Developers, Developers, Developers! : Team Foundation Server

A newer VSTS and TFS 2008 VPC image is available now

hakteng — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 03:33:00 GMT

The Microsoft Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Foundation Server SP1 and Team Suite SP1 VPC Image (Trial) with expiry date of 31 Dec 2009 is available now. This virtual machine is running Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition, SP2. It contains a full installation of Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Foundation Server SP1, Team Build 2008 SP1, Team Explorer 2008 SP1, Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Suite SP1 and all necessary prerequisites. In addition, it has been updated with Office 2007 SP1, current Windows Updates as of December 1, 2008, the October 2008 Release of the TFS Power Tools, Team System Web Access 2008 SP1, and the Visual Studio Team System 2008 Team Foundation Server MSSCCI Provider. Team Foundation Server is installed in workgroup authentication mode and thus does not require a domain controller. This release also contains 38 hands-on labs and sample data.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=c7a809d8-8c9f-439f-8147-948bc6957812&displaylang=en

Upgrading From TFS2005 to TFS2008

hakteng — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 05:42:00 GMT

For tips on upgrading from TFS2005 to TFS2008, please read this blog.

The Next TFS Power Tools

hakteng — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 05:11:00 GMT

For a preview of the next TFS Power Tools release, please read this blog.

Creating and Customizing TFS Reports

hakteng — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 05:00:31 GMT

Visual Studio Team System (VSTS) Team Foundation Server (TFS) comes with standard reports for the Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF). You may have seen these reports and would like to customize them or create new ones.

The best way to learn to create and customize TFS reports is to read this MSDN posting and follow the tutorial closely. One point to note, you would need the SQL Server Client Tools - Business Intelligence Development Studio.

You would discover you can create almost any kind of reports you desire, for example, including reports from other Team Projects, adding more than 1 graph in a report etc.

TFS Installation / Setup Problems

hakteng — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 05:27:00 GMT

I have come across several postings about problems with TFS installation. Some of the error messages are TF220041, TF220044, TF220046, TF220048, TF220050, TF220059, TF31002, 32000, 28002 etc. However, most, if not all, are due to failure to follow the installation instruction. I have personally encountered TFS installation problems because I, too, did not follow the instruction and tried to circumvent, workaround or skipped a few steps (thinking I have extensive server installation experiences and took short cuts).

To ensure success, you HAVE to follow the installation instruction to a tee! Especially, the prerequisites for TFS. Since my first success, I have tried several installations on different OS and SQL Svr versions combinations and they were all successful. Again, please just follow the installation guide.

Installation notes:

1. When installing SQL Server 2005 (Reporting Service is required) on Windows Server 2008, if it cannot detect IIS 7, in the IIS 7 settings, add Role Service - IIS 6 WMI Compatibility.

2. During TFS installation, If complain about SQL Server 2005 Surface Area Configuration for Services and Connections, START -> Microsoft SQL Server 2005 -> Configuration Tools -> SQL Server 2005 Surface Area Configuration - Surface Area Configuration for Services and Connections - set Database Engine -> Remote Connections -> Using TCP/IP only.

3. When specifying the site URL during the Windows SharePoint Services installation, use the actual servername, rather than localhost.

4. Error 28002. DNS issues, check DNS configured correctly on your domain controller or the TFS server has correct route to DNS.

5. Issues with user accounts setup for TFS, see this.

6. Comprehensive TFS installation troubleshooting blog.