Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 R2 Now Available to MSDN subscribers on Windows Azure Portal

If you've ever wanted to know what it's like to work with Microsoft Dynamics NAV on Windows Azure but thought it was too complicated even with Azure's provisioning tools - Microsoft is making you an offer you might not be able to refuse.

Now - if you are an MSDN subscriber - you're only a few clicks away from easily working with Dynamics NAV 2013 R2 Windows Azure.

Microsoft is offering the Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 R2 image exclusively for MSDN subscribers and it includes a fully functional, ready-to-use Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 R2 installation including Microsoft SQL Server, according to Kamil Koclega and Morten Jensen from the Dynamics NAV team.

The MSDN subscription gives you the discounted prices and lets you use it for development, test, and demo purposes, but not for production purposes, they said.

But to get it you have to be sure you have an MSDN subscription and the subscription has Windows Azure benefits activated.

Then follow a few steps to sign into the Windows Azure Portal, choose the virtual machine and software, and setting some details about the VM and test the connection.

From there, the authors explain, the process is nearly complete. "When you are connected to the VM, you are welcomed to the Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 R2 virtual machine on Windows Azure. No further configuration is required and you can start using the clients and the development environment immediately."

While it is not a freebie, it will be interesting to see if NAV professionals find value in ...