Monday, October 26, 2009

Installing the Windows Azure SDK and VS 2008 Tools from the Microsoft Web Platform Installer 2.0

The Microsoft Web Platform Installer (Web PI) 2.0 is now the preferred method for installing or upgrading to the current CTP or release version of the Windows Azure SDK and Windows Azure Tools for Visual Studio 2008 (July 2009 CTP when this post was written.)

Note: This process supersedes that described in the following section of Cloud Computing with the Windows Azure Platform’s Chapter 2:

  • “Creating and Running Projects in the Azure Development Platform,” p. 23

Following is the step-by-step method for installing or upgrading the Azure SDK and Tools with Web PI 2.0:

1. Open the Web PI 2.0 landing page (click image to open full-size screen capture):

2. Click the Download It Now button to start the download process and choose Run so you always receive the current SDK and Tools versions. When download completes, the What’s New or Web Platform tab opens:

3. Click the Options button to open the Change Options page and mark the Developer Tools check box:

4. Click the OK button to add the Developer Tools tab and display the Install Windows Azure Tools for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 July CTP (or later) page:

 

5. Click the Install button to display the EULA for the Tools, SDK, and Fast CGI for Internet Information Services (IIS) feature:

6. Click I accept button to begin installation of the Tools, SDK, and Fast CGI:

7. When installation completes, click Finish to dismiss the installer:

 

8. New installations require adding the DevelopmentStorageDb database to a local instance of SQL Server 2005 or 2008 Express (.\SQLEXPRESS). Choose [All] Programs, Windows Azure SDK (July 2009 CTP), right click Development Storage and choose Run as Administrator. If the following message appears, click Yes to add the Development Storage database:

9. Creating the database opens the Development Storage Initialization status dialog:

 

10. Click OK to dismiss the dialog.

If you’re updating an earlier CTP version, such as the May 2009 CTP, and receive a message similar to the following:

and you’re running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2, you probably need to remove the existing SDK and Tools instances with Control Panel’s Programs and Features applet and then reinstall the SDK and Tools with Web PI 2.0. For more information, see the Windows Azure forum’s Issue with VS Tools ( May CTP) thread or search for “Role instances did not start within the time allowed”.

Also, check to see if Wally McClure’s post in answer to his Role instances did not start within the time allowed thread is accessible. (It wasn’t on 10/26/2009.)

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