The QuickStart Guide to Learning BizTalk Server 2004

Note: This guide was last updated on 5/19/06.

Are you getting started with BizTalk Server 2004? If so, this QuickStart guide is a great place to start! OK, so nothing is really "Quick" with BizTalk Server, but it has little to do with the product. Most of it has to do with the complex business problems that the product is trying to solve and all of the technologies that one must be familiar with. For instance, somebody that has some level of understanding of programming (XML, XSL, WSDL, .NET, C#, etc.), server technologies (Windows Server, IIS, SQL, WSS, etc.), and general Enterprise Application Integration (EAI) concepts will learn at a much faster rate than somebody who possesses less. However, that's not to say you can't!

The guide is split out into a 5 day learning path and broken out into concepts that one can digest at a somewhat comfortable rate. 5 days!? I know, who really has 5 full days to spend on this. Some of you may take longer, some of you may eat it up much quicker, and some of you may decide to alter it for your own learning style. The main point is to stay on track and by the end you will have a good understanding of BizTalk Server 2004. Where you go from here will be up to you and I have added a number of resources at the end to help you choose your path.

Here is your agenda:

Day 1
Day 1 is geared towards reading some introductory material and watching a web cast which will give you a good understanding of BizTalk Server 2004 and the problems it is trying to solve. It's a very passive day, so grab some popcorn, sit back and enjoy!

Day 2
Day 2 is all about jumping right in, building out a BizTalk Server platform, installing and configuring BizTalk Server, and building your first application. So, drop the popcorn, wash your hands and get a copy of BizTalk Server 2004 if you don't already have one.

Day 3
Day 3 is filled with fun and enjoyment at our MSDN Demo lab environment. Registration is required, but it is free! The BizTalk Server demo lab contains 14 walkthroughs running in a virtual server environment. You will only be running through 5 of them, however feel free to explore the rest when you have a chance. Also note that you do not have to perform the steps in the virtual environment. You may wish to download the lab document (PDF format) and work on them using the server you built out on day 2.

Day 4
On Day 4 you will have the pleasure of completing the tutorials that shipped with BizTalk Server 2004. They are quite lengthy, but now that you have had 3 days of hands on activity, the rate at which you will finish these will be much faster than had you started from scratch.

Day 5
Day 5 is the day you step back and read a little more into EAI and BizTalk Server 2004.

Resources
A massive list of resources (beginning and advanced) for you to enjoy on your own time. Some of the items are included as part of the 5 day extravaganza, however they are listed nonetheless.

I am still learning BizTalk Server 2004 and I admit, at the time of this writing I have yet to complete everything on this page. However, I have done a lot of it and if I had to do it all over again, the tasks below would be the order I would do it in. One big disclaimer I have here is that the estimated times below really are just estimates! :)