Techie Blog Geek Factor 8/10

I’m just about to install Microsoft’s Team Foundation Server release candidate, or September CTP, or Beta 3 I don’t know what it’s called I’m lost on the number of beta’s and the names they call them so let’s for arguments sake name it after the wife, first thing in the morning RC1.

Team Foundation server is the back end behind the new Team System toolset and if you don’t know what that is then toddle on over to http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/teamsystem/

First I need a donor server so again I use my base Windows Server 2003 image as my start point.  Sorry if you hadn’t guessed hardware is a premium at my house so I’m using Virtual PC.  Don’t know what that is head over to http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtualpc/default.mspx

You’ll need to give it as much memory as possible as the recommended for a single server setup is 1GB.

Ok so I have my server. the first thing I now need is an Active Directory setup.  Start >> Run >> DCPROMO …. only joking I’m not going to explain how to set this up.  Again point yourselves over to if you don’t know how to do this. http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/technologies/directory/activedirectory/stepbystep/domcntrl.mspx

Ok now we have a domain controller at something like “myloveden.com” what’s next? 

Well there is a very comprehensive installation guide on the CD for Team Foundation Server so I’m not going to go into details but a rough overview should help anybody thinking about doing this.  the latest setup guide should also be found at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=40042

The first decision you have to make is if you are going to keep it all on one server or split the load.  In a production environment it’s not a problem to split off the SQL Server.  As I said before resources are a problem at my den so it’s all on one box I’m afraid.  It’s only a test setup after all.

The server needs to be patched to service pack 1 before we go any further.

Next you need 3 nominated user accounts or 3 new ones.  A setup account, a services account and a reporting services account.  The account that’s going to be used for setup needs to be a member of the local Admins group.

Next we need to install IIS and enable ASP.Net.  Do not install Frontpage extensions as these are incompatible with Sharepoint services which we will install later.  By the way I forgot to mention you are going to need your Windows Server 2003 disk to hand.

It may be worth a quick check at this point to see if there any Windows update components waiting to go on.  By the time I got to this stage there was a whole load of patches waiting so I took the opportunity to put these on and of course another reboot.

OK SQL Server 2005 next, either Standard or Enterprise edition.  This could be a problem for me as I’ve only got developer edition with my disk pack.  I’m going to put this on and then run the foundation server setup wizard as the first step checks the system for pre-requisite components.

Answer all the questions and if you need help on any of these review the Team Foundation installation guide on the CD. 

SQL serve r has itself a whole host of components to install including the >net Framework version 2.0.  It is important that all the components you install are all built upon the same version of the Framework as incompatibilities will cause you problems. 

SQL Server now installed I’m going to fire off the team Foundation setup now so that it searches for pre-reqs.  Hopefully it should only find Sharepoint…..and it did so we can add SQL developer edition to the list of SQL servers that are compatible.  Obviously you wouldn’t do this in a production environment but you don’t need me to tell you that.

Install Sharepoint with service pack 1.  You can download this sicker from the MS site http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/techinfo/sharepoint/wss.mspx   

Make sure you select Server Farm on the “type of Installation” page of the wizard.  Don’t plough ahead like I did and install it in local mode and spend 2 hours trying to remove it so I could re-install.  If you have installed in local mode you must remove the MSDE database that is installed also to trigger it to prompt for remote Mode.  After ‘successful’ installation the Configure page should appear.  Do not do anything at this stage as the Foundation Server setup will deal with this.

Ok that’s it for now I now have a system prepped and ready for the Foundation Server to be installed.  The trouble is now I am at work and the setup disk is with me but the VPC is at home.  So tonight the saga will continue (after the Rushden V Northampton football game) and hopefully I will have it installed and ready to play with.