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Configuring BizTalk Server 2013 and 2013 R2 on an Azure VM

BizTalk Server 2013 R2 and BizTalk Server 2013 are available as Microsoft Azure virtual machines. BizTalk Server can be installed locally on your hardware and in Azure as a virtual machine. Benefits of the Azure virtual machine include:

  • All you need is internet access. You can create a Proof of Concept virtual machine, create an RDP file to this virtual machine, and from anywhere that has internet access, sign in to your virtual machine using the RDP file. This virtual machine has a public IP address so you can use RDP access from an internet connection.

  • The virtual machine can be joined to your domain. You can even create your own private network that includes a Domain Controller.

    Important

    When the virtual machine is added to your domain, there is no public IP address. The RDP file can only be used in your network.

  • You can capture a VHD image, download it, and then run the virtual machine on-premises in your virtual machine software.

  • Replication Backup is free and includes replicating your virtual machine worldwide.

  • There is no setup on your hardware and therefore no hardware maintenance.

  • When you create a virtual machine, you install updates. Azure updates the base VHD image in the Azure Management Portal. For example, you create a virtual machine today. Service Pack 1 (SP1) is released tomorrow. Any new virtual machines created thereafter have SP1 installed.

  • In less than one hour, you have a BizTalk Server installed, configured, and ready for your applications.

  • On the virtual machine, you are an Administrator and have full access to the virtual machine, just like you have full access to your on-premises BizTalk computer.

BizTalk Server License Options

Edition Description Cost

BizTalk Server Standard

A virtual machine that includes the following:

  • BizTalk Server Standard Edition

  • All requirements, including Internet Information Services (IIS) and MS Distributed Transaction Coordinator (MSDTC)

To configure BizTalk Server Standard Edition, an existing SQL Server virtual machine is needed.

Important

SQL Server and Visual Studio are not installed on this virtual machine.

To determine costs associated with the Standard edition, use the Azure Pricing Calculator to do the following:

  1. Go to the Azure Pricing Calculator.

  2. Windows Virtual Machines: The cost is automatically included with the SQL Server virtual machine and the BizTalk Server virtual machine. Keep the scale at 0 (zero).

  3. SQL Server: Click the virtual machine size: Small, Medium, Large, or Extra Large. Slide the scale to the number of virtual machines you want.

    For example, you want one Medium Standard edition virtual machine. Click the M and slide the scale to 1. This lists the cost of the SQL Server virtual machine used by your Standard Edition.

  4. BizTalk Server: Click the virtual machine size: Small, Medium, Large, or Extra Large. Slide the scale to the number of virtual machines you want.

    For example, you want one Medium Standard edition virtual machine. Click the M and slide the scale to 1. This lists the cost of the BizTalk Server virtual machine used by your Standard Edition.

  5. Bandwidth: This is the cost for the amount of outbound data that exceeds 5GB to a different data center.

    For example, you have SubscriptionA in DataCenter1 and SubscriptionB in DataCenter2. You process 8GB of outbound data from SubscriptionA (DataCenter1) to SubscriptionB (DataCenter2). You are charged for 3GB of outbound data. In this scenario, move the Bandwidth scale to 3GB to determine your Bandwidth cost.

    Using this example, you process 8GB of outbound data from SubscriptionA (DataCenter1) to SubscriptionA (DataCenter1). You are not charged for the outbound data. In this scenario, the outbound data is in the same data center. Move the Bandwidth scale to 0 to determine your Bandwidth cost.

The total cost is displayed at the bottom of the Azure Pricing Calculator.

To summarize, the Windows virtual machine cost is automatically included with the BizTalk Server and SQL Server virtual machines. You are charged hourly for the BizTalk Server virtual machine, the SQL Server virtual machine, and any Bandwidth costs.

BizTalk Server Enterprise

A virtual machine that includes the following:

  • BizTalk Server Enterprise Edition

  • All requirements, including Internet Information Services (IIS) and MS Distributed Transaction Coordinator (MSDTC)

To configure BizTalk Server Enterprise Edition, an existing SQL Server virtual machine is needed.

Important

SQL Server and Visual Studio are not installed on this virtual machine.

To determine costs associated with the Enterprise edition, use the Azure Pricing Calculator to do the following:

  1. Go to the Azure Pricing Calculator.

  2. Windows Virtual Machines: The cost is automatically included with the SQL Server virtual machine and the BizTalk Server virtual machine. Keep the scale at 0 (zero).

  3. SQL Server: Click the virtual machine size: Small, Medium, Large, or Extra Large. Slide the scale to the number of virtual machines you want.

