CRM: So you want a Virtual Machine

Recently I have been looking at Microsoft CRM 2011.  The first obstacle I had was to generate a virtual machine that would allow development … nothing is ever as simple as one would expect so after a lot of hair pulling and teeth gnashing and of course google usage I came up with the following

The process below details the steps to be taken to create a virtual machine containing the following products

• Microsoft Windows 2008 R2 (including active domain)
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2
• Microsoft CRM 2011

This information came from various sources but the bulk came from a video I found on YouTube  by ‘neilmed82′ entitled ‘Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 beta installation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDeebvZ8xNo)

The virtual machine should be a minimum of 30Gb in size

Windows 2008 R2 installation

1. Install Windows 2008 R2
   1. Include active domain
   2. Set computer name to ‘devcrm’
2. Install Active Directory
   1. Start -> Administrative tools -> Server manager
   2. Roles -> Add roles
   3. Ensure the following are ticked
      1. Active directory domain services
      2. DNS Server
      3. File Services
      4. Web Server (IIS)  ????(see point 6 below)
   4. This may request the .Net Framework to be installed
   5. On completion reboot the virtual machine
3.  Run ‘dcpromo’ and create a new forest
   1. FQDN = ‘dev.dom’
   2. Functional Level = Win 2008
   3. Password  = ‘Password1’ (suggested)
   4. On completion reboot the virtual machine
4. Create the domain in the forest
   1. Start -> Administrative tools -> Server manager
   2. Roles -> Active directory domain services
   3. Run ‘Active directory domain services installation wizard’ (dcpromo.exe)
      1. Select ‘Create a new domain in a new forest’
      2. FQDN = ‘dev.dom’
      3. Forest functional = Win 2008 R2
      4. Dynamic IP Address = (select)
      5. Password = ‘Password1’ (suggested)
   4. On completion reboot the virtual machine
5. Create OUs and Service User Accounts
   1. Start -> Administrative tools -> Active directory users and groups
   2. Select ‘dev.dom’ domain
   3. Right-click (on ‘dev.dom’) -> New -> Organisational unit
      1. Name = ‘CRM’
   4. Right-click (on ‘dev.dom’) -> New -> Organisational unit
      1. Name = ‘service accounts’
   5. Right-click (on ‘service accounts’ OU) -> New -> User
      1. First name = ‘SQL’
      2. Surname = ‘SVC’
      3. Login =‘sqlsvc’
      4. Password = ‘never expires’
   6. Right-click (on ‘service accounts’ OU) -> New -> User
      1. First name = ‘dynamics’
      2. Surname = ‘admin’
      3. Login =‘dynamicsadmin’
      4. Password = ‘never expires’
6. Add IIS Role
   1. Start -> right-click (on ‘Computer’) -> Manage
   2. Roles -> Add roles
   3. Select ‘Web Server (IIS)’
      1. HTTP redirection
      2. ASP.Net (plus offered children)
      3. Windows authentication
      4. IIS6 management compatibility (plus children
7. Add service users to local admin group
   1. Start -> Control Panel -> Users -> Manage user accounts -> Add
      1. User = ‘sqlsvc’; domain = ‘dev.dom’; Administrator
      2. User = ‘dynamics.admin’; domain = ‘dev.dom’; Administrator
   2. On completion reboot the virtual machine

SQL Server 2008 R2 Installation

1. Include
   1. Database Engine (inc. full text)
   2. Reporting Services
   3. Management Tools (complete)
   4. BIDS
   5. Client Tools           (MSSQLSERVER)
2. Service accounts                  dev\sqlsvc
3. On account provisioning
   1. Mixed mode                         ‘Password1’ (suggested)
   2. Administrators                      (dev\dynamicsadmin,
      dev\sqlsrc, administrator)
4. On completion reboot the virtual machine

It is suggested that at this point a backup is taken of the virtual machine.

CRM 2011 Installation

1. Install CRM>
   1. Select ‘Create a new deployment’ (devcrm)
   2. OU -> browse to CRM
   3. Security account = domain user dev\dynamicsadmin
   4. Email router = devcrm
   5. Display name = <sitename>
   6. Report server = http://devcrm/reportserver
2. System check screen will show some warnings
3. Run ‘set SPN’ for service user account
   1. Go to a command prompt and enter the following commands
   2. Setspn –a http/devcrm dynamicsadmin
   3. Setspn –a http/devcrm.dev.dom dynamicsadmin
   4. Close command window
4. Continue with CRM set up
   1. Select ‘install reporting services connector
   2. On completion reboot the virtual machine
5. Start up and test
   1. http://devcrm/<sitename>
   2. Settings -> Currencies -> New
      1. Currency code     ‘US Dollar’
      2. GBP (1.00)             <suitable exchange rate>
      3. Save and close>
   3. Settings -> Customisations -> Publishers
      1. Select default publisher
      2. Set up prefix (up to 8 characters)
      3. Set ‘Option value prefix’ to suitable number (e.g. 10,000)
   4. Other configuration: File -> Options
      1. General: Currency               pound sterling
      2. General: Default Tab           <preferred tab>
      3. Formats: current format     English/united kingdom

Additional Installation

1. Install additional organisations
   1. Start -> All Programs -> Microsoft
      Dynamics CRM 2011 -> Deployment Manager
   2. Right click (on ‘Organisation’) -> New
      organisation
      1. Enter display name (but otherwise accept defaults)
   3. Recommended that ‘Contoso1’ is created (as a minimum)
   4. Check that organisation can be accessed using http://devcrm/Contoso1
2. Download and install Microsoft CRM 2011 SDK (place in directory c:\CRM2011 SDK)
3. In browser enter URL of appropriate organisation (e.g. http://devcrm/Contoso1)
   1. Files -> Tools -> Import Data
   2. Browse to c:\crm2011 sdk\sdk\handsonlabs\orgsetupfiles\
   3. Import the following files
      1. importaccountscontoso1.csv (map to ‘Account’)
      2. importcontactscontoso1.csv (map to ‘Contact’)

Alternatively if you know someone who may just have a virtual machine already built … ask them!

If you spot any errors in the above please let me know and I will update accordingly.