows Server 2008 R2 Hardware and Device Compatibility Assessment
- Virtualization Candidates Assessment for Hyper-V R2 Server Consolidation
- Integration with the Microsoft Integrated Virtualization ROI Calculator
- Inventory of VMware Server Hosts and Guests
- User Interface and Proposal Customization for Partner co-branding
- Enhanced Usability and Improved Inventory Performance

Other features you can expect to get from Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 4.0
- Virtualization Candidates Assessment for Hyper-V Server Consolidation
- Windows Vista Hardware and Device Compatibility Assessment
- Windows Server 2008 Hardware and Device Compatibility Assessment
- 2007 Microsoft Office Readiness Assessment
- SQL Server Instance Discovery
- Desktop Security Assessment for Anti-virus and Anti-malware Programs Installation
- Forefront Client Security/NAP Readiness Assessment
- App-V Infrastructure Readiness Assessment
- Power Savings “Green IT” Calculator

Here are some incentives to convince you to download Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit (MAP) 4.0:
- MAP saves planning or pre-sales time.
- MAP comes with inventory and readiness assessment reports with environment-specific upgrade recommendations and virtualization candidate reports.
- MAP covers a wide range of scenarios, ranging from desktop PCs to servers.

If you would like to get Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 4.0, a download location is available here.