Using Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Install Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 Server using a Microsoft SQL Server cluster environment

Updated: April 10, 2005

You can install Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 Server into a clustered Microsoft SQL Server environment. A cluster of computers running SQL Server can reduce system down time because if one of the servers in the cluster fails there will be an automatic fail-over to another computer running Microsoft SQL Server.

Note   This article does not apply to implementations that involve Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003 and Microsoft CRM 3.0 Small Business Edition.

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Related Links
•Using Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0
•Installing multiple Microsoft CRM 3.0 servers
•Installing Microsoft CRM 3.0 Server using a Microsoft Exchange Server Cluster environment
•SQL Server 2005 Books Online
•SQL Server 2000 failover clustering
•SQL Server 2000 Reporting Services Deployment Guide
•Installation order for SQL Server 2000 Enterprise edition on Microsoft Cluster Server
•You receive error messages when you try to set up a clustered instance of SQL Server 2005
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On This Page
Base configurationBase configuration
Installing a new Microsoft CRM deploymentInstalling a new Microsoft CRM deployment
Configuring an existing Microsoft CRM deploymentConfiguring an existing Microsoft CRM deployment

Base configuration

The base configuration for a Microsoft CRM 3.0 Server system is described in the Microsoft CRM 3.0 Implementation Guide. This guide is available on the Microsoft Download Center at: www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=1ff067f8-4f77-40f0-ae9c-68ada7d4f16a&DisplayLang=en. This document expands on the base configuration as described in the Microsoft CRM 3.0 Implementation Guide by installing Microsoft CRM 3.0 Server into a cluster of computers that are running SQL Server (in this case, two instances of Microsoft SQL Server) as shown in the following diagram.

fig_1_sql_cluster_base_r2

As this diagram shows, the configuration involves separate computers that are running the required components of a Microsoft CRM implementation. This configuration shows a single instance of Microsoft CRM Server accessing a cluster of two computers that are running SQL Server and a single Microsoft Exchange Server.

Installing a new Microsoft CRM deployment

Use the instructions in the Microsoft CRM 3.0 Implementation Guide to install, configure, and verify the correct operation of the following server components:

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Microsoft Windows Server 2000 or Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Active Directory.

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Microsoft Exchange Server. The configuration diagram shows Exchange Server as part of the implementation, however, the use of Exchange Server is optional.

Important Do not install Microsoft SQL Server or Microsoft CRM 3.0 Server at this point. These will be installed later.

Create the Microsoft SQL Server Cluster

Using the Microsoft SQL Server documentation for the appropriate SQL Server edition, install and configure either Microsoft SQL Server 2000 or Microsoft SQL Server 2005, and create a SQL Server cluster. The basic steps include:

1.

Gathering the information that you need to create your virtual server. This can include a cluster disk resource, IP addresses, network names, and the nodes available for the cluster. (In this case, referring to the previous diagram, the nodes are SQLNode1 and SQLNode2).

2.

Performing Microsoft SQL Server Setup. After all the necessary information is entered, the Setup program installs a new instance of SQL Server on the local disk of each computer in the cluster and installs the system databases on the specified cluster disk. The SQL Server program files are installed in the same path on each cluster node. Therefore, you must make sure that each node has a local drive letter in common with all the other nodes in the cluster. This process also creates a new virtual server.

Microsoft CRM Server will operate with a Microsoft SQL Server cluster that is configured as an active-passive cluster.

The following Microsoft Knowledge Base article provides additional information: Installation order for SQL Server 2000 Enterprise edition on Microsoft Cluster Server.

For Microsoft SQL Server support, see support.microsoft.com and file a support request with the Microsoft SQL Server support group.

Install Microsoft CRM 3.0 Server

Install Microsoft CRM 3.0 Server by using the procedures in Chapter 15 of the Microsoft CRM 3.0 Implementation Guide and making the following changes:

1.

On the Select SQL Server page, select the SQL Server using the virtual server name specified when you created the cluster. Then, select the Create new databases option.

2.

Complete the Microsoft CRM Server setup.

Configuring an existing Microsoft CRM deployment

The process discussed earlier is for the scenario where nothing is installed and you are setting up the base system from the start. This section describes the process to configure an existing Microsoft CRM 3.0 system to use a clustered Microsoft SQL Server environment. An example of such a configuration involves the scenario where you have an existing Microsoft CRM 1.2 implementation that has been upgraded to Microsoft CRM 3.0. After the Microsoft CRM upgrade, you want to implement a clustered Microsoft SQL Sever environment and connect your computer running Microsoft CRM 3.0 to it.

The steps in this section apply if your current Microsoft CRM system is operating and is similar to the base configuration for a Microsoft CRM 3.0 Server system as described in the Microsoft CRM 3.0 Implementation Guide. Also, your Microsoft CRM 3.0 Server is the result of either a new installation or an upgrade from Microsoft CRM 1.2.

Create the Microsoft SQL Server Cluster

Using the Microsoft SQL Server documentation for the appropriate SQL Server edition, install and configure either Microsoft SQL Server 2000 or Microsoft SQL Server 2005, and create a SQL Server cluster. The basic steps include:

1.

Gathering the information that you must have to create your virtual server. This can include the cluster disk resource, IP addresses, network names, and the nodes available for the cluster. (In this case, referring to the earlier diagram, the nodes are SQLNode1 and SQLNode2).

2.

Performing Microsoft SQL Server setup. After all the necessary information is entered, the Setup program installs a new instance of SQL Server on the local disk of each computer in the cluster and installs the system databases on the specified cluster disk. The SQL Server program files are installed in the same path on each cluster node. Therefore, you must make sure that each node has a local drive letter in common with all the other nodes in the cluster. This process also creates a new virtual server.

The following Microsoft Knowledge Base article provides additional information: Installation order for SQL Server 2000 Enterprise edition on Microsoft Cluster Server.

For Microsoft SQL Server support, see support.microsoft.com and file a support request with the Microsoft SQL Server support group.

Configure Microsoft CRM Server

Configure your existing Microsoft CRM 3.0 Server to use the SQL Server cluster. Do the following:

1.

On your computer running Microsoft CRM, click Start, point to All Programs, point to Microsoft CRM, and then click Deployment Manager.

2.

Expand the Deployment Manager node, and select Server Manager.

3.

In the Detail Pane, right-click the server running Microsoft CRM that you want to modify (in this case there may only be one server running Microsoft CRM listed), and then click Configure SQL Server.

4.

In the Specify SQL Server window, select the name of the virtual SQL Server, and then click Next.

5.

Select the Microsoft CRM database. (This should be the same as the original Microsoft CRM database.)

6.

(Optional Step) If you have more than one server running Microsoft CRM in your deployment, you can select the Apply changes to all servers in the deployment check box.

7.

Click Finish.


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