Microsoft Azure DevOps Server, formerly known as Team Foundation Server (TFS), is an on-premises version of Azure DevOps. It provides a suite of collaborative software development tools that integrate with your existing IDE or editor, enabling your team to work effectively on software projects of all sizes.

Key Features of Azure DevOps Server

1. Version Control: Azure DevOps Server supports both Git (distributed) and Team Foundation Version Control (TFVC, centralized) for source code management.

2. Agile Planning Tools: It includes tools like Azure Boards for tracking work items, backlogs, and team dashboards, supporting Agile planning and tracking.

3. Build and Release Management: Azure Pipelines provides build and release services to support continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD).

4. Testing Tools: Azure Test Plans offer a suite of manual and exploratory testing tools.

5. Collaboration and Reporting: The platform facilitates team collaboration and provides reporting tools for tracking and assessing project health and progress.

6. Extensibility and Integration: Supports a wide range of languages, platforms, and cloud providers. It can be integrated with various IDEs and tools.

Differences from Azure DevOps Services

• Hosting: Azure DevOps Server is self-hosted on your own infrastructure, providing more control over the setup and security of the DevOps environment.
• Maintenance and Updates: The responsibility for maintaining and updating the server rests with the organization.
• Customization: More customization options for organizations with specific needs that can’t be met by the cloud version.
• Licensing: Different licensing model compared to Azure DevOps Services, which is subscription-based.

Use Cases

• Organizations with Strict Compliance Requirements: Ideal for those who need to keep their data within their network due to industry regulations or company policies.
• Large Enterprises: Suitable for large enterprises that have infrastructure in place and require a high level of control over their DevOps environment.
• Hybrid Environments: Azure DevOps Server can be used in conjunction with Azure DevOps Services to create a hybrid model.

Considerations

• Infrastructure: Requires investment in infrastructure and IT resources to manage the server.
• Security: Organizations are responsible for the security of their Azure DevOps Server environment.
• Scalability: While scalable, it demands a more hands-on approach to manage and scale the infrastructure as needed.

Azure DevOps Server is a powerful solution for teams that prefer or require an on-premises DevOps setup. It offers the flexibility and control of an on-premises solution while still providing the rich set of features available in Azure DevOps Services.