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- Herausgeber: Packt Publishing
- Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
- Sprache: Englisch
Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 is an advanced Enterprise Resource Planning system, essentially a comprehensive business management solution, designed for midsize and large organizations. Dynamics AX provides a centralized source for business data and enables you to consolidate and standardize your business processes, helping to improve productivity and provide visibility across your organization, for a variety of business needs.This book will enable you to successfully set up and configure Dynamics AX 2009 in your business with clear, practical, step-by-step demonstrations. You will learn how to plan and implement Dynamics AX 2009 efficiently, how to manage the Enterprise Portal, Role Centers, Kerberos Authentication, Workflow, Application Integration Framework (AIF), and much more!
Each chapter of the book explores the different aspects of administring and configuring Dynamics AX 2009 to fit any company's needs.The book begins by introducing you to the important process of planning and implementing Dynamics AX 2009, providing the basic components to get you started with your Dynamics AX environment. It then dives deep into the installation of the multi component server of Dynamics AX and how to get it up and running efficiently, specifically the Base Server Components, Enterprise Portal, Role Centers, Kerberos Authentication, Workflow, and the Application Integration Framework (AIF).Other content includes the process of importing data into your Dynamics AX 2009 instance, common user administration functions, and Alerts and Notifications.Finally, the book considers how to enhance your Dynamics AX environment after it has been installed and it is being utilized, from tuning your system to work more efficiently to backing up and maintaining Dynamics AX to make sure you are prepared for worst-case scenarios, enabling you to keep Dynamics AX 2009 functioning at its best.By following the clear and practical steps found in the book, you will successfully master how to administer and configure Dynamics AX 2009 into your company.
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Seitenzahl: 278
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011
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Table of Contents
Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 Administration
Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 Administration
Copyright © 2011 Packt Publishing
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews.
Every effort has been made in the preparation of this book to ensure the accuracy of the information presented. However, the information contained in this book is sold without warranty, either expressed or implied. Neither the author, nor Packt Publishing, and its dealers and distributors will be held liable for any damages caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by this book.
Packt Publishing has endeavored to provide trademark information about all of the companies and products mentioned in this book by the appropriate use of capitals. However, Packt Publishing cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.
First published: January 2011
Production Reference: 2170111
Published by Packt Publishing Ltd.
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Olton
Birmingham, B27 6PA, UK.
ISBN 978-1-847197-84-9
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Cover Image by Vinayak Chittar (<[email protected]>)
Credits
Author
Marco Carvalho
Reviewers
Harish Mohan
Mohammed Rasheed
Dick Wenning
Acquisition Editor
Kerry George
Development Editor
Kerry George
Technical Editors
Arun Nadar
Bianca Sequeira
Copy Editor
Laxmi Subramanian
Indexers
Monica Ajmera Mehta
Rekha Nair
Editorial Team Leader
Aditya Belpathak
Project Team Leader
Lata Basantani
Project Coordinator
Leena Purkait
Proofreader
Aaron Nash
Production Coordinator
Alwin Roy
Cover Work
Alwin Roy
About the Author
Marco Carvalho has over 13 years' experience in the software development and IT industry. He started working with Dynamics AX in 2003 and has since been exclusively developing and implementing solutions for Dynamics AX. Among many other things, he has pioneered along with Microsoft and various ISVs the integration of Dynamics AX with proprietary and third party systems. He has also developed unique solutions that integrate Dynamics AX with Mobile and other .NET technologies. He enjoys educating organizations and training developers on Dynamics AX. He has also held senior and management level positions as well as manage his own Microsoft partner company.
During his free time, he enjoys producing music, walking in nature, spending time with close friends and families and reading about quantum physics and ancient history.
