Install Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 Server using a Microsoft Exchange Server cluster environment
You can install Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 Server into a clustered Microsoft Exchange Server environment. A cluster of servers running Microsoft Exchange can reduce system downtime because if the active server in the cluster fails there will be an automatic fail-over to another server.
Note This article does not apply to implementations involving Windows Small Business Server 2003 and Microsoft CRM 3.0 Small Business Server Edition.
On This Page
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 Microsoft Exchange Server (in this case, two Exchange Servers) as shown in the following diagram.
The configuration uses separate computers that are running the required components of a Microsoft CRM implementation that includes: Microsoft CRM Server, Microsoft SQL Server, and Microsoft Active Directory Domain Controller. This configuration also has a single Microsoft CRM Server that accesses a cluster of two Microsoft Exchange Servers.
Important The Exchange Server cluster must be configured as an active/passive cluster.
Installing the Microsoft CRM base configuration
Use the instructions in the Microsoft CRM 3.0 Implementation Guide to install, configure, and verify the correct operation of the following server components:
| • | Microsoft Windows Server 2000 or Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and Active Directory |
| • | Microsoft SQL Server 2000 or Microsoft SQL Server 2005 |
| • | Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services 2000 or Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services 2005 |
Important Do not install Microsoft CRM 3.0 Server at this time. Microsoft CRM Server will be installed later.
Creating a Microsoft Exchange Server cluster
Use the Microsoft Exchange Server documentation to install the Microsoft Exchange Server cluster. For more information, see Deploying Exchange Server 2003 in a Cluster.
Installing 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 Exchange Server Settings page, in the Incoming Exchange Server box, type the name of the Virtual Exchange server for the Exchange cluster. |
2. | Complete the Microsoft CRM Server Setup. |
Install the Microsoft CRM-Exchange E-Mail Router
Install the Microsoft CRM-Exchange E-mail Router by doing the following:
1. | Install the Router on each Exchange node in the cluster and specify a Microsoft CRM mailbox located on the virtual exchange server. |
2. | On each node in the Exchange cluster, open the Services Control Panel, stop the MSCRMExchRouterService,and set the Startup Type to Manual. |
3. | Open Active Directory Users and Computers. |
4. | Locate the PrivUserGroup {GUID} for your deployment. Add the computer accounts for each node in the Exchange cluster. |
5. | Close Active Directory Users and Computers. |
6. | Open Cluster Admin. |
7. | Create a generic service resource in the resource group that contains the Exchange Virtual Machine that hosts the Microsoft CRM mailbox you specified earlier. You can use the following parameters as a guide: | • | Name: Create a name for the service | | • | Type: Generic Service | | • | Possible Owners: All Nodes | | • | Resource Dependencies: Microsoft Exchange Information Store | | • | ServiceName: MSCRMEXRouterService | | • | Start Parameters: Leave blank | | • | Use Network Name for computer Name: Leave unchecked | | • | Do not checkpoint any Registry keys |
|
8. | Bring the resource online and then configure the failover properties. |
9. | Close Cluster Admin. |
10. | Use the Rule Deployment Wizard to create and deploy a rule in each Microsoft CRM user’s mailbox that will automatically forward incoming e-mail to the Microsoft CRM mailbox you specified earlier. |
