VSTS Rangers Projects – Virtualizing the Deployment of VSTS 2010

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With TechReady about to start and many (we hope) discussions around the VSTS Rangers projects to spin up, we are wondering at the back of our minds whether we are on the right track and addressing all the requirements.

image As you know from previous project related posts, we are creating the following artefacts as part of this VSTS Rangers project:

  • Guidance around TFS and VSTS 2010 Virtualization in Microsoft Hyper-V environments (under construction)
  • Guidance around TFS and VSTS 2010 Virtualization in non-Microsoft environments (under construction)
  • Guidance around TFS 2010 Widgets Virtualization (planned)
  • Automation of the VSTS Rangers 2010 base image creation (under construction)
  • VSTS Rangers 32-bit and 64-bit base images
    • Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008, WSS3, TFS / VSTS 2010 BETA-1 (released)
    • Windows Server 2008 R2, SQL Server 2008 S1, WSS3, TFS / VSTS 2010 BETA-2 (planned)
    • Windows Server 2008 R2, SQL Server 2008 S1, MOSS, TFS / VSTS 2010 BETA-2 (planned)

Here is an extract of two pages of the VSTS Rangers Base Image Overview Guidance, which are 2 of many pages … obviously the references to other pages, the appendix and sections will not be reachable, however, you should get an idea of what we are trying to achieve.

Step

Instruction

 Notes

1

Create a base image
  • Refer to Hyper-V Virtual Machine on page 11.

2

Install operating system
  • When using a network installation server, opt for F12 when booting and select the relevant 32-bit O/S. See page 9 for software version information.

3

Configure operating system

Perform the following configuration changes:

  • Set administrator password never to expire
  • Set screen resolution to 1024 x 768
  • Disable the screen saver
  • Enable inbound connections in Windows Firewall.

See Appendix “Enabling Firewall" on page 35 for details.

  • Enable Remote Desktop, enabling all types of Remote desktop clients image
  • Set automated software update to never update
  • Disable IE Enhanced Security Configuration
  • Disable the Shutdown Event Tracker image
    • Start –> Run gpedit.msc
    • Administrative Templates -> System
    • Display Shutdown Event tracker ... set to disabled
  • Disable Server Manager from launching automatically
  • Set Performance Options
    • Start -> Computer -> Properties
    • Advanced system settings -> Settings
    • Advanced tab ... set adjust best performance for “Programs”
  • Turn on SuperFetch
    • Start -> Run regedit
    • Locate HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\ Session Manager\Memory Management\PrefetchParameters
    • Create a new DWORD Value named EnablePrefetcher and assign it a value of 3
    • Create a new DWORD Value named EnableSuperfetch and assign it a value of 3
    • Start -> Run services.msc
    • Set SuperFetch to Automatic start
  • Pin Windows Explorer to start menu.
  • Change server name as per naming convention on page 9.

4

Create prerequisite accounts for TFS
  • Refer to the TFS installation guide (TFSInstall.chm) that ships as part of TFS and follow the how-to instructions in the section “Installing Team Foundation”, topic “Accounts Required for Installation”.
  • Set passwords to never expire, user not able to change and set it to P@ssw0rd for consistency.

5

Install IIS Prerequisite
  • Refer to the TFS installation guide (TFSInstall.chm[1]) that ships as part of TFS and follow the how-to instructions in the section “Installing Prerequisites”, topic “Installing Internet Information Services (IIS) ”.
  • See page 9 for software version information.

6

Install Microsoft Office Prerequisite
  • Install Microsoft Office using the custom installation and only installing Excel and Word.
  • See page 9 for software version information.

7

Install Microsoft Project prerequisite
  • Install Microsoft Project using the default installation.
  • See page 9 for software version information.

8

Install SQL Server prerequisite
  • Refer to the TFS installation guide (TFSInstall.chm) that ships as part of TFS and follow the how-to instructions in the section “Installing Prerequisites”, topic “Installing SQL Server”.
  • See page 9 for software version information.
  • Install Reporting Services timeout fix, as per ET’s blog post: https://geekswithblogs.net/etiennetremblay/archive/2005/11/03/58989.aspx.

9

Install WSS prerequisite
  • Refer to the TFS installation guide (TFSInstall.chm) that ships as part of TFS and follow the how-to instructions in the section “Installing Prerequisites”, topic “Installing SharePoint Products and Technologies”.
  • See page 9 for software version information.

10

Update all software with hot fixes
  • Only apply hot fixes, not service packs which may change the software versions as specified on page 9.

11

Verify prerequisites
  • Verify the IIS, SQL Server and WSS prerequisites by following the how-to instructions in the section “Using an existing Infrastructure for Prerequisites”, topic “Verifying Whether Existing Deployments Meet Prerequisites”.

12

Snapshot
  • It is recommended that you create a snapshot of your image at this point.
13 TFS & VSTS
  • Proceed to TFS and VSTS sections.

[1] Search for “Download details: Team Foundation Installation Guide” on www.bing.com, for the latest download.

Are we on the right track? Have we missed anything that is crucial for your environment?