Move an Enterprise Portal deployment to a different server

Applies To: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Feature Pack, Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012

This topic describes how to move an Enterprise Portal for Microsoft Dynamics AX deployment from one server to another. Moving an Enterprise Portal deployment across servers is common for businesses or organizations that perform development and testing in one environment, and then move the deployment into a production environment. To move specific Enterprise Portal objects to a different server, see Checklist: Deploy Enterprise Portal changes to a different server.

Before you begin

For the purpose of this discussion, Server1 is the name of the current Enterprise Portal server and Server2 is the name of the new or target server. Before you begin, you must complete the following tasks.

1. Use Setup to deploy the Microsoft Dynamics AX client on Server2. For more information, see Install the Microsoft Dynamics AX client.

2. Use Setup to install Enterprise Portal on Server2. In Setup, on the Configure a Web site for Enterprise Portal page, clear the Create Web site option. You will create the site by using the procedure in this topic. For more information, see Checklists for deploying Enterprise Portal sites.

Move an Enterprise Portal deployment to a different server

Use the following procedure to move an Enterprise Portal deployment to a different server.

1. Open a Command Prompt window on Server1 and locate the following directory. If you are using SharePoint 2013, change ‘14’ in the following path to ‘15’:

   C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\14\BIN

2. At the command prompt, type: Backup-SPSite http://Server1/sites/DynamicsAX -Path c:\axep.bak

   For this command, replace Server1 with the computer name of Server1.

3. Copy the axep.bak file from C:\ on Server1 to C:\ on Server2.

4. Use the Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Server Configuration utility to verify that Server2 is configured to communicate with the same Microsoft Dynamics AX database as Server1.

5. Use the Microsoft Dynamics AX client to verify that the URL is available. Click System administration > Setup > Enterprise Portal > Web sites.

6. Verify that no sites in the Web sites form use the http://Server2/sites/DynamicsAx URL.

   Important

   If a site on Server2 does use the http://Server2/sites/DynamicsAx URL you must configure the site to use a different URL or delete the site because the Enterprise Portal deployment you are currently moving from Server1 to Server2 will use this URL.

7. Open a Command Prompt window on Server2 and locate the following directory. If you are using SharePoint 2013, change ‘14’ in the following path to ‘15’:

   C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Web Server Extensions\14\BIN

8. At the command prompt, type: Restore-SPSite http://Server2/sites/DynamicsAX -Path c:\axep.bak

   For this command, replace Server2 with the computer name of Server2.

9. On Server2, click the Register site button on the Web sites form.

10. In the Internal URL and External URL fields, enter http://Server2/sites/DynamicsAx

11. In the Type field, select Full (Web parts and site templates).

12. Verify that the Default Enterprise Portal site and the Website used to display Role Centers in the client fields show the correct URL.

13. On the General tab, select Company independent if this site should host data for multiple legal entities in Microsoft Dynamics AX. Or, clear the option if this site should host data for a specific legal entity in Microsoft Dynamics AX.

14. Open a web browser and enter http://Server2/sites/DynamicsAx in the Address bar to verify that the Enterprise Portal deployment is available.

15. Configure user access to the site. For more information, see Enable users to access Enterprise Portal