BizTalk ESB Toolkit 2.0 FAQ

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It’s been about 48 hours since we released the ESB Toolkit and the news are spreading very quickly.

We wanted all the relevant information on this hot topic to be easily discoverable.
Following is a set of Frequently Asked Questions regarding the new BizTalk ESB Toolkit 2.0, (this list is also published on the new ESB page on the BizTalk Developer Center on MSDN):

  • When was the BizTalk ESB Toolkit 2.0 officially released?
    The BizTalk ESB Toolkit 2.0 along with documentation was released to the Web on Monday, June 8, 2009.
  • From where are downloads provided?
    You can download the BizTalk ESB Toolkit 2.0 and documentation from the Microsoft Download Center. The toolkit is packaged as binaries and samples in a Windows Installer.
  • What happens to those customers who are currently using ESB Guidance 1.0?
    Customers who are using ESB Guidance 1.0 are strongly encouraged to upgrade to BizTalk Server 2009 and the BizTalk ESB Toolkit 2.0.  ESB Guidance 1.0 will be deprecated in the next few months. Also, proactive monitoring of the ESB 1.0 forums will no longer take place after the BizTalk ESB Toolkit 2.0 is released.
  • What license does it use?
    It uses a standard Microsoft, free, binary-only license.
  • How is the BizTalk ESB Toolkit 2.0 packaged?
    It is packaged as a binary-only Windows Installer (32- and 64-bit).
  • Are BizTalk ESB Toolkit 2.0 bug fixes provided?
    Bugs are addressed on a best-effort basis, by the BizTalk ESB Toolkit Team.
  • Where do customers file bugs and requests?
    The BizTalk ESB Toolkit 2.0 Connect site has been created to log bugs with the product teams and to provide updates to additional tools over time. Once you log a bug, someone will respond to you within five days with an acknowledgment and status.
  • What is the BizTalk ESB Toolkit 2.0 forum commitment?
    Assistance is provided through forums, with a one-year notice of deprecation plans. Any fixes and responses to questions in the forums are best effort, and we will continue to leverage the community to provide peer assistance, though with a capability to issue critical fixes if necessary.
  • Where is the online community hosted?
    A dedicated ESB Toolkit Forum is provided.
  • Will source code for signed binaries be provided?
    Source code for signed binaries will be available as a separate download (date to be determined).
  • How does the support policy relate to the source code of the BizTalk ESB Toolkit?
    Microsoft will not support customizations to the BizTalk ESB Toolkit source code. The source for these components will be for reference only, not for making changes.  If there are critical issues that require it, we will use standard release processes to get fixes in place for the signed binaries.