As with any other book, the job of the author is only a portion of the entire creation of a book, and I personally would like to extend my gratitude to my editors, projects managers, proof readers and very experienced reviewers for making this book a reality. I would like to thank my family who have been positive and unconditional supporters. I would also like to thank my daughter, who is one of the greatest teachers in my life. I would also like to thank my clients and colleagues with whom I have worked through the years that have provided opportunities for me to expand my knowledge and shape my career.
About the Reviewers
Harish Mohanbabu has over 12 years of consulting experience in a variety of roles including developer, lead developer, design authority, and technical architect in Dynamics AX and Microsoft technologies. He was nominated as a Microsoft MVP in recognition of his contribution to the Dynamics AX community. He is also the technical editor of two books on Dynamics AX, including PacktPub's 'Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 Programming: Getting started'. Harish lives in Hertfordshire, England with his wife, Chelvy and their two children, Swetha and Rahul. He can be contacted via his web sites, www.harishm.com, www.harish-m.livejournal.com and you can follow his tweets on www.twitter.com/HarishM.
Mohammed Rasheed is a Solutions Architect at Junction Solutions UK (www.Junctionsolutions.co.uk) where he is responsible for the delivery of integrations and customizations on Dynamics AX. Junction Solutions are the most exciting Microsoft Dynamics AX Partner for retail, with over 40 successful implementations across the world and a retail solution that has been certified by Microsoft for quality. Junction Solutions' innovative multi-channel retail software was built on Dynamics AX to resolve the unique challenges of 21st century retailers, who trade across many channels including stores, web online, mail order, franchise, wholesale, and direct sales. Junction Solutions bring these channels together and provide modern retailers with a holistic view of their business, enabling them to develop new revenue opportunities, drive better customer service, and deliver improved profitability.
Junction Solutions was also named The Microsoft Dynamics Retail Partner of the Year in the 2010 Microsoft Partner Awards. Mohammed has a double masters in Dynamics AX with over 8 certifications on Dynamics AX. Though his strengths are rooted in x++ development, he is a highly regarded Generalist and has solid knowledge of both functional and technical aspects of Dynamics AX. His passion for development is evident in the fact that he takes pleasure from refactoring and optimizing x++ code.
Mohammed lives with his family in Chester(UK)and blogs on his website: www.dynamic-ax.co.uk.
Dick Wenning has studied Computer Science in the Netherlands. After completing his education he has developed software for the medical, local government and telecom industries.
Dick started working in 2001 for Navision Netherlands, where he was giving technical training and managing escalations at partner support. He became a member of the localisation team of Dynamics AX when Navision became part of Microsoft.
His career continued for a short period at Watermark and for the last few years Dick has been working for Crimsonwing Promentum, where he's part of a skilled team responsible for ramping up Partners on Dynamics AX. Dick specialized himself in performance and integration with Dynamics AX and he's frequently asked to consult partners and also Microsoft in Europe.
In his spare time, Dick is running his blog axstart.spaces.live.com and is a frequent speaker at technical seminars in Western Europe; this commitment has been recognized and rewarded by Microsoft with the MVP award. Dick is also a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) for Dynamics AX development and installation.
Beside these activities on AX, Dick is married with Inge and has two kids, Marleen and Ruben. Dick is also a regular chess and tennis player, and you can challenge him on playchess.com.
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Preface
Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 is an advanced Enterprise Resource Planning system, essentially a comprehensive business management solution, designed for midsize and large organizations. Dynamics AX provides a centralized source for business data and enables you to consolidate and standardize your business processes, helping to improve productivity and provide visibility across your organization, for a variety of business needs.
This book will enable you to successfully set up and configure Dynamics AX 2009 into your business with clear, practical, step-by-step demonstrations. You will learn how to plan and implement Dynamics AX 2009 efficiently, how to manage the Enterprise Portal, Role Centers, Kerberos Authentication, Workflow, Application Integration Framework (AIF), and much more.
This practical tutorial shows you how to set up and configure Dynamics AX 2009 into your business and then how to improve and maintain its performance. Each chapter of the book explores the different aspects of administrating and configuring Dynamics AX 2009 to fit any company's needs.
