Windows Azure Tools: Failed to initialize Windows Azure storage emulator error


I thought to start learning Windows Azure. I installed Azure SDK and created a project by choosing Windows Azure project template from cloud tab and creating a Web Role.

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I just put a label on aspx file and when I tried to run the project I got the following error.

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When I switched to Output Window, I got the Error message

Windows Azure Tools: Failed to initialize Windows Azure storage emulator. Unable to start Development Storage. Failed to start Development Storage: the SQL Server instance 'localhost\SQLExpress' could not be found. Please configure the SQL Server instance for Development Storage using the 'DSInit' utility in the Windows Azure SDK.

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So to resolve this, Open command prompt in Administrator mode

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Change Directory to C:\ProgramFiles\WindowsAzureSDK\v1.3\Bin\DevStore


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Now type the command

C:\Program Files\Windows azure SDK\v1.3\bin\devstore DSINIT /SQLINSTANCE:SQLTest /Forcecreate

There are only a couple of points to notice in executing the preceding command:

SQLTEST: Is the name of the SQL Server instance. Make sure you are giving the name of a SQL Server instance name here rather than your PC name.

If you are not providing a valid SQL Server instance name then you may get the following exception.

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On successful execution of the command, you will get a Dialog box such as shown below for the success message.

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