Back in 2018, when Sitecore introduced it’s PaaS version, I was really excited but I didn’t get a chance of exploring the Azure, PaaS and Setting up Sitecore – PaaS processes. I have always wanted to experiment with Sitecore PaaS version and I didn’t know how or where to start…Until Recently.
As you would have already known, Sitecore is not an open source CMS and it’s not easy to get hands on unless you are working on a Sitecore Project at work. To setup and get more hands on you would need a license. I don’t have to remind you about the license pricing.
Sitecore provided an option for developers to overcome this problem by introducing trial license – valid up to 60 days. Again for the setup file, either you have to have access rights for your organization’s setup files or you can get certified and gain access to dev.sitecore.com to download sitecore products and get to know them.
One might wonder, what this all has to do with Setting up Sitecore 9.3 on PaaS? Until few days ago, I thought getting access to Microsoft’s Azure – Cloud Eco System and Sitecore Experience Cloud (PaaS Version) is not within the reach of Individual Developers.
But I guess, there is always a way! In this post, I will share my experience of setting up Sitecore Experience Cloud – Sitecore PaaS in Azure using Azure Free Trial Account.
Microsoft provides free Azure account. Once you enable the Free Trail subscription, you will be credited with Rs.13,300 for use so that you can access Azure tools for free until the trial period is over. Apart from this, Azure also provides certain services free for lifetime. Check this link to know more about the Free stuffs.
It’s going to be pretty much straight forward and easy, we are going to create a separate resource group to manage every resources that fall under the our Sitecore Application. We are then gonna use Sitecore Experience Cloud App Template available in Azure Marketplace. Provide the necessary configurations and select the created resource group, other options and deploy them.
- Once you login to Azure Portal, click on Resource Group and select create.
- Give the Resource Group an appropriate name and Select the Region on which you need the Resources. I prefer East US. I had some failure experience while setting up the same in Asian Region.
- Fill in the Tag details and click Create. Once every details you’ve provided is Validated, click on Create.
Your Resource Group will now be created. We will use this resource group to Setup Sitecore.
- Go to Azure Home and Select Create a resource.
- Go to Web Category and Select Sitecore Experience Cloud
- Make use of the Azure Free Subscription or your Organization’s Subscription and Select the Resource Group which we created in the first place.
- Now, let’s configure Sitecore Settings. Start by selecting the Sitecore Version. Depending upon your agreement with Sitecore select the appropriate Version.
- Sitecore provides 3 topologies. Refer the link to know more, the one that suits your requirement.
- Then select your required configuration. Along Sitecore XP or XM, Sitecore also provides options for selecting and installing their other products like SXA,JSS etc. Select them based on your requirement and supporting license. Then click Next.
- Fill in the required details like Setting up Sitecore Password, SQL Credentials etc and click Next.
- Now select the Region and click Next.
- Now you will be redirected to Summary section that provides details of your selection. If everything seems fine click OK.
- Go to the Legal Terms section and once you’ve read them click on Create.
- Once everything’s done, click OK.
- You will get a notification that Deployment has been initialized and now Deployment is IN progress. If anything fails out, please check the error log and repeat the activity from Create a Resource step.
- It took more than 25 mins for the deployment. Once the deployment is done, you will get the notification.
Resource Group – Once Deployed!
You can now access the site using it’s host name….. and Voila!
The Activities mentioned in this post are intended only for the Developers to understand the process of setting up Sitecore PaaS. It is intended to share the learning experience and it is not going to be used commercially at any cost.
The Apps that were created are deleted already.
Sitecore Blog 