Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit
What is Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit?
Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit is a free utility IT can use to determine whether its infrastructure is prepared for a migration to a new operating system, server version or cloud-based deployment.
An IT professional can run MAP Toolkit on their device and take an inventory of the devices, software, users and infrastructure associated with any networks they are connected to. Microsoft now recommends that customers use Azure Migrate rather than the MAP toolkit.
Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit is made up of four main components, as follows:
- MAPSetup.exe contains MAP as well as the files IT administrators need to set up a local SQL Server Database Engine.
- readme_en.htm details what administrators need to run MAP Toolkit and known issues.
- MAP_Sample_Documents.zip provides examples of the types of reports and proposals MAP Toolkit creates.
- MAP_Training_Kit.zip explains how to use MAP Toolkit and provides a sample database of the information MAP Toolkit can provide.
What is Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit used for?
MAP Toolkit does not require an agent. It automatically inventories the devices, software, users and infrastructure in a Windows or Windows Server deployment and produces a readiness report and proposal for executives with hardware and software information. The data can include metrics such as the number of devices, how many devices run Windows, the number of users and more. The readiness report can also include information on the applications users work with and if those applications are compatible with the desktop or server operating system IT plans to move to.
The Windows 10 Assessment report, for example, shows whether the hardware in a network is ready for Microsoft's latest OS. The Internet Explorer Migration Assessment Report details what versions of the Internet Explorer browser are running in the deployment as well as any add-ons and ActiveX controls present in Internet Explorer.
MAP Toolkit can detail server utilization information to help IT identify where servers are, and which servers would be viable to run virtual desktops on. In addition to the information it provides, MAP Toolkit delivers recommendations on how IT should proceed with its migration plan.
MAP toolkit features
Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit is made up of four main pieces. The first is the installation package -- MAPSetup.exe -- that contains MAP as well as SQL LocalDB -- a local database of the files IT needs to set up a SQL Server Database Engine.
The readme_en.htm file details what IT needs to run MAP Toolkit and any known issues that exist. MAP_Sample_Documents.zip provides examples of the types of reports and proposals MAP Toolkit creates. MAP_Training_Kit.zip teaches IT how to use MAP Toolkit and provides a sample database of the information MAP Toolkit can provide.
Microsoft Assessment and Planning toolkit requirements
The device running MAP Toolkit must meet certain hardware and software requirements. The device must have at least a dual-core 1.5 GHz processor, 2 GB of RAM, 1 GB of disk space and a network adapter card. In addition, the device's graphics adapter must support a resolution of at least 1024x768.
When it comes to software, the device must have all the latest Windows updates installed and .NET Framework 4.5. It must run Windows 7 with Service Pack 1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10.
When it comes to software, the device must have all the latest Windows updates installed and .NET Framework 4.5. It must run Windows 7 with Service Pack 1, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10. For Windows 7, the device must run the Professional, Enterprise or Ultimate edition. For Windows 8 and 8.1 as well as Windows 10, the device must run the Professional or Enterprise edition. The server the deployment runs on must be Windows Server 2008 R2 with Service Pack 1, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2016 or Windows Server 2019.
