Microsoft CRM Implementation Guide - Planning the Deployment of Microsoft CRM

  • Article

The previous chapters (chapters 2 – 5) discussed the planning process leading to a successful Microsoft® CRM implementation. This chapter and the following chapters (chapters 7-15) discuss the details and the specific items that should be considered in planning and implementing Microsoft CRM.

All example configurations use the example business Adventure Works Cycle and the sample database provided. See Chapter 20, "The Sample Database" for installing and using the Adventure Works Cycle sample database.

On This Page

Hardware and Software Requirements Hardware and Software Requirements
Deployment Scenarios Deployment Scenarios

Hardware and Software Requirements

There are several factors that make providing a list of hardware and software requirements difficult. Some of these include:

  • The number of servers involved and how they are configured.

  • The fact that Microsoft CRM is dependent on Microsoft SQL Server™ 2000.

  • The number of users your Microsoft CRM implementation will support.

  • The integration of Microsoft CRM with your Microsoft Exchange 2000 servers.

  • The performance of your servers and the local area network.

Discussed later in this chapter are several deployment scenarios. The basic scenario describes a minimum four-server deployment with (see the following figure):

  • Microsoft CRM Server

  • Microsoft SQL Server 2000

  • Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server

  • A computer acting as the Active Directory® domain controller

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Basic server architecture

The hardware recommendations are available for Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Exchange Server. The hardware recommendations for a Microsoft CRM server computer are listed below. (Installing Microsoft CRM on Microsoft Small Business Server is discussed in Chapter 16, "Operating and Maintaining Your Microsoft CRM System.")

In addition to the required components, other supporting components provide other necessary functionality. These components include networking and security components, such as Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server. Also, for performance and redundancy, it may be necessary to have multiple Active Directory domain controllers and Microsoft Exchange servers.

Microsoft CRM Server Hardware

  • Computer/Processor: Dual 700 MHz or higher Intel Pentium (Xeon PIII) or compatible CPU minimum. Recommended is Dual 1.8 GHz Pentium (Xeon P4).

  • Memory: 512 megabytes (MB) of RAM.

  • Hard disk: SCSI with hardware RAID 5 and three hard drives minimum.

  • Network Card: 10/100 megabit.

Microsoft CRM Server Software Requirements

  • Microsoft Windows® 2000 Server (or Advanced Server) with Service Pack 3 or later. Also install the following services:

    • Microsoft Message Queuing (also known as MSMQ)

    • Indexing Service

    • Internet Information Services

  • Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) 2.7a.

The following components are required and are installed during Microsoft CRM installation.

  • Microsoft XML Core Services 4.0 with Service Pack 1

  • Microsoft .NET Framework with Service Pack 2

The computer running Microsoft CRM must also have access to computers in the same Active Directory domain running:

  • Microsoft SQL Server 2000 with Service Pack 2 or later (and the latest hotfixes)

Microsoft CRM may coexist on the same computer as either Microsoft SQL Server or Microsoft Exchange Server, but this configuration is not recommended.

Microsoft CRM Browser Client Software Requirements

  • Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition, Microsoft Windows 2000 (Server or Professional), or Microsoft Windows XP (Professional or Home).

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 with Service Pack 2 or later.

Microsoft CRM Sales for Outlook Software Requirements

  • Windows 2000 (Server or Professional) with Service Pack 3, or Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 1.

  • Microsoft Office XP (2002) with Service Pack 2

    OR

    Microsoft Office 2000 with the following additional requirements:

    • Microsoft Office 2000 SR1 (available at https://www.microsoft.com/downloads).

    • Microsoft Office 2000 SP3 (available on the Microsoft CRM Supplement for Microsoft Office 2000 CD).

    • Microsoft Outlook 2000 Post-SP-3 Hotfix (228512) (available on the Microsoft CRM Supplement for Microsoft Office 2000 CD).

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 with Service Pack 2 or later. (If a version of Internet Explorer earlier than 5.5 is present, Internet Explorer 6.0 will be installed.)

