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Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 New Features

By Jim Wang , Darren Liu
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  1. Free Chapter
    Setting Up the Development Workspace
About this book
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 offers exciting new features that enable you to build and maintain a robust customer relationship management system in your organisation.This book is your one stop resource to get to grips with all the new features of Dynamics CRM 2011. To make learning fun and engaging, we will build an Airline Compensation Management (ACM) system using Dynamics CRM 2011.The book starts by setting up the development environment for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011. We will then build a structural architecture for the ACM system and configure it in Dynamics CRM 2011. While doing this, we will learn about the new customization features offered by Dynamics CRM 2011.We will then move on to Data Importing and will cover the Import Data Wizard tool, as well as the Import file/data web service which provides additional capabilities that are not available in the Import Data Wizard.We will use client-side programming to perform data validation, automation, and process enhancement and learn powerful event driven server-side programming methods: Plug-Ins and Processes (Formerly Workflows).The book then steers you towards SharePoint integration, Charts and Dashboards, Customizing the Ribbon and Sitemap, and extending Dynamics CRM 2011 in the cloud. Finally we will package the ACM solution and learn how to deploy it.
Publication date:
November 2011
Publisher
Packt
Pages
288
ISBN
9781849682060

 

Chapter 1. Setting Up the Development Workspace

The first step in this project is to set up a workspace, so you can build, test, and verify all of the components that we are going to put together in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 for our Airline Compensation Management system. In this chapter, we would like to show you how to set up and configure a development workspace that you can use for the project. Hence, we will cover the following topics:

  • System requirements

  • Workstation requirements

  • Virtualization options

  • Setting up Microsoft Hyper-V on the Workstation

  • Setting up Server Environment on the VM

  • Setting up SharePoint 2010

  • Setting up Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011

  • Setting up Development Tools

 

System requirements


Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server 2011 and SharePoint Server 2010 require certain hardware and several software applications that work together. We are going to install and set up all of the components for our development workspace in a single virtual image.

Note

Before setting up Microsoft Dynamics CRM and SharePoint Server for your production environment, please refer to the Implementation Guide for hardware and software requirements for each of the products.

Hardware requirements

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server 2011 requires 64-bit hardware.

The following table lists the minimum and recommended hardware requirements for a Microsoft Dynamics CRM server running in a Full Server configuration. These requirements assume that additional components, such as Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services, Microsoft SharePoint, and Microsoft Exchange Server are not currently installed or running on the system.

Components

Minimum

Recommended

Processor

x64 architecture or compatible dual-core 1.5 GHz processor

Quad-core x64 architecture 2 GHz CPU or higher such as AMD Opteron or Intel Xeon systems

Memory

2 GB RAM

8 GB RAM or more

Hard disk

10 GB of available hard disk space

40 GB or more of available hard disk space

Note

Because we will have SharePoint Server 2010 installed on the same virtual image, it requires at least 4 GB RAM and a Duo-core x64 architecture 2 GHz CPU to run both server products smoothly. Alternatively, you may install SharePoint Foundation 2010 instead of SharePoint Server 2010, for better performance.

Software requirements

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server 2011 must be installed on a 64-bit operating system. The following table lists the supported software requirements for CRM and SharePoint:

Components

Supported

Operating System

Windows Server 2008 (x64), Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter, Web Server, Small Business Server Standard or Small Business Server Premium edition, with SP2 or a later version

SQL Server and Reporting Services

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 (x64), Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter or Developer edition, with SP1 or a later version

Internet Information Services (IIS)

IIS 7.0 or a later version, in Native Mode

Active Directory modes

Windows 2000 Mixed or Native, Windows 2003 Interim or Native, Windows 2008 Interim or Native

.Net Version

ASP .NET 4.0

Software Component Prerequisites

SQL Server Agent service, SQL Server Full Text Indexing, Indexing Service, IIS Admin, World Wide Web Publishing, and Windows Data Access Components (MDAC) 6.0

Note

For more details about the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server 2011 hardware and software requirements, please visit http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg554695.aspx.

 

Workstation requirements


You do need a powerful workstation in order to run the virtualized environment smoothly. The recommended configuration is as follows:

  • Processor: Intel Core Duo CPU

  • Memory: At least 4 GB RAM; recommended 8GB RAM

  • Hard disk: At least 40 GB or more of available hard disk space

  • Internet Access: Wireless and/or Cable adaptor

  • Operating System: 64-bit Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7

In addition to the system requirements for Windows Server 2008 R2 as described in the release notes, a 64-bit system with hardware-assisted virtualization enabled and data execution prevention (DEP) is required. It is also recommended to ensure that you have a clean install of x64 edition of Windows Server 2008 R2 to be able to use the Hyper-V technology.

