But wait, there\u2019s more! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n
Since we released Visual Studio Team System in 2005, we\u2019ve gotten feedback from customers to keep the licensing simple.\u00a0 There\u2019s a lot of capability here but creating too many ways to buy it makes it too hard for people to figure it out.\u00a0 In support of this goal, in 2010, we made a big change in our product line up from a \u201crole\u201d based model (Dev, Test, Arch, \u2026) to a \u201cGood, Better, Best\u201d model (Pro, Premium, Ultimate).\u00a0 The feedback I\u2019ve seen from that change has been very positive.\u00a0 We\u2019ve also simplified the acquisition of TFS by including it in MSDN subscriptions, lowering the price, etc.\u00a0 And now for the next phase\u2026<\/p>\n
Lab Management is an involved product.\u00a0 It includes 3 major \u201ccomponents\u201d \u2013 A client \u201cMicrosoft Test Manager\u201d, a server (included as part of TFS) and an agent (that runs in the deployed application test environment).\u00a0 Further, it relies on System Center Virtual Machine Manager to help manage VMs used in the testing process.<\/p>\n
You can acquire Microsoft Test Manager by purchasing either VS Ultimate or VS Test Professional.<\/p>\n
The server components are included in TFS and are acquired when you buy TFS (as a stand alone product, as part of your MSDN subscription, etc).<\/p>\n
Our thinking has been that the agents would be licensed separately on a per processor basis for the machines being used for testing.\u00a0 Over the past several months we\u2019ve gotten the feedback that we\u2019ve crossed the licensing complexity threshold again and that we need to simplify.\u00a0 As result, we are announcing today that Lab Agents will be included with Team Foundation Server and will be available to both new and existing customers of TFS and Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Ultimate with MSDN or Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 Test Professional with MSDN.<\/p>\n
We believe this will make it easier for customers to understand and acquire.\u00a0 In fact, you may already be licensed for it and can download the patch when it is available and start using it to your heart\u2019s content.\u00a0 I\u2019m really thrilled that this next key piece of the 2010 wave of development products is ready.\u00a0 I look forward from hearing about your experiences.<\/p>\n
If you aren\u2019t familiar with Lab Management, here\u2019s a picture of the entry point for creating a new lab environment in Microsoft Test Manager (part of VS Ultimate and VS Test Professional).<\/p>\n
Also, you can watch these videos to see it in action: http:\/\/blogs.msdn.com\/b\/lab_management\/archive\/2010\/02\/11\/visual-studio-lab-management-videos.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n You can get a trial VM here: http:\/\/go.microsoft.com\/fwlink\/?LinkID=195885<\/a>.\u00a0 For now this is still the Release Candidate build but will be updated with the RTM build as soon as it is available.<\/p>\n![\"Image](\"https:\/\/devblogs.microsoft.com\/bharry\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2010\/08\/4812.image_thumb_6738CBE9.png\")
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