Sunday, October 4, 2015

RapidStart Services To Be Discontinued On October 1, 2015

Over the last two years since RapidStart was introduced we have worked with partners and customers to help define the key components to help drive the next generation of the service. Lifecycle Services (LCS) Configuration manager was introduced in 2015 and incorporates the key concepts of RapidStart while providing the platform for additional features and functionality to not only support Dynamics AX 2012 but 'AX 7' as well. 
With the key concepts of RapidStart having been integrated into LCS to help provide an even better lifecycle experience, along with our continuing efforts to help speed deployments and help deliver repeatable and predictable success to support the different phases of Dynamics deployments (Define, Develop, and Operate), we will be discontinuing the RapidStart service, and support of the service, effective as of October 1, 2015.
We will continue to help drive more predictable, high quality implementations that are rapidlydeployed and configured to meet each customers' specific needs through LCS Solutions and Configuration Manager in LCS.

Guidance for our customers

Customers impacted are strongly encouraged to:
Begin to work with their partner for the transition from RapidStart to Configuration Manager.
  1. Review the training available for Configuration manager on Microsoft IT Academy accessible through the link at the bottom of the LCS login page:  https://lcs.dynamics.com. Click on the link "Training for customers" (same content as the training for partners) or click here for the direct link.       
  2. Begin building your knowledge base of configuring Configuration manager to help identify and transfer the data and entities between Dynamics AX environments.
  3. Learn about functionality available in Configuration Manager for a templated approach to system design, configuration, and deployment.
  4. Search the Azure marketplace for an AX-based solution that may meet the needs of your organization.

We have created a Q&A document to address the questions that may surface to help you in your conversations with the field, partners, customers, and prospects.
RapidStart has been a great tool to help speed implementations and we are excited about the evolution of those processes to help with both R3 and AX7 deployments.​

Q&A for the Discontinuation of Lifecycle Services RapidStart

Effective October 1, 2015​

Q&A:

Q: I'm using RapidStart – how long will it be available until?
A: You will be able to use RapidStart until October 1, 2015 when the use will then be discontinued.
Q: How can I more quickly configure and manage my data entities in AX?A: Use Configuration Manager in LCS. Easily create templates of common entities for different configurations or uses and then easily and quickly deploy those into any AX 2012 R3 or 'AX7' environment.
Q: What should I use to configure my business processes?
A: Use LCS Solutions. It can help you capture and leverage the implementation expertise across your organization to build and deploy predefined content, business processes, and methodologies to help drive the end-to-end lifecycle.
Q: Is there an option that goes beyond just Configuration manager to help simplify the deployment and management of my data and implementation?
A: Yes, LCS Solutions.
Q: What is LCS Solutions?
A: LCS solutions is a cloud-powered business application lifecycle approach. This initiative combines Lifecycle Services from Microsoft with pre-defined business processes and content from partners and/or customers to deliver and operate turn-key solutions that accelerate and automate the system set-up, application configuration, and deployment of the solution on Microsoft Azure. After the initial implementation, LCS services helps the customer operate the solution – a 'cradle to continuous life' experience.
Q: What is in an LCS Solution?
A: An LCS solution is comprised of a solution methodology and business process library in LCS, data scripts for migration, copy configuration, test artifacts, diagnostic rules and documentation. 
Q: How can I learn more about the features and functionality of LCS Solutions?
A: You can watch the presentation through Infopedia Media (formerly Academy Live) for those with Microsoft credentials and the Dynamics Learning Platform (DLP). If you cannot access the DLP, click here to find out how.
Q: Where can I find what LCS Solutions are available?A: They are listed in the Azure marketplace. Go to http://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/marketplace/and search for "AX" without the quotes to browse through the available solutions. Click here for a direct link to the list of AX solutions.
Q: How can a customer use LCS Solutions?
A: By creating predefined content that they want to use for configuring multiple environments the same way, such as multiple development or test environments.  They could also build content that they could deploy to their subsidiaries worldwide to help standardize operations.
Q: I would like to quickly deploy AX – what tools and services can I use?
A: We recommend using LCS Solutions along with Configuration manager. LCS Solutions helps to speed the deployment of different industry-based solutions for AX. Configuration manager can help move the data entities from one instance to another such as for upgrades or for setting up development and/or testing environments and moving the data into your production instance as well.
Q: To automate the deployment, we have invested in a custom-built Q&A in RS. Can I upgrade this to LCS?
A: While you will not be able to use the Q&A or upgrade it after RapidStart is discontinued, you will be able to use that as the basis for your LCS Solution along with Configuration manager to help rapidly deploy and configure AX.
Q: What does the discontinuation mean? Can I still use RapidStart?
A: No. The ability to create new RapidStart projects has been limited since May 1, 2015. The plan is to have customers and partners transition to using Configuration manager as well as LCS Solutions to provide the same as well as additional functionality to help speed deployments and customize them for each customer's needs.
Q: Will the RapidStart connector remain available?
A: No. The support for the connector will be discontinued on October 1, 2015 along with the support for RapidStart.

Source : CustomerSource

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