When you perform a regular deployment to an editing or delivery farm using the Sitecore Azure 8.1 rev. 151119 module installed on top of Sitecore XP 8.1 rev. 160303 (Update-2), the deployment process may fail with the following error:
ERROR Sitecore.Azure <DeploymentName> [P] Apply configuration changes failed
Exception: System.ApplicationException
Message: <DeploymentName> [P] Apply configuration changes failed
Nested Exception
Exception: System.ApplicationException
Message: Apply configuration changes is failed
Nested Exception
Exception: System.ApplicationException
Message: Method ExpandIncludeFiles doesn't exist
Source: Sitecore.Azure
at Sitecore.Azure.Pipelines.CreateAzurePackage.Base.ConfigurationChangesBase.CallStaticMethod(Type type, String methodName, Object[] parameters)
at Sitecore.Azure.Pipelines.CreateAzurePackage.Base.ConfigurationChangesBase.GetExpandedConfig(XElement root, DirectoryInfo includeDir)
at Sitecore.Azure.Pipelines.CreateAzurePackage.Base.ConfigurationChangesBase.ExpandIncludes(CreateAzureDeploymentPipelineArgs args)
at Sitecore.Azure.Pipelines.CreateAzurePackage.Base.ConfigurationChangesBase.Action(RolePipelineArgsBase arguments)
at Sitecore.Azure.Pipelines.BasePipeline.RolePipelineProcessor.Process(RolePipelineArgsBase args)
This error occurs because the Sitecore Azure module uses a private API in Sitecore.Kernel.dll that has been refactored in Sitecore XP 8.1 Update-2.
To resolve the issue install the Sitecore Azure 8.1 rev. 151119 Hotfix 107643-1 on top of Sitecore Azure 8.1 rev.151119.