Update:As it turns out, nothing is as easy as it seems. Although the procedure below does successfully update Team Foundation Server, you also need to update two services that TFS depends on: SQL Server Reporting Services and Windows SharePoint Services. See the added steps below. Bottom line: this actually turns out to be a lot of work. Avoid it if at all possible.

Do you want to rename a host computer after you've installed Microsoft Team Foundation Server on it? Just follow these steps:

1. Log onto the host computer with Administrator privileges.
2. Rename the host computer, and then restart it.
3. Log onto the host computer again with Administrator privileges.
4. Using IIS Manager, stop the Team Foundation Server web site.
5. Open up a command prompt window and change directory to %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Team Foundation Server\Tools.
6. Enter the command TFSAdminUtil RenameDT servername, where servername is the new name of the host computer.
7. Enter the command TFSAdminUtil ActivateAt.
8. Using Notepad, edit %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Team Foundation Server\Web Services\Web.config. Change the values for TfsNameUrl and TfsName to the new server name.
9. Using Notepad, edit %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Team Foundation Server\TFSServerScheduler\TFSServerScheduler.exe.config. Change the value for BisDomainUrl to the new server name.
10. Using IIS Manager, start the Team Foundation Server web site.

Added Steps:

You're not done just yet! To update SQL Server Reporting Services:

1. Follow the direction in this MSDN article
   http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-US/library/ms345235.aspx

To update Windows Sharepoint Services:

1. Refer to KB article 835559
   http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;835559
   

NOTE: This procedure works with the RTM version of Team Foundation Server installed on a single server. All other configurations - you're on your own! Although this goes without saying, be sure you backup your TFS databases before making any changes.

Tired of juggling a busy life? Take a few minutes to see how Chris Bliss does it.

Chris Bliss juggling to the Beatles tune Carry That Weight

I remember the first time I came across the term “AJAX”. It was one of those Ah-ha moments where I thought, “Yes, this is so right!” However, despite my excitement, I have yet to build a web app that utilizes AJAX technology. You see, building AJAX into a web app from scratch is a painful experience. This is due primarily on its heavy reliance on client-side javascript, which is notoriously difficult to develop and debug. For me, I just haven’t had a reason compelling enough to exceed that pain threshold. Sure there have been web apps that could have benefitted from the AJAX user experience, but the pain factor was just too high for me.

Well I’m pleased to report that Microsoft is working on a project called Atlas that will reduce the pain level significantly. According to Scott Guthrie, the product manager, “What we’ve set out to do is to make it dramatically easier for anyone [using ASP.NET] to build AJAX-style web applications that deliver rich, interactive, and personalized experiences.”

Atlas allows developers to build AJAX-enabled applications without great expertise in client scripting; integrate their browser UI seamlessly with the rest of their applications; and develop and debug these applications with ease.

Sign me up!

Scott wrote a really good introductory article on the Atlas project back in June 2005. He also recently announced the January CTP build of Atlas that runs on the RTM version of Visual Studio 2005. There is also an Atlas web site that will always have the latest information on this exciting technology.

If you build web apps and are interested in improving the user experience, you really should check this out.