Microsoft Dynamics CRM – Windows Server & SQL Server Supported Versions

This post will provide a quick snapshot of the supported versions of Windows Server and SQL Server for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011. This posting will also be a quick reference post for me in the future.

 

Windows Server

 

The following Microsoft Windows Server editions and versions are supported for running Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011

• Windows Server 2012 Datacenter
• Windows Server 2012 Standard
• Windows Server 2008 Standard SP2 (x64 versions) or Windows Server 2008 Standard R2
• Windows Server 2008 Enterprise SP2 (x64 versions) or Windows Server 2008 Enterprise R2
• Windows Server 2008 Datacenter SP2 (x64 versions) or Windows Server 2008 Datacenter R2
• Windows Web Server 2008 SP2 (x64 versions) or Windows Web Server 2008 R2
• Windows Small Business Server 2008 Premium x64
• Windows Small Business Server 2008 Standard x64
• Windows Small Business Server 2011 Standard
• Windows Small Business Server 2011 Essentials

Note:
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Update Rollup 13 or a later is required with Windows Server 2012. Update Rollup 13 will also require Update Rollup 6 to be installed first.

Windows Server 2008 installed by using the Server Core installation option is not supported for installing and running Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server 2011. Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based systems is not supported for installing and running Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011.

 

SQL Server

 

The following Microsoft SQL Server editions and versions are supported for running Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011

• Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Standard Edition, x64 SP1 or R2
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Enterprise Edition, x64 SP1 or R2
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Datacenter x64 SP1 or R2
• Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Developer x64 SP1 or R2 (for non-production environments only)
• *Microsoft SQL Server 2012, Enterprise, 64-bit
• *Microsoft SQL Server 2012, Business Intelligence, 64-bit
• *Microsoft SQL Server 2012, Standard, 64-bit

Note:
Microsoft Dynamics CRM Update Rollup 6 or later update rollup is required to use Microsoft SQL Server 2012.

Microsoft SQL Server 2000 and Microsoft SQL Server 2005 editions and are not supported by Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011.

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Workgroup, Web, Compact, or Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express Edition editions are not supported for running Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server 2011.

32-bit (x86) versions of SQL Server database engine or Reporting Services are not supported with Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server 2011.

 

Greg Olsen
YellowDuckGuy

Windows Server 2012 – How to Add Desktop Experience Feature

If you are stumbling around trying to find the Desktop Experience Feature within the Server Manager of Windows Server 2012, then look no further!

Desktop Experience enables a few handy tools like:

• Windows Media Player
• Desktop themes
• Video for Windows (AVI support)
• Windows SideShow
• Windows Defender
• Disk Cleanup
• Sync Center
• Sound Recorder
• Character Map
• Snipping Tool

Steps to enable the Desktop Experience on Windows Server 2012 (Note: A restart will be required to complete install):

1. Launch Server Manager
2. Select Add roles and features
3. Within the Add Roles and Features Wizard, select Features from the left hand menu
4. Within the Add Roles and Features Wizard,  expand the option  User Interfaces and Infrastructure (Installed)
5. Select Desktop Experience
6. Click Add Features (on the next dialog window)
7. Click Next
8. Click Install
9. Click Close (When complete) Note: A restart will be required to complete install

Below are the screenshots displayed during this process.

Hope that helps!

Greg Olsen
YellowDuckGuy

Windows 8 – Fix: Enable Feature .NET 3.5 Error 0x800F0906

Within Windows 8 you can add the following Windows Feature – .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0) as shown below.

To enable this feature simply tick the checkbox and click OK.

When the wizard ran through it’s process I was faced with the following error:

Windows couldn’t complete the requested changes.

Windows couldn’t connect to the Internet to download necessary files. Make sure you are connected to the Internet, and press “Retry” to try again.

Error code: 0x800F0906

Using the wizard I was unable to fix this error. Therefore to fix this issue, follow the steps listed below.

Fix:

1. Open Windows Explorer (Windows + E)
2. Mount the Windows 8 installation ISO you used to install your operating system.  You can do this by right clicking on it and selecting the option Mount. UPDATE: If you have the Windows 8 Installation Disc in your optical drive, then use this instead. However, make sure you change the commands mentioned later to match your optical drive.
3. Use the RUN command in administrator elevated mode. You can do this by navigating to the location c:\windows\system32\cmd.exe and right-clicking on the cmd.exe application and selecting Run as administrator.
4. Once the command windows has loaded, then type the following command (Note: Match the drive letter to your appropriate drive letter for the ISO or DVD):

dism /online /Enable-Feature /FeatureName:NetFX3 /All /Source:E:\Sources\SxS /LimitAccess

Hit enter once you have completed the command.

Below is a screenshot of what this will look like when you hit enter.

Now your Windows Feature of .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0) is enabled.  To verify this, open the Window Features again to see the option is now enabled.

Success! You have the Windows Feature enabled.

Extra Information

This blog post will also support users that wish to install Windows Essentials 2012 because the installer requires the .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0) feature to be enabled. Make sure you carry out the steps mentioned earlier to install Windows Essentials 2012 on Windows 8 operating system. I use Windows Live Writer, which is a part of the Windows Essentials 2012 installer and for me to complete the installation, I had to complete the steps mentioned earlier first before running the installer.

Hope this helps!

Greg Olsen
YellowDuckGuy

Windows Server 2012 – Released to Manufacturing (RTM)

1st August 2012 – Microsoft has announced that Windows Server 2012 has been Released to Manufacturing (RTM). This basically means the final code for Windows Server 2012 is complete.

Make sure you head to the Windows Server Blog to read more about this announcement.

http://blogs.technet.com/b/windowsserver/archive/2012/08/01/windows-server-2012-released-to-manufacturing.aspx

 

Greg Olsen
Yellow Duck Guy