TFS 2017 : Clone/Copy a Collection on the Same TFS Server

Question

I would like to create a clone/copy of our production Collection on the same TFS Server to use as a sandbox/dev environment. Restoring a backup of the Collection and renami

Answer 1

General answer is NO.

But it is possible if not both collection are online/attach at the same time.

In the 2nd case do the following steps:

1. detach collection in TFS Admin Console

2. take a SQL Fullbackup

3. restore SQL Backup with a different database name

4. re-attach the original collection TFS Admin Console

5. attach the copied collection in TFS Admin Console and give it a different collection name

You'll get an warning that the collection conflicts Team Project ID and the collection stays offline.

if you want take the copied collection online you need to take original collection offline first than you can take the copy online.

If you want both collections work, you have to install a new server with a separate TFS instance. Then Move the team project collection to the new TFS instance.