Team Foundation Server on Azure or TFS Service, the most exciting product previewed at the “Build Windows 2011” conference. In simple terms, running Microsoft Team Foundation Server hosted on Windows Azure platform.

In this article, I am not going to write any comprehensive overview about TFS Azure, but step by step guide on how to connect to TFS Azure using Visual Studio 11 developer preview.

In order to get start with TFS Azure, you need to register with http://www.tfspreview.com.

Step 01:

In TFS Azure home page, you can see your TFS Account URL. You will have to use this link as a name or ULR of your Team Foundation Server.

* Currently, you can have only one TFS Azure account under single Windows Live ID.

Step 02:

Now you need open the Microsoft Visual Studio 11 Developer Preview IDE.

Step 03:

Click on the “Connect to Team Foundation Server” link in Start Page. You can use this link to connect either local TFS Server or TFS Service hosted on Windows Azure.

* If you are using Visual Studio 2010 SP1 to to connect TFS on Azure, then you need to install hotfix KB2581206.

Step 04:

After clicking on Add button, now you need to enter or paste your TFS Account URL (see Step 01). Ex: .tfspreview.com">https://<myaccount>.tfspreview.com

*In this window, There is no requirement to specify the Team Collection name or Team Project name.

Step  05:

Once you click on the “OK” button, you will see the “Sign-In to Team Foundation Server” window. This is where you enter the TFS Azure login credential details.

* Currently TFS Azure only supports Windows Live ID authentication service. Later Microsoft will support many more authentication services (Ex: corporate Active Directory service) under identity federation.

Step 06:

Step 07:

If you have any previously configured Team Projects in Default Collection, in this window you can select it.

Step 08:

Now you can see your favorite “Team Explorer”

Step 09:

Step 10:

Under Team Explore Settings section, you can perform many more operations like setting up group membership, changing work item alters, editing TFS process templates, etc.

Summery:

Personally, I am really impressed about TFS Azure 11 developer preview. Specially about Microsoft approach of moving on-premises developer tools into the cloud (Azure). In this preview, you will see limited features, but Microsoft is working very hard on next release.  This is the right time to share your opinions and comments about this preview:

• Submit an Idea : http://visualstudio.uservoice.com/forums/121579-visual-studio
• Report a bug : https://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/