The book begins by introducing you to the important process of planning and implementing Dynamics AX 2009, providing the basic components to get you started with your Dynamics AX environment.
It then deep dives into the installation of the multi-component server of Dynamics AX and how to get it up and running efficiently, specifically the Base Server Components, Enterprise Portal, Role Centers, Kerberos Authentication, Workflow, and the Application Integration Framework (AIF).
Other content includes the actual usage of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009, the process of importing data into your Dynamics AX 2009 instance, common user administration functions, and Alerts and Notifications.
Finally, the book will consider how to enhance your Dynamics AX environment after it has been installed and it is being utilized from tuning your system to work more efficiently to backing up and maintaining Dynamics AX to make sure you are prepared for worst-case scenarios, enabling you to keep Dynamics AX 2009 functioning at its best.
By following the clear and practical steps found in the book, you will successfully master how to administer and configure Dynamics AX 2009 into your company.
Who this book is for
If you are a network administrator or IT personnel charged with setting up and configuring Dynamics AX 2009 into your company, then this book is for you. A basic knowledge of Dynamics AX 2009 and general Windows Server Administration is required and familiarity with maintaining a SQL Server database server. Additionally, if you are a VAR tasked with implementing Dynamics AX into companies, then this book will provide you with a good overview and detail of the whole Dynamics AX 2009 system.
What this book covers
Chapter 1, System Planning and Hardware Sizing will help you understand the current hardware, software, and network infrastructure in which you will be implementing Microsoft Dynamics AX.
Chapter 2, Setup and Configuration of the Base Server Components will help you fully understand the base Dynamics AX 2009 components and their features to get your Dynamics AX environment up and running effectively.
Chapter 3, Setup and Configuration of the Enterprise Portal will show you how to implement the Enterprise Portal, a web-based solution to access data from Dynamics AX and perform many functions such as Purchase Requisitions, Sales Orders, Customer lookups, CRM, and much more!
Chapter 4, Setup and Configuration of the Role Centers will teach you how to set up and configure the business intelligence and advanced reporting capabilities of your data by using the Role Centers in Dynamics AX.
Chapter 5, Setting Up Kerberos Authentication will enhance the security of multiple services by ensuring that the Kerberos Authentication protocol is implemented into your Dynamics AX environment.
Chapter 6, Setup and Configuration of the Workflow talks about the process of setting up and configuring workflow to fit the needs of a company that requires various workflow capabilities.
Chapter 7, Setup and Configuration of Application Integration Framework looks at how to use the Application Integration Framework to exchange data either synchronously or asynchronously between one system and another.
Chapter 8, Data Migration helps you to manage, migrate, and convert your data in Dynamics AX.
Chapter 9, Security and User Administration looks at how to get a hold of the common user administration functions that are built into Dynamics AX, including setting up domains, importing users, permissions, profiles, company accounts, and much more!
Chapter 10, Alerts and Notifications shows you how to make critical, on-time business decisions by fully understanding the Alerts and Notifications features that notify you when specific criteria has been met with your data.
Chapter 11, Tuning Your Setup explains how to tweak and enhance Dynamics AX and its components for optimal performance.
Chapter 12, Backup and Maintenance teaches you how to maintain the data integrity of Dynamics AX data and develop backup and recovery processes.
Appendix A, contains additional topics on Dynamics AX administration and configuration.
Appendix B, contains additional settings, configuration options, and troubleshooting techniques.
What you need for this book
The following are the minimum requirements:
OS: Windows Server 2003 (2008 preferred)
Database: SQL Server 2005 (2008 Preferred) plus: Analysis Services, Reporting Services and Integration Services
Other: Visual Studio 2008, .NET 2.0, latest .NET 3.x version, and latest Internet Explorer 8.x
SharePoint: WSS 3.0 or SharePoint 2007
Dynamics AX 200-9 with SP1
Conventions
In this book, you will find a number of styles of text that distinguish between different kinds of information. Here are some examples of these styles, and an explanation of their meaning.
