How to Prepare the Windows Azure Compute Emulator
You configure your system to develop and test applications that run in Windows Azure by completing the following actions:
Review the prerequisites
Install the Windows Azure SDK
Enable IIS 7.0 with ASP.NET
(Optional) Enable CGI
Review the prerequisites
You must ensure that your system meets the following minimum requirements to run the Windows Azure compute emulator and the Windows Azure storage emulator:
Operating system:
The 64-bit (x64) version of the SDK requires a 64-bit edition of Windows 7, Windows Vista® SP1 or higher, or Windows Server® 2008.
The 32-bit (x86) version of the SDK requires a 32-bit editions of Windows 7, Windows Vista SP1 or higher, or Windows Server 2008.
Important
The 32-bit version of the SDK cannot be installed on a 64-bit operating system; running the SDK under Microsoft Windows 32-bit-On-Windows-64-bit (Wow64) is not supported.
Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1. You may also optionally install the .NET Framework 4.
Microsoft SQL Server™ Express 2005 or SQL Server 2008 R2 Express for running services that use the storage emulator. You may also run the storage emulator against a local instance of Microsoft SQL Server; see How to Configure SQL Server for the Storage Emulator for more information.
Internet Information Services (IIS) 7.0 must be enabled, with ASP.NET.
Install the Windows Azure SDK
Before installing the SDK, you must remove any previously installed versions.
To remove a previous version of the SDK
Open the Control Panel, and then click Uninstall a program.
Right-click the entry for the SDK in the list of installed programs, and then click Uninstall.
To install a new version of the SDK
Download the SDK from the Downloads page for Windows Azure. You have the following choices for installing the SDK:
Windows Azure Tools for Microsoft Visual Studio (includes the Windows Azure SDK)
Standalone 64-bit version of the SDK
Standalone 32-bit version of the SDK
If you did not install the SDK when you downloaded it, navigate to the directory where you downloaded the installation file and then double-click the file.
Enable IIS 7.0 with ASP.NET
You must complete the following steps to enable IIS 7.0 with ASP.NET.
To enable IIS 7.0 with ASP.NET on Windows Server 2008
Click Start, point to All Programs, click Administrative Tools, and then click Server Manager.
In Server Manager, under Roles Summary, verify that Web Server (IIS) appears in the list of available roles. If it does not, click Add Roles to install Internet Information Services.
In the Select Role Services dialog box, expand Web Server, expand Common HTTP Features, and then ensure that Static Content is selected.
Under Application Development, click ASP.NET. Click Add Required Role Services to install the role services for ASP.NET.
Click Next, and then click Install to enable Static Content and ASP.NET.
To enable IIS 7.0 with ASP.NET on Windows 7 or Windows Vista
Open the Control Panel, click Programs, and then click Programs and Features.
Click Turn Windows Features On or Off.
Under Internet Information Services, expand World Wide Web Services, and then under Application Development Features, click ASP.NET.
Under Common HTTP Features, click Static Content.
Click OK, click Next, and then click Install to install the selected features.
(Optional) Enable CGI
You can optionally enable CGI in IIS 7.0, if you want to host native applications on FastCGI.
To enable CGI on Windows Server 2008
Click Start, point to All Programs, click Administrative Tools, and then click Server Manager.
In Server Manager, under Roles Summary, click Web Server (IIS).
In the Web Server (IIS) management window, click Add Role Services.
In the Add Role Services dialog box, expand Web Server, expand Application Development, and then select CGI.
Click Next, and then click Install to enable CGI.