Install Microsoft Dynamics CRM on VirtualBox From Scratch

I need to setup an test environment to learn Microsoft Dynamics CRM on my OS X. Here is my memo from installing and configuring Windows Server 2012 R2, SQL Server 2014, to Dynamics CRM.

 Install VirtualBox and Create a Configuration File

Download VirtualBox and install it. Then launch and create a configuration file for Windows Server 2012 R2.

1. Choose [Other Windows (64-bit)]  [Windows 20012 (64-bit)] in [Versions] in [Name and operating system] dialog.
2. Memory must more than 4096MB
3. Choose [Dynamically allocated] in [Storage and physical hard drive] dialog to allocate space when needed.
4. Mount Windows Server 2012 R2 iso file in [CD/DVD Drive] on [Storage] tab in [Settings]

Start this virtual machine to begin Windows Server 2012 R2 installation.

Windows Server 2012 R2 Installation

It’s pretty simple to install Windows Server 2012 R2 on an empty disk.

1. Choose [Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard Evaluation (Server with a GUI)]
2. Choose [Custom: Install Windows only (Advanced)]

After installation, it will power off automatically.

Install VirtualBox Guest Additions

From VirtualBox menu, choose [Devices] → [Insert Guest Additions CD Image…] to mount this CD image. Use [File Explorer] to run [VBoxWindowsAdditions.exe] to install integration tools and drivers.

After installation, you may mount a shared folder on host operating system in this virtual machine.

Now, you may copy SQL Server 2014 and Dynamics CRM installation files to this virtual machine via shared folder.

Add Extra Features and Configure Active Directory

After installation, you need to manually add several components in Windows Server 2012 R2 and setup a domain controller running Active Directory service.

1. Use [Server Manager] → [Add roles and features] to add extra components.
2. In [Installation Type] section, choose [Role-based or feature-based installation]
3. In [Server Selection], choose current virtual machine as the server.
4. In [Server Roles] section, select [Active Directory Domain Services], [Application Server], and [Web Server (IIS)].
5. In [Features] section, select [Windows Search Service], [.NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 anmd 3.0)] in [.NET Framework 3.5 Features] and [APS.NET 4.5] in [.NET Framework 4.5 Features (2 of 7 installed)].

After installing, you will see a flag with warning mark on upper right corner. Click and choose [Promote this server to a domain controller] to launch [Active Directory Domain Services Configuration Wizard].

1. Choose [Add a new forest] in [Deployment Configuration] and provide a valid root domain name, eg lab.org, for the test environment.

You will see several warning but it is okay to apply these changes. After reboot, your virtual machine will join this new domain.

Add Organization Unit and an Active Directory User for Reporting Service

Next is to customize our Active Directory.

First, add an organizational units aka OU using [Active Directory Users and Computers] utility as described in create a new organizational unit on TechNet.

Second, create a new user in above OU. Use [Member Of] tab in property dialog to add this user in [ReportingGroup].

Now, you have a proper configuration for Dynamics CRM.

Install SQL Server 2014

You need to download SQL Server 2014 from Microsoft TechNet Evaluation Center. Dynamics CRM doesn’t work with SQL Server Express according to its software requirements.

1. Launch [SQL Server Installation Center], choose [New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation] in [Installation] section.
2. In [Setup Role], choose [SQL Server Feature Installation].
3. In [Feature Selection], select [Full-Text and Semantic Extractions for Search], [Reporting Services – Native], and [Management Tools – Complete]
4. In [Database engine Configuration], choose [Mixed Mode] and [Add Current User] as a SQL Server administrator.

Configure Reporting Service

Now, assign an Active Directory user for Reporting Services aka SSRS. It’s an requirement before installing [Microsoft Dynamics CRM Reporting Extensions Setup].

I am going to use the user account created in [Add Organization Unit and an Active Directory User for Reporting Service] as described earlier in this post.

1. Launch [Reporting Services Configuration Connection] and connect to your SQL Server.
2. In [Service Account] section, choose [user another account]. Provide user information created here.

If you didn’t assign Active Directory user for Reporting Services and fail in [Microsoft Dynamics CRM Reporting Extensions Setup], after above procedure, you may execute installation program [Organizational Unit.exe] in [SrsDataConnector] folder in your Dynamic CRM install directory to try again.

Install Microsoft Dynamics CRM Reporting Extensions on TechNet provides detail explain on this topic.

Install Dynamic CRM

Dynamics CRM is available on Microsoft Download Center. You may use one of the following 90-day trial keys for testing.

• Workgroup Server 2015 (5 CAL limit): XY8GN-DF2MC-FV482-YM9YP-HH6H2
• CRM Server 2015 (no CAL limit): C6BDP-T6NK9-8TXJP-36WTB-TXW7V

The first-time installation will update .NET Framework to 4.5.2, restart Windows Server before you try again.

In the next few steps:

1. Fill the server name running SQL Server in [Specify Deployment Options].
2. Select the OU which you have created earlier.
3. Choose [NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE] for all service in [Specify Service Accounts].

Now, you have successfully install your Dynamics CRM.

Test Your Dynamics CRM

Browse localhost in virtual machine, you shall be able to see it now.

If you need some sample data, from upper left [Microsoft Dynamics CRM] choose [Settings]. Then choose [Settings] → [Data Management] → [Sample Data] to install.

Other Resource

There are many related posts explains how to install. Step by Step: Installing Dynamics CRM 2013 on Windows Server 2012 on MSDN Blog is also very useful.

Install Microsoft Dynamics CRM Front End Server and Back End Server roles on TechNet provides information to run Dynamics CRM on multiple servers.

Reference

1. Apple: OS X
2. Microsoft Developer Network: Reporting Services (SSRS)
3. Microsoft Download Center: Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server 2015
4. Microsoft Dynamics
5. Microsoft MSDN Blogs: Step by Step: Installing Dynamics CRM 2013 on Windows Server 2012
6. Microsoft SQL Server 2014
7. Microsoft SQL Server Express Edition
8. Microsoft TechNet Evaluation Center: SQL Server 2014
9. Microsoft TechNet: Create a new organizational unit
10. Microsoft: TechNet: Domain Controller Roles
11. Microsoft TechNet: Install Microsoft Dynamics CRM Front End Server and Back End Server roles
12. Microsoft TechNet: Install Microsoft Dynamics CRM Reporting Extensions
13. Microsoft TechNet: Organizational units
14. Microsoft TechNet: Software requirements for Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server 2015: SQL Server editions
15. Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2
16. Oracle VM VirtualBox
17. Wiki: .NET Framework
18. Wiki: Active Directory
19. Wiki: Active Directory: 2.2 Forests, trees, and domains
20. Wiki: Virtual machine