Microsoft Assessment and Planning How-To Series: Part 1 (Server Virtualization Candidacy Reporting)

Hi there,

This is the first installment of a series of how-to content to get you started with the Microsoft Assessment and Planning tool (MAP) .  

Today, we'll cover how users can use MAP to generate virtualization candidates for server virtualization (e.g. Virtual Server 2005 R2 or Hyper-V).

It's quite simple actually.  All you need is to follow the 3-step process below and you're good to go!

  • #1 Server Inventory - collect information regarding all existing servers across your network
  • #2 PerfMon Capture - capture performance counters including CPU, Disk and Network Utilization of each server that you want to consider virtualizing (note: we recommend you run this for at least a few days if not a few weeks so you can capture all the "peaks and valleys" of utilization)
  • #3 Virtualization Candidates Reporting - generate a report with virtualization candidacy recommendations

If you're new to the MAP tool UI, take a look at this screenshot below and you'll know which link to click for this 3-step process to get virtualization candidacy recommendations.

In the end, you will get a set of virtualization candidates report and proposal document showing the results (see below).  With results in your hand, you will then gain better understanding on how a reduction in physical machines via virtualization could translate into improved utilization of each machine - subsequently this will translate into space savings and cost savings (cooling and power).

So why wait? Download MAP today and get virtualized!!  https://www.microsoft.com/MAP

[Just added] MAP Demo Video - check it out too!

Baldwin Ng (Sr. Product Manager, Virtualization Solution Accelerators + MAP)