SharePoint Server 2016 IT Preview is now available in the Windows Azure Platform Gallery.  The image is based on the current Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter release and includes a complete installation of SharePoint Server 2016 IT Preview.

Getting Started

To get started with SharePoint Server 2016 IT Preview on Windows Azure navigate to the Windows Azure Portal (https://manage.windowsazure.com/) and sign-in with your credentials.

Select + New.

Select Compute, click Virtual Machine and then click From Gallery

On the Create Virtual Machine Dialog click Platform Images and then click SharePoint Server 2016 IT Preview.

Click -> Next.

Complete the remaining details to provision your virtual machine.

NOTE

Extra Large, A6, or A7 are the recommended virtual machine sizes recommended for use with SharePoint Server 2016 IT Preview.

The virtual machine contains a complete installation of SharePoint Server 2016 IT Preview and expires on February 23, 2016.  SharePoint Server 2016 IT Preview and prerequisites are preinstalled with links to SharePoint 2016 Central Administration, the SharePoint 2016 Management Shell, and SharePoint Products Configuration on the Start screen. SQL Server 2014 with Service Pack 1 or SQL Server 2016 CTP 2.2 is required to complete the configuration.

This image can be configured using the available roles in the SharePoint Products Configuration Wizard.

Resources

SharePoint Deployment on Windows Azure Virtual Machines
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=34598

SharePoint 2013 on Windows Azure Infrastructure
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windowsazure/dn275958.aspx

Installing SharePoint 2013 on Windows Azure Infrastructure Services
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windowsazure/dn275959.aspx

Automate Windows Azure SharePoint Deployments
https://github.com/WindowsAzure/azure-sdk-tools-samples/wiki/Automated-Deployment-of-SharePoint-2013-with-Windows-Azure-PowerShell

SharePoint and Windows Azure Development Kit
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=24398