MPS is an extensible Windows-based platform that provides an XML-based framework that allows to create customized provisioning solutions for Web, data, and application hosting. This solution includes tasks such as adding new users, updating directory entries, and provisioning applications and services.
MPS providers make possible to automate the tasks required to provision and manage services within a data center. They accept XML requests from the Provisioning Engine and execute provisioning tasks against their respective applications.
MPS Provisioning Engine acts as a provisioning process coordinator and performs data monitoring and logging services. The Provisioning Engine interprets high-level XML requests and expands them into tasks.
Prerequisites:
Set Up a Development EnvironmentIn order to develop for Microsoft Provisioning System (MPS), we recommend that you create a dedicated development environment which is made up of at least a minimal setup for MPS and the hosted service you are developing for, or a lab deployment of the solution reference architecture. In this way, you ensure that the production system is not impacted by any activity during the development phase.
What You Will NeedFollowing is a list of the items you will need if you do not want to deploy the solution completely:
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 Machine MPS Distribution from the Microsoft Solution for Hosted Messaging and Collaboration media Microsoft SQL Server 2005 installation media Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 installation media A domain controller that you have administrative access to (can be a Virtual Server) A server running the service you are creating a provider for, and which you can use to try out your provider (can be a Virtual Server)