    For example, you want one Extra Large Enterprise edition virtual machine. Click the XL and slide the scale to 1. This lists the cost of the SQL Server virtual machine used by your Enterprise Edition.

  4. BizTalk Server: Click the virtual machine size: Small, Medium, Large, or Extra Large. Slide the scale to the number of virtual machines you want.

    For example, you want two Large Enterprise edition virtual machines. Click the L and slide the scale to 2. This lists the cost of the BizTalk Server virtual machines used by your Enterprise Edition.

  5. Bandwidth: This is the cost for the amount of outbound data that exceeds 5GB to a different data center.

    For example, you have SubscriptionA in DataCenter1 and SubscriptionB in DataCenter2. You process 8GB of outbound data from SubscriptionA (DataCenter1) to SubscriptionB (DataCenter2). You are charged for 3GB of outbound data. In this scenario, move the Bandwidth scale to 3GB to determine your Bandwidth cost.

    Using this example, you process 8GB of outbound data from SubscriptionA (DataCenter1) to SubscriptionA (DataCenter1). You are not charged for the outbound data. In this scenario, the outbound data is in the same data center. Move the Bandwidth scale to 0 to determine your Bandwidth cost.

The total cost is displayed at the bottom of the Azure Pricing Calculator.

To summarize, the Windows virtual machine cost is automatically included with the BizTalk Server virtual machine and SQL Server virtual machine. You are charged hourly for the BizTalk Server virtual machine, the SQL Server virtual machine, and any Bandwidth costs.

BizTalk Server on-premises

If you purchase an on-premises BizTalk Server license, you can install BizTalk Server on an Azure virtual machine. The license includes installing on-premises and installing on an Azure virtual machine.

Installing BizTalk Server on an Azure virtual machine is included in your license. To determine costs associated with installing your on-premises BizTalk software on an Azure virtual machine, use the Azure Pricing Calculator to do the following:

  1. Go to the Azure Pricing Calculator.

  2. Windows Virtual Machines: Click the virtual machine size: Small, Medium, Large, or Extra Large. Slide the scale to the number of virtual machines you want.

    So if you want one Large virtual machine, click the L and slide the scale to 1. This lists the cost of the Windows virtual machine where you install your on-premises BizTalk software license.

  3. SQL Server: Click the virtual machine size: Small, Medium, Large, or Extra Large. Slide the scale to the number of virtual machines you want.

    For example, you want one Extra Large Enterprise edition virtual machine. Click the XL and slide the scale to 1. This lists the cost of the SQL Server virtual machine used by your on-premises BizTalk software.

  4. BizTalk Server: There is no charge for the BizTalk Server on-premises software. Keep the scale at 0 (zero).

  5. Bandwidth: This is the cost for the amount of outbound data that exceeds 5GB to a different data center.

    For example, you have SubscriptionA in DataCenter1 and SubscriptionB in DataCenter2. You process 8GB of outbound data from SubscriptionA (DataCenter1) to SubscriptionB (DataCenter2). You are charged for 3GB of outbound data. In this scenario, move the Bandwidth scale to 3GB to determine your Bandwidth cost.

    Using this example, you process 8GB of outbound data from SubscriptionA (DataCenter1) to SubscriptionA (DataCenter1). You are not charged for the outbound data. In this scenario, the outbound data is in the same data center. Move the Bandwidth scale to 0 to determine your Bandwidth cost.

The total cost is displayed at the bottom of the Azure Pricing Calculator.

To summarize, there is no cost for the BizTalk Server software. You are charged hourly for the Windows virtual machine that hosts your BizTalk Server installation, SQL Server virtual machine, and any Bandwidth costs.

Important information:

The following link lists the hourly pricing for a BizTalk Server virtual machine and a SQL Server virtual machine:

Azure Virtual Machines Pricing Details

The BizTalk Server and SQL Server virtual machine rates automatically include the hourly rates for Windows Server.

The Azure Pricing Calculator is updated with the current rates and does a great job determining costs.

If you are creating a domain hosted on Azure, a Windows Server virtual machine is needed to host Active Directory and be the Domain Controller. There are additional costs associated with hosting an Active Directory domain.

Important

Visual Studio is not installed with any BizTalk Server virtual machine.

What you need to know

Currently, BizTalk Server virtual machines on Azure do not offer a High Availability (HA) solution when using SQL Server Cluster.

Next Steps

Create a BizTalk Virtual Machine in Azure

Create the BizTalk Group Prerequisites | Azure Virtual Machine