Note

A VHD file can be used in both VirtualBox and Hyper-V.

 

Virtualization options


Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server 2011 and SharePoint Server 2010 can be deployed in a virtualized environment. You have several options for your virtualization solutions from different vendors. However, please understand the limitations of using a virtualized environment before you use them in your production environments. We will set up the CRM development workspace in a single VM image (Virtual Machine image) that is running on the workstation. The following table lists the three different virtual products that you can use to set up the development workspace on your host computer:

Software

Vendor

License

Microsoft Hyper-V

Microsoft

Free with Windows Server

VMware Server 2

VMware

Free

VirtualBox

Oracle

Free

In this book, we choose to use Microsoft Hyper-V running on a 64-bit Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard Edition. For more information about Hyper-V, please see the Microsoft Virtualization website at http://www.microsoft.com/virtualization/en/us/default.aspx.

If you are running Windows 7, you may set up the development workspace by using VirtualBox, which also supports 64-bit Guest OS and a VHD (virtual hard disk). You can create a VHD by using the Disk Management tool in Windows 7 (go to Start | Run: type in diskmgmt.msc and press Enter, then select Action | Create VHD).

 

Setting up Microsoft Hyper-V


To set up Hyper-V on your Windows Server 2008 Workstation, please follow these steps:

  1. Install the Hyper-V server role on the workstation:

    • Start | Run…, type in "ServerManager.msc" and press Enter.

    • Right-click Roles and then select Add Roles.

    • Select Hyper-V and then click Next and then Install.

  2. Create two Virtual Network connections that allow a remote desktop connection from the workstation to the VM:

    • Open Hyper-V manager, select the Virtual Network Manager… on the Action menu, add two Virtual Networks as per the following table, and then click OK.

      Name

      Connection Type

      External—Virtual Network

      External (with your network connection)

      Internal—Virtual Network

      Internal only

    • Hyper-V will create two new network connections. Go to Control Panel | Network and Internet | Network Connections, and rename the connections to:

      • Hyper-V External Connection

      • Hyper-V Internal Connection

  3. Set up the Internet access via a wireless network:

    • Out of the box, Hyper-V doesn't support Internet access via the wireless network. We need to create a wireless network connection in order for VM to access the Internet.

    • Go to Control Panel | Network and Internet | Network Connections, and select both Hyper-V Internal Connection and your Wireless Network Connection, right-click and select Bridge Connections. This will create a Network Bridge between the workstation and VM, which allows Internet access via the workstation's wireless connection.

 

Setting up the Server Environment on the VM


We need to create a new VM image, and then install and configure Windows server and SQL server on the VM.

Windows Server 2008 R2 and SQL Server 2008 R2 installation

Please follow the below steps to set up VM, and install Windows Server and SQL Server:

  1. Create a new VM for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 server:

    • Open the Hyper-V manager, and then select New | Virtual Machine… from the Action menu:

      Name and Location

      Name: CRM 2011

      Location: D:\Hyper-V\

      Assign Memory

      Depends on your total memory; recommend minimum 4 GB.

      Configure Networking

      Hyper-V Internal Virtual Network.

      Hyper-V External Virtual Network.

      (In Settings | Add Hardware | Network Adapter).

      Connect Virtual Hard Disk

      Create a virtual hard disk:

      Name: CRM 2011.vhd,Location: D:\Hyper-V\,

      Size: recommend minimum 40GB.

      Installation Options

      Select a path to the Windows Server 2008 R2 drive or ISO image.

  2. Install the guest OS on the CRM 2011 VM:

    Operating System

    Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise Edition.

    Server Name

    Rename the server on the 1st start.

    Server Name: BPS (Business Productivity Server). You may choose your server name.

    Domain Name

    XRM.LOCAL (run: dcpromo.exe).

    Server Roles

    Active Directory Domain Services, Application Server, DNS Server, Web Server (IIS).

    Enable Remote Desktop connection on VM

    This allows you to share data between VM and HOST.

    Domain Administrator account

    Account: xrm\Administrator.

  3. Install SQL Server 2008 R2:

    Instance Features

    Database Engine Services, SQL Server Replication, Full-Text Search, Reporting Services, Management Tools.

    Run as Service Account

    Run Active Directory Users and Computers (dsa.msc), then go to Users, right-click on the Administrator account, select Copy, and then create a new administrator account: xrm\AdminService.

