# Lab Setup

1. Get a new **Azure Pass promocode** (valid for 30 days) from the instructor or other source.
2. Use a private browser session to get a new **Microsoft Account (MSA)** at [Microsoft account](https://account.microsoft.com) or use an existing one.
3. Using the same browser session, go to [Microsoft Azure Pass](https://www.microsoftazurepass.com) to redeem your Azure Pass using your Microsoft Account (MSA). Fore details, see [Redeem a Microsoft Azure Pass](https://www.microsoftazurepass.com/Home/HowTo?Length=5). Follow the instructions for redemption. 
4. Using the same browser session, go to [Microsoft Azure](https://portal.azure.com), then search at the top of the portal screen for **Azure DevOps**. In the resulting page, click **Azure DevOps organizations**. 
5. Next, click on the link labelled **My Azure DevOps Organizations** or navigate directly to [My Information](https://aex.dev.azure.com).
6. In the drop-down box on the left, choose **Default Directory**, instead of “Microsoft Account”.
7. If prompted (*"We need a few more details"*), provide your name, e-mail address, and location and click **Continue**.
8. Back at [My Information](https://aex.dev.azure.com) with **Default Directory** selected click the blue button **Create new organization**.
9. Accept the *Terms of Service* by clicking **Continue**.
10. If prompted (*"Almost done"*), leave the name for the Azure DevOps organization at default (it needs to be a globally unique name) and pick a hosting location close to you from the list.
11. Once the newly created organization opens in **Azure DevOps**, click **Organization settings** in the bottom left corner.
12. At the **Organization settings** screen click **Billing** (opening this screen takes a few seconds).
13. Click **Setup billing** and on the right-hand side of the screen select the **Azure Pass - Sponsorship** subscription and click **Save** to link the subscription with the organization.
14. Once the screen shows the linked Azure Subscription ID at the top, change the number of **Paid parallel jobs** for **MS Hosted CI/CD** from 0 to **1**. Then click the **SAVE** button at the bottom. 
15. **Wait at least 3 hours before using the CI/CD capabilities** so that the new settings are reflected in the back end. Otherwise, you will still see the message *"This agent is not running because you have reached the maximum number of requests…"*.
16. OPTIONAL: you can validate this new setting has been successfully applied by creating and triggering a build pipeline. To do this either talk to the instructor or create a demo project into the newly created organization with billing enabled, using [Azure DevOps Demo Generator](https://azuredevopsdemogenerator.azurewebsites.net).