How to run your Web Performance Tests from TFS’ Build Server

You must make a couple of changes to the build configuration (Process tab, 2. Basic section, Automated Tests area):

1) Click the ellipses on the ‘1. Test Assembly’ line and change Test runner from Visual Studio Test Runner to MSTest.exe Runner

2) Change ‘Test Assembly Filespec’ to “**\*.webtest”

Thanks to Gian Maria Ricci for the tips here:

http://www.codewrecks.com/blog/index.php/2013/08/16/build-deploy-web-performance-test-with-tfs-build

Microsoft Test Manager 2010 (MTM) Resources

1. Code Magazine article, taken from Chapter 3 of Software Testing with Visual Studio 2010, entitled Planning Your Testing
   http://www.code-magazine.com/Article.aspx?quickid=1103013
2. Channel 9 videos:
   1. Introduction to Test Case Management in Visual Studio 2010 with Microsoft Test and Lab Manager
      http://channel9.msdn.com/blogs/kmcgrath/introduction-to-test-case-management-in-visual-studio-2010-with-microsoft-test-and-lab-manager
   2. Team Foundation Service Preview: Using Visual Studio, Microsoft Test Manager, and Eclipse
      http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/Team-Foundation-Service-Preview-Using-Visual-Studio-Microsoft-Test-Manager-and-Eclipse
   3. Software Testing with Microsoft Test Manager 11 and Lab Management
      http://channel9.msdn.com/Events/TechDays/TechDays-2012-Belgium/283

Accessing TFS Preview from Visual Studio 2010

If you want to access your preview TFS account (TFS in the cloud) from Visual Studio 2010 you need to install KB2581206 (Visual Studio 2010 SP1 TFS Compatibility GDR).

Then you can configure access as usual. Screenshots explaining the process can be found on Gregg Boer’s blog post.

Accessing TFS 2010 from Visual Studio 2005 or 2008

If you want to access source code in Team Foundation Server 2010 from either Visual Studio 2005 or Visual Studio 2008, you’ll need to install the appropriate Forward Compatibility Update.  And a prerequisite for that is the appropriate Service Pack 1.  So here are the links to the downloads:

• Visual Studio 2005
• Service Pack 1
• Forward Compatibility Update
• Visual Studio 2008
• Service Pack 1: installer, iso
• Forward Compatibility Update

-Krip

 

Accessing TFS from Visual Studio 2005

To access Team Foundation Server (TFS) from Visual Studio 2005, you need to install Visual Studio Team System 2005 Team Explorer (or Visual Studio 2005 Team Explorer for short).

The file (VSTFClient.img) is an image file so you’ll need to burn it to a CD or DVD.

To check that the software installed correctly look for a “Team Explorer” menu option on the View menu.

If you encounter “Error 1305 Error reading from file…” during the install, there’s a good chance the img file is corrupt and only partially downloaded.  Try downloading again. It should be 246 MB large.

-Krip

Migrating multiple TFS installs to TFS 2010

If you’re running multiple instances of pre-2010 versions of TFS and want to migrate to TFS 2010, you have several options.  These include upgrading each instance in place and consolidating each instance onto one new TFS 2010 installation (each as a separate collection).

Giulio Vian has a good post pointing to the various tools that can help with the migration.

-Krip

 

Team Foundation Server 2010 Service Pack 1

If you’re already using TFS 2010 you may be interested in Service Pack 1.  The download is here, and the list of new and fixed items here.

If you’re just installing it, then install SP1 right after the install but before configuring.

-Krip

 

Test Runs significantly add to TFS 2010 size

If you’re using the Test Run feature in Team Foundation Server 2010 you may notice that the size of your attachments (tbl_Attachment) will grow over time – there is no facility for purging or archiving.  While all the diagnostic data captured can be real handy, you probably don’t need it after some time (just look at what you can collect during a test run).

Grant Holliday has a great post explaining how to use a command line power tool known as Test Attachment Cleaner for Visual Studio Ultimate 2010 & Test Professional 2010: TCMPT.exe.  He also provides some SQL queries you can run to check the size of your attachments.

-Krip

 

Team Foundation Server is running on Azure

According to Brian Harry’s post, Team Foundation Server (TFS) is up and running on Azure.  A Microsoft internal instance was deployed about a month ago and runs 100 accounts and 200 users.  At the moment of course it’s limited to a very small group of TAP customers but will be opened up over time.

What a great use of Azure.  TFS is a full enterprise scale application that utilizes front end, middle tier, and back-end (SQL Server) infrastructure and can be deployed in a variety of ways.  It requires IT to manage, backup, monitor, etc.  So getting all the benefits of a fully managed elastic compute environment is ideal.

I’m sure many more companies will be able to adopt TFS when it’s commercially available in the cloud.

-Krip