As developers, we often face the challenge of maintaining flexibility while ensuring we have the right tools and environments to get work done—especially when traveling. Recently, we needed to work on a Sitefinity project using a local database while on the road. However, we faced a dilemma:
- We already had a Microsoft DevBox running a Proof-of-Concept (POC) server for another client.
- We didn’t want to disturb that existing environment.
- We needed a cost-effective way to spin up another instance without exceeding our budget.
The Unique Solution: Leveraging Microsoft DevBox Hibernation
After some research, we found a game-changing solution: Microsoft DevBox incurs no cost while hibernated. This meant we could:
- Leave the POC server hibernated without shutting it down permanently.
- Spin up a new DevBox dedicated to our Sitefinity project.
- Stay within the $150 monthly Visual Studio Azure benefit by ensuring we hibernated the machine when we were done for the day.
This approach gave us the freedom to seamlessly switch between projects without extra costs or setup hassles.
Lessons Learned: Best Practices for Using Microsoft DevBox
While this solution worked well, we quickly learned that automatic nightly hibernation is not guaranteed. To optimize our usage and avoid unexpected costs, we adopted these best practices:
- Manually Hibernate the DevBox – While DevBox is supposed to hibernate nightly, we don’t fully trust automation when costs are involved. So, we make it a habit to manually hibernate when we finish working.
- Leverage Entra ID for Anywhere Access – Since we can log in from anywhere using our Entra ID credentials, we no longer have to deal with whitelisting IP addresses for database connectivity. This makes working on the go hassle-free.
- Monitor Usage to Stay Within Budget – Keeping an eye on active DevBox instances ensures we don’t accidentally leave anything running and exceed our budget.
The Takeaway: More Flexibility, Fewer Headaches
This experience reinforced how powerful Microsoft DevBox can be for Sitefinity development, remote work, and cost-effective cloud environments. By leveraging hibernation, Entra ID authentication, and careful monitoring, we can maintain separate projects without the stress of extra costs or complex networking configurations.
If your team is juggling multiple environments, Microsoft DevBox could be a game-changer for you too! Have you used DevBox in a similar way?