XP to XM Cloud Phase 2: Environment Setup

This phase typically takes 1-2 weeks and establishes your XM Cloud environment, tooling, and deployment pipeline.

Step 1: Provision XM Cloud Tenant

1. Log in to Sitecore Cloud Portal
2. Create new project
3. Select region (US, EU, APAC)
4. Choose environment tier (Standard, Premium)

Step 2: Set Up Project Structure

Install Sitecore CLI (local project tool — recommended over global):

cd <project-folder>
dotnet new tool-manifest
dotnet tool install Sitecore.CLI

Other developers restore with dotnet tool restore.

Initialize project:

dotnet sitecore init

This creates sitecore.json configuration file:

{
  "$schema": "https://sitecore.io/schemas/sitecore.json",
  "modules": [
    "src/*/*.module.json"
  ],
  "plugins": [
    "Sitecore.DevEx.Extensibility.Serialization"
  ]
}

Step 3: Configure Serialization (SCS)

Create MyProject.module.json for your project (convention: <name>.module.json):

{
  "$schema": "https://sitecore.io/schemas/module.json",
  "namespace": "MyProject",
  "items": {
    "includes": [
      {
        "name": "content",
        "path": "/sitecore/content/MyProject",
        "allowedPushOperations": "createUpdateAndDelete"
      },
      {
        "name": "templates",
        "path": "/sitecore/templates/MyProject"
      },
      {
        "name": "renderings",
        "path": "/sitecore/layout/Renderings/MyProject"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Step 4: Set Up Rendering Host

Recommended: Vercel (fastest, best DX)

Alternative: Azure Static Web Apps

Vercel Setup:

1. Create Vercel account
2. Connect GitHub repository (Next.js app)
3. Configure environment variables:

   SITECORE_API_KEY=your-edge-api-key
   SITECORE_API_HOST=https://xmc-your-tenant.sitecorecloud.io
   GRAPH_QL_ENDPOINT=https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/api/graphql/v1

   Note

   Starting from JSS 21.6+, the SITECORE_EDGE_CONTEXT_ID variable replaces many of these individual variables. Check your JSS/Content SDK version for the recommended configuration approach.

4. Deploy

Step 5: Configure CI/CD Pipeline

GitHub Actions Example:

name: Deploy to XM Cloud

on:
  push:
    branches: [main]

jobs:
  deploy:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
      - name: Setup .NET
        uses: actions/setup-dotnet@v2
        with:
          dotnet-version: '8.x'
      - name: Restore Sitecore CLI
        run: dotnet tool restore
      - name: Deploy to XM Cloud
        run: dotnet sitecore cloud deployment create --environment-id ${{ secrets.ENVIRONMENT_ID }} --upload
        env:
          SITECORE_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.SITECORE_API_KEY }}