Testing a New Deployment

ISV direct-billed providers may want to test their implementation before launching in their sales channel. This section outlines key concepts and requirements for conducting such tests effectively.

Credential Types for Subscription Management

Microsoft provides two types of Partner Center API credentials for direct-billed provider partners:

• Production Partner Center API Credentials:

  • All sales orders submitted using these credentials are considered commercially final.

  • Important: Test, demo, or non-production orders must not be placed using production credentials.

• Test in Production (TIP) Partner Center API Credentials:

  • These credentials are intended only for test orders.

  • Microsoft provisions services but suppresses billing.

  • To prevent misuse, Microsoft enforces throttling limits on TIP credentials.

How to Obtain Credentials

You can obtain both sets of credentials through the Microsoft Partner Center:

• Production credentials:

  • Navigate to CSP > Partner Profile > App Management.

• TIP credentials:

  • Navigate to CSP > Partner Profile > Integration Sandbox

  Note: The TIP domain is a variation of the production domain. For example, if your production domain is myproviderbusiness.onmicrosoft.com, the TIP domain will be myproviderbusinessTIP.onmicrosoft.com.

When obtaining the credentials, you will also notice that the sandbox domain is a variation of the production domain. For example, if your production credential domain is myproviderbusiness.onmicrosoftcom, the TIP credential domain will be automatically generated as myproviderbusinessTIP.onmicrosoft.com.

Configuring Credentials

Once you have obtained your credentials, you will be able to configure them both for the production and test environments in the Microsoft Management Settings extension.

When setting up your local Cloud Marketplace, ensure it routes orders to Connect as either Production or Test. Connect will use TIP credentials to fulfill Marketplace test orders.

Note: After completing your test cycle, switch from TIP to Production credentials in CloudBlue.

Criteria for a Valid Test Order

To be valid, a test order must meet the following conditions:

• It must be submitted using Microsoft TIP credentials.

• For indirect 2-tier (2T) reseller partners, the following are also required:

  • A Test In Production (TIP) Partner object.

  • A Test in Production (TIP) Reseller Partner PLA MPNID issued by Microsoft and valid for the authorized region.

• A Test in Production Customer object.

• The test order must be within Microsoft's TIP Throttling limits.

Creating Customers for Test in Production

A TIP Customer that is reserved for test orders must be created.

• Direct-billed providers can create TIP customers using their RBAC.

• Indirect resellers cannot create TIP customers directly. Contact your Microsoft provider to request one, subject to their terms and conditions.

Note: Test orders cannot be committed to a production customer. Microsoft will reject the sales order attempt.

It is important to consider that Microsoft imposes a throttling limit on the maximum number of concurrent TIP customers that may exist. For this reason, the provider partner should take the following actions:

• Manage the creation and use of TIP customers subject to the total demand for testing.

• Destroy TIP customers after testing has concluded, so the capacity may be freed up for future use.

Creating an Indirect Reseller for Test in Production

Indirect 2T indirect resellers and syndication resellers must use a TIP indirect reseller reserved for test orders.

• Microsoft direct-billed partners can create a TIP indirect reseller for use with test orders by using their RCBAC.

• Indirect resellers and syndication partners cannot create TIP resellers themselves. Contact your Microsoft provider or syndication partner to request one, based on their terms and conditions.

Note: Test orders submitted to production indirect resellers will be rejected by Microsoft.