Where to find and download Dynamics CRM Instance adapter - dynamics-crm-2011

where can I find official Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 or 2013 Instance Adapter ? for data synchronization between two CRM organization and migration to CRM Online ? Its missing on downloads.microsoft.com

It seems that Microsoft has removed CRM Instance Adapter feature and it's now being using the CRM 2013 SDK which has tool Configuration Migration Tool , that can transfer data from on-premise to another on-premise or CRM Online environment using xml/zip file with simple export/import.
More details:
https://community.dynamics.com/crm/b/survivingcrm/archive/2014/06/09/configuration-migration-tool-working-smarter-with-metadata-entities.aspx

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Microsoft dynamics crm learning using azure virtual machines

I want to learn basics of dynamics crm 2011 and 2013.
I have MS azure subscription where I do have access to Dynamics CRM virtual machines. These virtual machines have the following flavors for Dynamics CRM
GP 2013 Developer
GP 2013 R12
NAV 2015
GP 2015
Which one of the above 4 virtual machine setup should I use just to learn very basics of Dynamics CRM? Specially the jquery part and some customization.
I am very new at CRM but have lot of back ground in asp.net mvc c# programming.
I would use one of the SQL Server images and deploy everything on a single server if you want to test it out. Technically, it is not supported, but for evaluation purposes, this is the cheapest and easiest way.
Here's a tutorial that walks you through the steps for CRM 2013:
http://www.slideshare.net/jukkan/microsoft-dynamics-crm-2013-development-server-installation
I would suggest to use trial CRM Online. You can register instance for you using following link - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics/crm-free-trial-overview.aspx

How to get CRM 2013 Online Database schema

How can i get database schema for my Dynamics CRM 2013 Online? Is it possible in CRM 2013 online? If it is possible to get database schema, can you tell me any procedure?
A quicker option that doesn't require getting a backup of the database is to use the XRMtoolbox available at http://xrmtoolbox.codeplex.com and use the Metadata Doc Generator tool. That allows you to retrieve the Metadata and select all or some entities and various options for those entities and to save the output to a Word document or an Excel document. While maybe not technically a database schema, it allows you to see even more information at a glance than you would see in the database schema because you can see things like if an attribute is available for Advanced find and which form or forms it is located on.
Another option is to install a local copy of Microsoft CRM that is the same version as the online version and to export the customizations and solutions from the CRM online version and then import them to the local CRM install. This will give your local database the same schema as what exists in CRM online and you can either view the schema in SQL server management studio or other SQL database schema generation tools. Hope this helps.
You can request a copy of your Dynamics CRM organization database from CRM Online support. Then you'll have your Dynamics CRM database and you can restore it to a local SQL Server. If you don't already have a SQL instance you can use the Developer edition, if you have access, or use a trial.
Be sure to ask which version of SQL Server you need to use to restore.
To receive a copy of the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online SQL Server
database, contact Live Customer Service by calling 1-877-CRM-CHOICE
(1-877-276-2464) Monday-Friday, 8:00 A.M.-8:00 P.M. Central Time
(UTC-6) in the U.S. and in Canada.
Restore the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online SQL Server database
The backup of your Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online SQL Server database
must be restored by using a server running the same (or a newer)
version of Microsoft SQL Server as is running in Microsoft’s data
centers. At the time of this writing, Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online
data centers are running SQL Server 2008.

Is the API for MS Dynamics the same between 2011, 2013 and hosted vs onprem

Does anyone know if the API for Dynamics is the same for 2011 and 2013 or there are any differences between a hosted and on-premise install?
Most of the API (client-side and server-side) are the same between CRM 2011, CRM 2013 OnPremise e CRM Online.
Some API has been introduced in later rollups (like the ExecuteMultipleRequest shipped with Rollup 12) or with CRM 2013 (like the Xrm.Page.ui.setFormNotification() JavaScript).
CRM Online has also some limitations, like plugins and workflows only in sandbox and the FetchXML-only for Reports.

Does MS CRM 2011 require Active Directory

We're looking to implement an IFD of CRM 2011 for a client and I am curious about whether Active Directory is a prerequisite. We'd like to set up a standalone environment using ASP.Net membership provider.
Is this possible?
Thank you,
Jason
A working Active Directory is a must requirement for a Dynamics CRM deployment. See the planning section of the Implementation Guide
Active Directory and network requirements for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011
Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server 2011 software requirements

OnPremise vs. Hosted MS CRM 2011

Are there any differences between the OnPremise and Hosted versions of MS CRM 2011 besides price/licensing? Can I deploy solutions or any other custom features to the Hosted version or is that strictly reserved for the default functionality?
We are also considering trying to mold Sharepoint into being our CRM because we are already licensed for it but I'm going to try to reject that.
You can deploy plugins that run in the Sandbox environment in the CRM Online/Hosted environments. You can also deploy custom FetchXML-based reports to Hosted. The main things you can't do in a Hosted environment:
"Normal" plugins
SQL-based Reports
Direct database access (Filtered Views)
Custom .NET Workflow activities
And yes, SharePoint shouldn't be your CRM - CRM should be your CRM! :)
With rollup 12 it is now possible to use custom workflow activities in CRM online
http://mubashersharif.blogspot.be/2013/01/custom-workflowactivity-understanding-development.html

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