Prerequisites

Each computer that you want to make part of a lab environment must fulfill the following prerequisites:

• One of the following operating systems must be installed:

  • Windows 7 or a later version, or

  • Windows Server 2008 or a later version.

• File sharing must be enabled.

• There must be a single user name that is a member of the Administrators group on every computer. For more information, see Add a member to a local group

It does not matter whether the computers are physical or virtual machines. If they are virtual machines, it does not matter what platform is hosting them.

To create a new standard environment

In the Machines page, choose existing computers to add to your environment.

Note
You can add and delete computers later.

You cannot add the same computer to more than one environment.

Choose Add machine

Name	Provide the fully-qualified domain name of the computer, for example myMachine.myCompany.com If all parts of your test system are in the same domain, including the test controller, test machines, and Test Manager, then you can use the unqualified computer name: for example, myMachine.
Role	A role identifies the function of the machine in the environment. It can be used by Test Manager to determine what components to install for testing purposes, and what testing data to collect. You can either select a role from the menu, or type any role name that you choose. Note The role is just an indication of the intended use of the machine. Lab Management does not automatically verify that the virtual machines or that the templates have the necessary software, nor does it install the software automatically to fulfill these roles.
User name and password	This user name must be in the Administrators group on every computer in the environment. It can be either a domain user name, or a local user name that is valid on each computer. To add a user to the Administrators group, choose Start, Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Computer Management, System Tools, Local Users, Groups, Administrators.

Choose Verify to make sure that the properties you have set are valid.

If verification fails, you must fix the problem before you can finish.

If verification succeeds, choose Finish.

If verification succeeds, choose Finish.

The new environment wizard closes, and your environment appears in the Environments list under Type:Standard.

Creating the environment can take some time. You can see the progress of the process in the Environments list. To see the progress of individual computers, select the environment.

You can log on to any of the computers if you want. Select the environment, and then choose Connect on the shortcut menu of the computer’s icon.

See Testing Using Lab Environments.

In Microsoft Test Manager, choose Lab Center and Lab. In this window, you can see the list of environments in your team project. The shortcut menu of each standard environment provides the following features:

• Connect: Open a browser on the environment, from which you can log on to any of the computers in the environment.

• Repair: Re-install the test agents in the computers.

• Open: Edit the environment, to add or delete computers.

• Delete the environment from your team project.

  This does not uninstall the test agents from the computers.

• Mark In Use: Place a flag next to the environment’s name, so that other users can see that you are using it.

What happens when I create a standard environment?

A test agent is downloaded from the selected test controller and installed into each machine of the environment. The test agent is responsible for:

• Deploying applications into machines as part of a build workflow

• Running and collecting data during manual or automated tests

• Configuring network isolation in the machines.

My team uses virtual machines to run tests, but we don’t manage the virtual machines by using SCVMM. Can I use Microsoft Test Manager?

Yes. Create your virtual machines by using your preferred host and tools. Then, in Microsoft Test Manager, create a standard environment and add your virtual machines to it.

We use virtual machines, but not hosted on Hyper-V. Should I create standard environments?

Yes.

Why would I use a standard environment instead of an SCVMM environment?

Create a standard environment when you want to include a machine that is not managed by SCVMM: for example, a physical computer, or a virtual machine that runs on a host that is not managed by SCVMM.

In SCVMM, our administrator has set up a virtual machine that is already running. It is not stored in the library. Should I use a standard environment for this?

No, you can put this in an SCVMM environment. In the Machines tab, choose it from the Running section of the list of available machines.

You would use a standard environment only if you also want to include in the environment other existing machines that are not in SCVMM.

What can’t I do with standard environments that I can do with SCVMM environments?

• Microsoft Test Manager cannot start, stop, snapshot or restore the machines in a standard environment. You would have to use your preferred virtual machine manager to do that.

• A standard environment consists of pre-existing machines. If you want newly created virtual machines to be part of a standard environment, you have to create them separately.

Can I include SCVMM virtual machines in a standard environment?

Yes, you can add any computer to a standard environment, provided it is running one of the prerequisite operating systems, with File Sharing enabled. There must be a single user name and password that has administrator privilege on all the computers in the environment.

I have a virtual machine that is managed by SCVMM. It is set up just the way I like it. I want to use it in other tests in the future. Because it already exists, should I incorporate it into a Standard Environment?

No.

If the virtual machine was running in SCVMM before you created the environment, delete the environment. The machine will still exist, and will be available to be included in other environments.

If you created the virtual machine when you created an environment, store the virtual machine in the library. For future tests, you can create a virtual (SCVMM) environment that includes a new copy of this stored virtual machine.

To store the virtual machine, shut down the environment to which it belongs. Select the virtual machine in Test Manager, and choose Store in Library. Alternatively, if the virtual machine is not part of an environment, choose Library, Virtual Machines and Templates, and then Import.

Can I add or delete computers from an environment, or change their roles?

In a standard environment, yes. Select the environment in the environment list and choose Open.

For an SCVMM environment, you must create a new environment.

How do I discourage my colleagues from interfering with my environment while I am using it?

Select the environment in the list. On the shortcut menu, choose Mark In Use.

If you also want to add an explanatory note, choose Connect on the shortcut menu. The environment viewer opens. Choose the Mark In Use drop-down and type a note.

When you have finished, choose Unmark In Use.

Concepts