    Open the account, change the Account option to Password never expires, and then use this account to run SQL services.

    Authentication Mode

    Windows authentication mode.

    Reporting Services Configuration

    Native mode default configuration.

  4. Now we have a Windows Server 2008 R2 + SQL Server 2008 R2 workspace. Please validate the installation by checking the system event log: Go to Start | Run…, type in "eventvwr" and press Enter, then check the Administrative Events and correct any errors.

  5. Run Windows Update and take a snapshot at this stage:

 

Setting up SharePoint 2010


Install and configure SharePoint Server on the VM. Create a new site collection called CRM Document Workspace.

Installing SharePoint 2010 Server

  1. Install KB979917—QFE for Sharepoint issues—Perf Counter fix & User Impersonation.

  2. Run the SharePoint installation file, and follow the wizard to install the software prerequisites first, and then install the SharePoint Server:

    Configuration Database Server

    BPS

    Configuration Database Name

    SharePoint_Config

    Database Access Account

    xrm\AdminService

    Specify port number

    2010

    Authentication Provider

    NTLM

Creating a SharePoint web application that supports both Windows and Claims Based Authentication

  1. Create a new Web Application:

    Authentication

    Claims Based Authentication

    IIS Web Site

    SharePoint-6666

    Port

    6666

    Host Header

    <empty>

    Path

    C:\inetpub\wwwroot\wss\VirtualDirectories\6666

    Allow Anonymous

    No

    Use Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)

    No

    Enable Windows Authentication

    Yes

    Integrated Windows authentication

    NTLM

    Sign In Page URL

    Default Sign In Page

    URL

    http://BPS:6666

    Application Pool

    Create a new application pool: SharePoint-6666

    Run as account: xrm\AdminService

    Database Server

    BPS

    Database Name

    WSS_Content

    Database Authentication

    Windows authentication

    Service Application Connections

    default

  2. Create a Site Collection:

    Title

    CRM Document Workspace

    URL

    http://BPS:6666

    Template

    Document Workspace

    Primary Site Collection Administrator

    xrm\Administrator

    Secondary Site Collection Administrator

    Administrator@xrm.local

 

Setting up Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011


There are different options for setting up Dynamics CRM for your development workspace. Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online provides a quick way for you to get a CRM instance running without installing any hardware or software, so that you can focus more on your project tasks. On the other hand, Microsoft Dynamics CRM On-Premise allows you to control where to install the application and where to store your data. This makes integration with your existing application much simpler than CRM Online. Both have their pros and cons; you may select the option that makes the most sense for your organization.

Note

For development purposes, you can develop a CRM Online solution in an On-Premise development workspace, and then import the solution to CRM Online.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM On-Premise

Because we are building a CRM environment for our development workspace, just to keep it simple, we are going to install and configure CRM in a standalone virtual server.

To perform a fresh install of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, follow these steps:

  1. Log on to the server with a domain user account that has administrator-level privileges to Active Directory and that is also a member of the Administrator group on the local computer.

  2. Navigate to the folder that contains the Microsoft Dynamics CRM installation files.

  3. Click on SetupServer.exe to start the installation.

  4. On the Welcome to Microsoft Dynamics CRM Setup page, click Next to move to the next step.

    Note

    Note: It is recommended to get the latest installation file for Microsoft Dynamics CRM; however it is not required.

  5. On the Product Key Information page, enter your product key (you can use the MSDN/TechNet Plus license if you are a subscriber, or you can use the 90-day trail key) in the product key boxes, and then click Next to continue.

  6. Accept the License Agreement by selecting the I accept this license agreement checkbox, and then click Next to continue.

    Note

    Note: Dynamics CRM 2011 detects the missing required components and it will display them in the Install Required Components page. You must install the missing components prior to moving to the next step. If you have already installed all required components, the Install Required Component page will not appear.

  7. Browse to the location into which you want to install CRM on the Select Installation Location page. Select Full Server on the Specify Server Roles page, because we are installing it in a single virtual server image. Click Next to continue.

  8. On the Specify Deployment Options page, select Create a new deployment option.

  9. Select the required instance of SQL server, and then click Next to continue.

  10. On the Select the Organization Unit page, select the location into which you want the CRM organization unit to be installed, and then click Next to continue.

    Note

    Note: It is recommended to create a new Organization Unit in Active Directory for CRM.

  11. On the Specify Security Account page, select the Security account for the Microsoft CRM services and ASP.NET components, and then click Next to continue.