Microsoft CRM-Exchange E-Mail Router

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server (or Advanced Server) with Service Pack 3 or later. Also install the following services:

    • Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server with Service Pack 3

    • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 with Service Pack 2 or later

The following components are required and are installed during Microsoft CRM-Exchange E-mail Router installation.

  • Microsoft XML Core Services 4.0 with Service Pack 1

  • Microsoft .NET Framework with Service Pack 2

Deployment Scenarios

Providing a specific deployment scenario that takes into account the wide range of businesses and their individual needs is difficult. Therefore, the following three broad categories are discussed in the following chapters, with the intent that you tailor your planning and deployment to meet your individual requirements:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 and Active Directory

    • Single Active Directory domain (not Microsoft Small Business Server)

    • Multiple Active Directory domains

  • Microsoft Windows NT® 4.0

    • Migration to Windows 2000 and Active Directory

    • Windows NT 4.0 domain and Windows 2000 Active Directory domain coexisting

  • Microsoft Small Business Server

Documentation Map

The following documentation map will help you find the information you need to plan and deploy Microsoft CRM.

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Documentation map

Based on the previous flow chart, the following topics list the deployment type and the associated chapters.

Single Active Directory Domain

The following chapters will give you the information you need to plan and deploy Microsoft CRM on a network that is a single Active Directory domain:

  • Chapter 7, "Planning Microsoft CRM and Microsoft Active Directory"

  • Chapter 8, "Planning Microsoft CRM and Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server"

  • Chapter 11, "Planning Microsoft CRM and Microsoft SQL Server 2000"

  • Chapter 12, "Planning the Backup and Restoration of Your Microsoft CRM System"

  • Chapter 13, "Planning the Security of Your Microsoft CRM System"

  • Chapter 14, "Installing Microsoft CRM"

(Although Microsoft Small Business Server is a single Active Directory domain, it is discussed in Chapter 15, "Installing Microsoft CRM Server on Microsoft Small Business Server.")

Multiple Active Directory Domain

The following chapters will give you the information you need to plan and deploy Microsoft CRM on a network that is a multiple Active Directory domain:

  • Chapter 7, "Planning Microsoft CRM and Microsoft Active Directory"

  • Chapter 8, "Planning Microsoft CRM and Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server"

  • Chapter 11, "Planning Microsoft CRM and Microsoft SQL Server 2000"

  • Chapter 12, " Planning the Backup and Restoration of Your Microsoft CRM System "

  • Chapter 13, "Planning the Security of Your Microsoft CRM System"

  • Chapter 14, "Installing Microsoft CRM"

Migration to Windows 2000 and Active Directory

The following chapters will give you the information you need to migrate to Windows 2000 and Active Directory:

  • Chapter 7, "Planning Microsoft CRM and Microsoft Active Directory"

  • Chapter 8, "Planning Microsoft CRM and Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server"

  • Chapter 9, "Migrating from Windows NT 4.0 to Windows 2000 and Active Directory"

  • Chapter 11, "Planning Microsoft CRM and Microsoft SQL Server 2000"

  • Chapter 12, " Planning the Backup and Restoration of Your Microsoft CRM System "

  • Chapter 13, "Planning the Security of Your Microsoft CRM System"

  • Chapter 14, "Installing Microsoft CRM"

Windows NT 4.0 Domain and Windows 2000 Active Directory Domain Coexisting

The following chapters will give you the information you need to configure a coexisting Windows NT 4.0 domain and Windows 2000 Active Directory domain:

  • Chapter 10, "Planning Microsoft CRM in a Mixed Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000 Network"

  • Chapter 11, "Planning Microsoft CRM and Microsoft SQL Server 2000"

  • Chapter 12, " Planning the Backup and Restoration of Your Microsoft CRM System "

  • Chapter 13, "Planning the Security of Your Microsoft CRM System"

  • Chapter 14, "Installing Microsoft CRM"