Training kit installers probably need refinement

Question

In the attempt to setup the Windows Server AppFabric training kit, i encountered a number of error conditions that prevented the successfully completion of the Lab 0 sequence. There is no documentation within to explain what is going on and how to resolve possible errors.

The database bat or cmd scripts are expecting SQL Express 2008 or 2008 R2 to be installed with data directory default to C:

XCOPY .\Inventory.mdf "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.SQLEXPRESS\MSSQL\DATA\Inventory.mdf"
XCOPY .\Inventory_log.ldf "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL10.SQLEXPRESS\MSSQL\DATA\Inventory_log.ldf"

That does not always happen to be the case, and some flexibility in defining the real data directory is needed.

Additionally, it appears the AppFabric Training Workshop Lab Launcher's powershell script is expecting PowerShell 2.0 with the Import-Module command instead of Add-PSSnapin, but the dependency installer did not seem to check that. Furthermore it assumed the IIS 7.0 snap-in had already been installed; no check for that either.

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The melody of logic will always play out the truth. ~ Narumi Ayumu, Spiral

Answer 1

I find it hard to believe that nobody has commented on this in an entire year. I have been trying to run the training kit and it has been a complete disaster. It just does not work as advertised. I have tried twice, carefully following all instructions to install AppFabric Training Kit as a VM on my Win7 x64 machine and the labs just do not work. The training kit gives absolutely no diagnostics for the failures. The labs, beginning and end, fail returning FaultedState, and the lab code violates every single MS recommendation about using() and error handling for the proxies. AppFabricTrainingKit belongs on Failbook.

Answer 2

I have not used it before, but just looking over it now, it looks really old. I am surprised it has not been updated. I will suggest to the Microsoft team that owns it they should update it and obviously fix the issues.

I know there have been quite a few AppFabric changes since this training kit was released so I would not be surprised if it is buggy now.

Thanks for letting us know about the issues.

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If this answers your question, please use the "Answer" button to say so | Ben Cline

Answer 3

Same issues here. Why don't someone take this offline before many people waste their precious hours looking in to this. AppFabricHostingLabFiles.iso - File does not even exists in any of the downloads and many other issues.

Complete waste of time, this doesn't reflect well on the AppFabric as a product either.

Thanks,

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BhaktaVatsal

Answer 4

Still the same issues. Lost a lot of time. One advantage, I have now a good example what elementary errors can be made in documenting an application/lab for my pupils. The setup overview document raises a lot of questions. p.e. pictures of settings are not conform accompanied text. Names of actual files are not conform the documentation.

This does not reflect well on Microsoft.