DevOps Server Activation - azure-devops

We are running a trial version of the DevOps server on-premise. I'm trying to activate it so we aren't on the trial version any more.
Our company developers each have a VisualStudio Enterprise subscription, my understanding of this page:
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/devops/server/
is that if we have the Enterprise subscriptions (which we get via partner status) then we get one server license as well as a user license.
"Visual Studio subscriptions include one server license plus a user CAL for the subscriber."
If this is not the case, can someone explain? If this is the case, how do I go about activating DevOps server to not be in free-trial status?

I'm still searching for an answer as to how I actually make use of our
licenses to remove the 'trial' status or 'activate' DevOps server if
you will.
You can check this blog. Apart from earlier versions of tfs, it also applies to Azure Devops Server 2018 and 2019.
Open Team Foundation Server Administration Console and double-click the server name, you would see a window like this:
Click Complete Trial and you can remove the trial status in TFS Web UI. I think that's what you want.
And about license:
Starting with Update 2, you will not need to enter a product key into any version of TFS. If you download TFS from www.visualstudio.com, however, there will continue to be a trial experience. This experience is only there to help you comply with our server and user licensing requirements. You can opt out of it up front, at any point during the trial, or even after it expires. Critically, your server will continue working even if you let your trial expire. When you complete the trial, or when it expires, you need to ensure that you have a valid license in order to remain compliant.
So you can continue to use that in normal work since as you mentioned above the developers in your team each have one VS Enterprise subscription. (More details about licensing see licensing whitepaper)

Related

accidently downloaded MongoDB Enterprise Server. Do I have to pay now and can i cancel it

Question is above. I read that you have to pay for this service and now I want to cancel it. Is that possible? Or am I wrong and it is actually for free? I also tried deleting it but I keep getting the message that I can't install multiple versions.
If you are not a MongoDB customer, your use of MongoDB Enterprise Server is governed by the customer agreement that is presented during the download process (e.g. here). This agreement says:
(b) Free Evaluation and Development. MongoDB grants you a royalty-free, nontransferable and nonexclusive license to use and reproduce the Software in your internal environment for evaluation and development purposes. You will not use the Software for any other purpose, including testing, quality assurance or production purposes without purchasing an Enterprise Advanced Subscription. We provide the free evaluation and development license of our Software on an “AS-IS” basis without any warranty.
You may use the product indefinitely as long as you are using it for "evaluation and development purposes".
You can also uninstall the enterprise server at any time and install the community one.

MIcrosoft Feedback Client can't connect to Team Foundation Server

I have a problem with the MIcrosoft Feedback Client, and in general the Request feedback option in VSTS.
If I try to open a request from the notification email, the Feedback Client displays the following error:
Cannot connect to Team Foundation Server. Verify the network connection and try again.
However, if I simply launch it as an application, I got a popup first, where I need to pick the server, the team project collection and finally the project I'd like to connect to (it doesn't ask for login). This works just fine and the submitted feedback is displayed in VSTS, it can be queried, etc.
I removed all cookies and cleared browser cache from all browsers I use, also I checked if there's a false entry in Windows Credential Manager.
Any suggestions what I should try next?
update
We use Feedback Client for Microsoft Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2015 downloaded from here
Make sure the account you use have the permission to access to the project and view the work items.
Feedback client use the credentials stored in Team Explorer. Try to delete the stored credentials from "Visual Studio -> Team -> Manage Connections -> Manage Connections -> Servers -> Remove" and then launch Feedback Client from email. A sign in dialog will pop up after this and you can enter your credential in it.
If it still does not work, clean all the TFS cache from "%LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Team Foundation\x.0\Cache" folder.
And also, check the link in the email to make sure it is correct. The link should like following:
mfbclients://xxxxxx.visualstudio.com/DefaultCollection/p:ProjectName?rid=FeedbackID
What version of the TFS Client are you using 2012, 2013 or 2015? I ran into a similar issue when we were using this on premise and I had to bump down to a lower version of the TFS Feedback Client.
Here is the TFS 2015 client.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=40768
I just tested mine to VSTS and it worked as expected.

TFS configurations to support distributed teams

We are investigating using TFS for a small development group. All the developers are remote to the office. VPN is an option but not preferred, as we have to change vpn connections several times daily to support other functions in the business.
So I'm trying to figure out the different options that TFS can be configured with to support that model. I've read about setting up Proxy Servers but that was using an older version of TFS so I'm not sure that still is/was the best option.
I haven't been able to locate good current documentation about the best/different ways to configure TFS to support this model.
I don't need comments about using Mercuial, GIT or something else. I'm aware of them and including them in my overall evaluation but right now I'm trying to see what solutions TFS does or does not offer. All developers have MSDN licenses and so TFS is free to the group.
You have 2 options (without VPN)
1) Like Martin suggested, look at VSO (Visual Studio Online, http://www.visualstudio.com) this is the cloud based version of TFS it's free for up to 5 developers.
2) Setup TFS internally inside your organization and make that instance available on the internet through your firewall. You can secure it with certificates so only you team can connect in. There is a lot of information on MSDN on how to secure it using SSL and certificate.
Cheers,
ET

Transfer TFS Work Item Queries from locally installed TFS to visualstudio.com

Is there any way to move custom queries I've setup in my company's locally hosted TFS server to my instance of TFS on visualstudio.com? I've Googled/Binged/Yahoo'd and even DuckDuckGo'ed around and asked other devs using the service but none of them had any saved queries they wanted to move, so no one had done any researching yet. After a few fruitless searches I've turned to the experts here on SO. Anyone find anything about this they can share?
The usual suspects when it comes to TFS Migration (namely the TFS Integration Platform) does not support moving project or personal queries. Depending on the quantity of queries, a manual recreation is obviously possible. However, if there are a significant number, then another option is to use the TFS SDK (Microsoft.TeamFoundation.Client and Microsoft.TeamFoundation.WorkItemTracking.Client). Within there, you can access the "My Queries" and project queries, including their folder hierarchy.
One example of this is available on Mike Poulson's blog where he shows going from a TFS 2010 -> TFS 2012 server. While this example is targeting on-prem, the same holds true for a move from TFS on-prem to Visual Studio Online.
Some of the queries may need "translation" in the migration process (naming differences, etc), using the SDK can also help in that process. So at the end of the day, it's a tradeoff between a manual recreation vs effort to code/debug/test a solution with the SDK.

TFS non windows users

How can I add non windows users to my team foundation server 2012 express edition? We work with an outsourcing company and we would like a set up where TFS express edition is accessed by both teams here and outside. Since the outside developers are not our domain/windows users, I am struggling to add every one onto a project. Any help is appreciated. Thank you.
Not sure about 2012, but previous versions of TFS could be managed on a Workgroup. You would need to create local accounts for all your users. And even domain users would need to authenticate each time.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms252507.aspx
On premise TFS only supports Windows auth (either local or domain).
I would suggest you look at using Team Foundation Service (TFS in the cloud) for this project. It's currently free and uses Microsoft live accounts instead.