New terms and important words are shown in bold. Words that you see on the screen, in menus or dialog boxes for example, appear in the text like this: "The View history form and Windows Event Log will assist in determining the source of any errors ".
Note
Warnings or important notes appear in a box like this.
Note
Tips and tricks appear like this.
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Chapter 1. System Planning and Hardware Sizing
Before you plan your Dynamics AX implementation, it is vital that you understand the current hardware, network, and software infrastructure in which you will be implementing Microsoft Dynamics AX. It is also equally important to gather information about a company's business requirements, functions, and departments that will be utilizing Dynamics AX 2009. At times, there may be a need to implement new hardware, network, or software resources to fulfill the needs and requirements of Dynamics AX. Therefore, gathering as much information as possible on hardware, network, and software is essential to the success of the functionality and performance of Dynamics AX.
In this chapter, we will cover:
Phases of a Dynamics AX implementation
In order for Dynamics AX to function at its best, hardware and network infrastructure has a large effect on the level of performance a company will experience. Luckily, there are requirements to ensure that Dynamics AX will function at its best. You can also expand on these requirements to provide even better performance. For example, you can certainly expand and implement a better infrastructure (scaling out) that supports more network bandwidth or implement more data capacity or processing power as well (scaling up).
The requirements of the network and hardware are determined by the number of concurrent users and transactions as well as the other services whose demands will take up network resources alongside Dynamics AX.
Since Dynamics AX is a modular server system, requirements are also based on which of these systems will need to be utilized and to what degree. For example, for the Enterprise Portal, you will need to decide if it will be accessible using an Intranet on a Local Area Network (LAN) or using the Internet on a Wide Area Network (WAN).
In this case, your hardware, software, and even network requirements will have to compensate to handle the bandwidth, security, and load. Another example may be that your implementation may be running many batch jobs in which they handle large sums of data. For that reason, you may consider implementing extra Application Object Servers (AOS) to compensate for the batch loads and demands.
You may also want to be prepared for emergency scenarios or for compensating additional demands that occur from company expansions.
Microsoft Dynamics Sure Step implementation methodology (http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/support/implementation/success.aspx) is an excellent collection of guidelines for successful implementations, especially for Dynamics AX. The following table is adapted from the Sure Step methodology and provides an overview of processes during an implementation:
Modeling phase
Phase
Tasks during phase
Diagnostics
Analysis
Design
Development, testing, and training
Phase
Tasks during phase
Development
Production (Go live)
Phase
Tasks during phase
Deployment and Operation
These are on-going activities that continue after the project is closed and throughout any future involvement with the client
Planning phase
Phase
Tasks during phase
Optimization
The purpose of this phase is to help the customer optimize the benefit they get from the business solution.
Upgrade
Delegation phase
Before beginning a Dynamics AX implementation, it is important that roles are determined and delegated. This ensures a steady process throughout the implementation and lessens the possibility of any bottlenecks occurring. The following table shows a theoretical sequence of the initial phase of an implementation:
Sequence or Priority
Responsible party (Company, Implementer, or Both)
Action item
Description
1
Both
Choose required features that a company will need to perform business functions.
Specific licenses will need to be purchased to enable certain functions in Dynamics AX to be useable. Also, third party modules may need to be utilized.
2
Company
Gather current network, hardware, and software capabilities.
Review installed software such as operating systems, hardware such as processing speed, available RAM and HDD space. Also review current bandwidth capacity and current network load.
3
Implementer
Gather user, usage, and topology requirements. Estimate projected growth rate.
Number of total users in the company, number of concurrent users, and number of transactions per minute. Topology requirements, such as Intranet or Extranet (VPN).
4
Company
Install any new hardware, software and/or configure the network to fit the previously mentioned requirements.
