Checklist for Developing the Server Image

[This topic provides preliminary content for the beta release of the Windows Azure VM role feature. To join the beta, log on to the Management Portal, click Home, and then click Beta Programs.]

The full power of a VM role occurs in stages with the base VHD image and after time a differencing VHD image. You can use the checklists in this section to create the base VHD and the differencing VHD.

Checklist for creating a base VHD

	Step	Reference
	Install the Windows Azure SDK.	Overview of the Windows Azure VM Role
	Create a .cer formatted certificate to enable API access to your subscription.	How to Create a Certificate for a Role
	Create the base VHD that is use to initialize your VM role.	How to Create the Base VHD
	Install the Windows Azure Integration Components for the VM role to communicate with Windows Azure.	How to Install the Windows Azure Integration Components
	Install applications and make operating system configuration changes	Windows Server
	Prepare the base VHD image for deployment to Windows Azure by running sysprep.exe.	How to Prepare the Image for Deployment
	Deploy the base VHD image to Windows Azure.	How to Upload a VHD to Windows Azure
	Create the service model files and deploy the package.	How to Create and Deploy the VM Role Service Model
	Save the base VHD to a secure folder.

Checklist for creating a differencing VHD

	Step	Reference
	Create the differencing VHD by using the base VHD.	How to Update a Server Instance by Using a Differencing VHD
	Install applications and make operating system configuration changes.	Windows Server
	Prepare the differencing VHD image for deployment to Windows Azure by running sysprep.exe.	How to Prepare the Image for Deployment
	Deploy the differencing VHD image to Windows Azure.	How to Upload a VHD to Windows Azure
	Change the configuration to reference the differencing VHD	How to Change the Configuration of a VM role