A customer asked me if it is possible to install CSPack.exe on a production machine without installing the full SDK. Well running cspack without installing the SDK isn't a supported scenario yet it is possible.
To do that, just follow the following steps:
1. Install the SDK on a development machine from which you will copy all the required content to the production machine.
2. Create an installation folder in the production machine (e.g. c:\Azure)
3. Copy the encryption certificate to the installation folder. The encryption certificate is called EncryptKey.cer and it is located at: C:\Program Files\Windows Azure SDK\v1.4 (in the development machine)
4. Create a registry key at "hklm\software\microsoft\microsoft sdks\servicehosting\v1.4". Add a value called PackageCertPath and enter the path of the encryption certificate in the production machine (e.g. c:\Azure\EncryptKey.cer)
5. Add another string value to the registry key. The name of the value is "InstallPath" and the value should be the full path of the folder in production machine. (e.g. c:\Azure)
6. In the installation path create a bin folder. Copy the plugins and runtime directories from the bin folder of the sdk in the development machine (e.g. C:\Program Files\Windows Azure SDK\v1.4\bin\) to the bin folder you just created in the production machine.
7. Copy cspack.exe and ALL the dlls from the bin directory of the development machine to the bin directory of the production machine.
8. Add the folders you created to the PATH of the production machine.
Now you should be able to run CSPack.exe
Enjoy
Manu