Examples of modifications at this phase are to set up the Windows Domain Controller to support Kerberos authentication.
5
Company
Set up user accounts.
Create users that will need to have specific privileges from the implementation company to perform installation, setup, and the configuration of Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009.
6
Implementer
Create implementation directories.
Specific directories for Dynamics AX configuration files, user documentation, installation and utilities, or any other miscellaneous yet relevant files for the implementation.
7
Implementer
Install required software for Dynamics AX 2009.
Install required software that the Dynamics AX 2009 installation program needs in order to install and run base and server components. For example, Internet Information Services (IIS) and Windows SharePoint Services will need to be installed and set up for the Enterprise Portal to be installed.
8
Implementer
Create and set up development environment.
In conjunction with the previous step, there should be a server dedicated to development. The development environment will contain everything that the production environment has; however, the base and server components can run on the same system. Sometimes, the test environment can also reside on the development server.
9
Implementer
Create and set up test and staging environment.
Similar to the previously mentioned; however, these environments will resemble the production more so. Typically, the staging environment is practically identical to the production environment.
10
Implementer
Create and set up production environment.
The production environment should be considered an "island" from the other environments and should be treated as sacred.
11
Implementer
Import users.
Import company users into required environments.
A well-coordinated team with specific tasks is an integral part of a successful implementation. Without such a team, unforeseen failures and setbacks may occur. Each role is required due to the responsibilities incurred during an implementation lifecycle. The following roles will need to be occupied by qualified professionals:
Tip
At times, responsibilities fluctuate, consolidate, and deviate from the initial roles. The previously mentioned list provides mere guidelines to understand the typical responsibilities required for an implementation. Keep in mind, the larger the implementation, the greater the responsibilities, as the number of roles required will increase proportionally.
Setting up an environment for Dynamics AX 2009 follows similar guidelines to other Microsoft infrastructure methodologies. A list of possible implementation methodologies are as follows:
Hardware planning
Having hardware performing at its best is crucial for the performance of Dynamics AX 2009. Therefore, planning hardware setup and infrastructure is essential to the overall implementation and post implementation of Dynamics AX. There is a level of performance that is proportional to the level of utilization. The goals of achieving performance requirements are to minimize response time, maximize throughput, and balance resource utilization and workload. This is also a function of capacity management, which is the process of planning, analyzing, sizing, and optimizing capacity to fulfill demands in the least timely and lowest cost approach. The following table is a list of items that need to be collected and quantified in order to create an optimal Dynamics AX 2009 environment:
Requirement
Description
Number of companies
Some implementations may contain one or more companies.
Number of users
Maximum number of concurrent users as well as company size. Keep in mind that the number of concurrent users will increase as a company grows.
Number of departments
It is important to know the number of departments present within a company. In Dynamics AX, departments can be partitioned into a company account. It is also important to determine the following:
Number of transactions
Determine the number of transactions that are occurring during on and off peak hours. Resources need to be leveraged to handle the loads. Keep in mind that different times during the year may also put variable strain on the system.
Required features
Will EDI, business analysis, web, or mobile access be required? These are just a few examples of features you must consider.
Consider that, when users access role centers, behind the scenes, they will be accessing SQL Server Analysis Services. Depending on your data and role centers, these can be intensive calculations and may require extra processing power to compensate.
Another scenario would be an EDI scenario. If part of your information is being received from an outside vendor and orders are also being created to another outside vendor, consider that there may be a need for a specialized setup to efficiently work with the two endpoints.
External user access
Determine whether users will be accessing Dynamics AX using the Internet or extranet. What features, permissions, and resources do these users require? What are the peak and off-peak hours for users, as well as the number of transactions within those periods?
Internal user access
Similar to External user access, however for the intranet.
Estimated growth rate
To determine this, take the current growth rate in the last two to five years and distribute it over the next several years. The following mathematical formula can be used to calculate the rate:
