If you are thinking that you have all the installation requirements for Team Foundation Server, to avoid surprises, check them again:

In a clean installation of Windows Server 2003, install all the components in the order that they are listed here:

– First of all, the complete enviorenment of TFS in a single-server mode must be in 32bits.
– Windows Server 2003 with SP1 or SP2 (R2 optional): Standard, Enterprise and Datacenter editions supported.
– Internet Information Services 6.0 with ASP.NET enabled (and no support to Front Page Extensions, they are incompatible with Sharepoint). In addition, IIS must have a default web site.
– SQL Server 2005 SP1 or SP2 Standard or Enterprise Edition as the default instance of SQL Server *. If you are not planning to install SP1 on your SQL 2005, the hotfix KB912838 is required for TFS installation.
– .Net Framework 2.0 with the hotfix KB913393 installed.
– Windows Sharepoint Services 2.0 with SP2. Server-farm type of installation **.
– If you are using a firewall check that the appropriate ports are open *.

IMPORTANT: The hotfixes for SQL 2005 and .Net Framework you may find it in TFS installation media. You probably may have problems finding the .Net Framework hotfix over the Internet.

* For a complete reference and all the components needed to SQL 2005 installation and the ports needed to TFS take a look to the TFS Installation guide at: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=E54BF6FF-026B-43A4-ADE4-A690388F310E&displaylang=en
** Download Sharepoint Services 2.0 SP2 at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=55087. Do not install the service at “Add or Remove Role” wizard from Windows Server 2003.

What about 64bits Processors? I have to get an operating system in 32bits to install TFS?

If you are planning in a Team Foundation Server as a Single-Server mode: Yes, that’s your only choice. But there is also the option of implementing Dual-Server Mode. You can apply this by leaving your Application tier in 32bits and the Data tier (SQL 2005) in 64bits, that’s the only way. The Application tier must always be in a 32bits environment.

Hardware Requirements

Component          Recommended

Processor             2.2 GHz Pentium IV or Athlon
RAM                      1 GB
Hard Disk            8 GB of available space

A third consideration is needed before installing Team Foundation Server in your company. That is if you are working in a domain or workgroup environment:

– Domain Integration: The domain functional level must be either in Windows 2000 native mode or Windows 2003. In addition TFS cannot be installed in a domain controller.

– Workgroup Integration: Team Foundation Server can only work with workgroups on supported 32-bit operating systems.

Step-by-Step Installation

If you already checked all the requirements, hands on installation then:

1 – Log on as Administrator in the computer that you’ll install TFS.

2 – Create User accounts for TFS installation:

TFSSERVICE. Deselect “Must change password at next logon” and select “Password Never Expires”. Don’t leave the password in blank.

TFSREPORTS. Deselect “Must change password at next logon” and select “Password Never Expires”. Don’t leave the password in blank.

These exact names are not a requirement for installation; you can use the names that you want. A third account is needed, not for installation but when your clients’ computers use the Server: TFSPROXY. And in this one you cannot change his name.

Note: In almost all installation guides you will find that is also needed a fourth account: TFSSETUP, from which you will run the installation. If you are installing, in fact, the Workgroup Edition of TFS it’s not recommended to use this account for installation. The installation procedure also creates a users group named “Team Foundation Licensed Users” (for your developers), as a Workgroup Edition you can only add 5 users to this group (no sub groups permitted of course), and if you use TFSSETUP for installation, this account automatically is added to the licensed users group, loosing the possibility to add a developer. That’s why you should run setup with the Administrators account or any other with privileges to install in the server.

3 – Insert the installation media of TFS, start the Autorun and click Next.

4 – Accept the License agreement and the destination folder to TFS.

5 – Watch for the warnings in the System Health Check. And click Next.

6 – On the Service Logon Account Name insert the account you created as TFSSERVICE and its password. On the Reporting Logon Account insert TFSREPORTS and its password.

7 – Specify Alert Settings, this is optional, you can include the SMTP Server and e-mail address where the alerts notifications will be sent.

8 – On the Ready to Install Page click Install.

9 – After installation as an optional step also is the backup up of the Reporting Services Encryption Key.

After the installation is complete, to check everything went OK: in Internet Explorer locate: http://localhost:8080/services/v1.0/registration.asmx and the click GetRegistrationEntries, click Invoke (you don’t have to enter a ToolID) and in the XML verify that the type VSTF exists and the close.

It’s highly recommended that your operating system is up to date with “Windows Update”. After the installation of IIS, SQL 2005, .Net Framework, Sharepoint Services you will find several critical updates to install in you OS.

Cheers everyone!!