  12. Select the Create a new Web Site option on the Select a Web Site page, and then click Next to continue.

  13. On the Specify E-mail Router Setting page, enter the server name where the E-mail Router is installed, and then click Next to continue.

    Note

    Note: You may leave the E-mail Router box blank. However, if you decide to install the E-mail router later, you have to add the computer where the E-mail Router is installed to the PrivUserGroup in Active Directory.

  14. On the Specifiy the Organization Name page, enter the Display Name, select the Currency and Base Language for your organization, and then click Next to continue.

  15. On the Specify Reporting Services Server page, enter the Report Server URL and then click Next to continue.

  16. On the Help Us Improve the Customer Experience page, select whether you want to participate in the Customer Experience Improvement Program and then click Next to continue. When everything passes the System Checks (as shown below) click Next to continue.

  17. Review the Ready to Install Microsoft Dynamics CRM page, and then click Install to start the installation of Dynamics CRM.

  18. When the setup completes successfully, the Microsoft Dynamics Server setup completed page appears. Select the Launch Microsoft Dynamics CRM Reporting Extensions Setup checkbox, and then follow the wizard to complete the installation.

  19. Click Finish to complete the installation. Now that the server has been installed, try browsing the server at http://bps; you will see the default Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 user interface, as shown in the following screenshot:

  20. After installing CRM, check the event log: Go to Start | Run, type in "eventvwr" and press Enter. Expand Event Viewer | Custom Views | Administrative Events. If you see any errors, please fix them before continuing.

    Note

    You might see an Error Event 17203, MSCRMTracing—Invalid Trace Directory.

    That's because CRM has a default trace output directory: c:\crmdrop\logs, that doesn't exist. You can fix this error by creating the folder structure and granting permission to the Network Services account.

    For more information about CRM tracing, please visit KB907490 - How to enable tracing in Microsoft Dynamics CRM: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/907490.

 

Setting up Development Tools


To complete this task, you will also need to install Visual Studio 2010. You can download a trial version of Visual Studio 2010 from http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/en-us/try.

Visual Studio 2010 can be either installed in VM, or install on your host computer for better performance and manageability. More details about setting up Visual Studio on the Host computer and enable remote debugging, please visit Jim Wang's blog: http://jianwang.blogspot.com/2011/07/crm-2011-plugin-development-workspace.html.

Note

Because Visual Studio 2010 does not support the Integration Services, Report Services and Analysis Services projects for SQL Server 2008/R2. If you are developing CRM reports, you need the Visual Studio 2008 or Business Intelligence Development Studio (an optional component in the SQL Server 2008/R2 installation), as well as the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Report Authoring Extension.

 

Summary


In this chapter, we have covered how to set up your development workspace for this project. You have several options for setting up your development workspace, Dynamics CRM 2011 and SharePoint 2010; consider choosing the option that makes the most sense for your organization.

About the Authors
  • Jim Wang

    Jim Wang is specialized in enterprise solution at CSC Microsoft Practice, in UK; He focuses on consulting, solutioning, and developing on the Microsoft Dynamics CRM, SharePoint, and Office365/Cloud platforms. Jim has been awarded the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) on Dynamics CRM for 4 years, with full lifecycle knowledge of the product. He has great interest in mobile technologies, ALM (Application Lifecycle Management), and Agile methodologies, with extensive and focused experience in Microsoft technologies. Jim was also recognized as a British Computer Society Chartered IT Professional (CITP) in 2009. Jim is a co-founder of the official Microsoft Dynamics CRM Chinese community, which aims to help partners and customers to develop and use Dynamics CRM in the Greater China Region. His blog, http://jianwang.blogspot.com, is one of the most visited blogs about Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

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  • Darren Liu

    Darren Liu, Microsoft CRM MVP alumni and Certified Microsoft CRM Professional, has been working with Dynamics CRM since version 1.0. After joining Microsoft in 2009, his primary focus has been solution architecture, data migration, and system integration. Darren has been engaged on many enterprise CRM projects and played many different important roles throughout his career. Today, Darren is playing a key role as solution architect/development team lead working on a global biotech Dynamics CRM implementation. This has involved the typical key activities of a project lifecycle of coordinating with the key business sponsors, gathering requirements, design, proof of concept delivery, development, testing, documentation, and support. Darren is a co-founder of the official Microsoft Dynamics CRM Chinese community, forums, and several newsgroups that aim to help partners, customers, and individuals. He has also been a speaker and trainer for Microsoft, training partners in the Greater China region. Darren can be reached at Darren.Liu@microsoft.com.

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