When you consider to re-install Microsoft CRM

If the following tasks were not completed correctly by the Setup program, you must uninstall Microsoft CRM Server 3.0 and re-install:

1. Security groups added to Active Directory
2. Microsoft CRM web pages installed under the Microsoft CRM website.
3. Microsoft CRM databases created on the Microsoft CRM database server.
4. Microsoft CRM program group created.

Note: The command line "Repair" option does not correct these issues. The repair option only applies if the Microsoft CRM files are overwritten or get corrupted; in this case, repair restores all the binary files, re-registers components, and replaces registry keys, as needed.

Creating the Microsoft CRM Web Site

Assuming readers familiar with IIS 6.0, I would like to point out several items usful for setting CRM Web Site.

1. Do not allow anonymous access to this web site. Remember CRM uses Active Directory.
2. The web site access permissions for the site should be the Read and Run scripts(such as ASP) permissions checked.
3. Add the CRM web site to the Trusted Sites zone.
4. Disable the use of pop-u blockers.
5. Set the User Authentication Logon option to "Automatic logon with current username and password." By using the credintials of the currently logged in user, you will not have to log into Microsoft CRM each time you open it.

Critical Areas of Knowledge for those who install Microsoft CRM

As usual, Microsoft surveyed many partners involved in CRM 1.x implementation.
And following areas are the skills set that CRM implementer should posses to successfully install Microsoft CRM.

1. Deployment Issues
Knowledge of the variations of domain topology and placement of servers and users
supported with Microsoft CRM. Also knowledge of customer's hardware and software
requirement based on:
a. how many users will use CRM.
b. level of downtime the customer will accept
c. Response time required from the Web servier
d. Amount of data expected to be created.
e. Customer's budget
f. Current server hardware capacity and software installed.

2. Active Directory
3. DNS
4. SQL Server
Implementer should able to install SQL server, setup a database maintenance plan,
create indexes, create jobs, move SQL Logs to a different drive, to select an
appropriate RAID configuration, and establish or recommend a backup stategy.
5. IIS
Implementer should able to publish the Microsoft CRM Web site through a firewall
such as ISA Server so that Microsoft CRM can be accessed externally. Also he
able to understand of thte appropriate IIS configuration settings for Microsoft
CRM, which is needed if Microsoft CRM Web pages do not load.
6. Microsoft Exchange
Implementer should able to know where to install the Microsoft CRM Exchange Email
Router, to verify email flow to and from Microsoft CRM. Also he should able to
support an Exchange server in a different domain.
7. Microsoft CRM Outlook Client
Implementer should consider Network capacity, stages, dependencies, benchmarks
and limitations of the Outlook client synchronization process over the network
capacity.

Planning Microsoft CRM 3.0 Installation

Serveral areas of the network software must to be reviewed:
Active Directory Domain Controller
Domains and Domain Naming System
Operating System
Microsoft Exchange 2000 or 2003
Microsoft Office 2003 or Office XP

Single Server Deployment − Recommended for up to 75
Users
The single server deployment is designed to use Microsoft's Small Business
Server (SBS) 2003. Both Premium and Standard versions of SBS are supported
by Microsoft CRM 3.0. SBS 2003 is a flexible network solution designed to help
small businesses. The integrated Small Business Server is the one-computer
server solution that supports up to 75 client computers and integrates the
following server software:
• Microsoft® Windows® 2003 Server with SP1
• Microsoft SQL Server 2000
Microsoft CRM Installation and Configuration
Page 40
• Microsoft Exchange Server 2003
• Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000

Windows Small Business Server 2003 Hardware Requirements
Minimum Hardware Requirements
• Processor: Dual Intel Pentium (Xeon PIII) 700 MHz or comparable
single CPU speeds
• RAM: 512 MB
• Hard Disk: 8 GB available hard disk space
• Modem: No modem
• Network Card: 1 Network Adapter card (10/100 Mb Ethernet)
Recommended Hardware Requirements
• Processor: Dual 1.8 GHz (Xeon P4) or comparable single CPU
speeds
• RAM: 1 GB or more, depending on the system configuration
• Hard Disk: SCSI hard drives with RAID 5, depending on the system
configuration
• Modem: Two modems; one for Shared Fax Service and one for
Remote Access Service, Shared Modem Service, and Internet
Security and Acceleration Server dial-up service
• Network Card: 2 Network Adapter cards (100 Mb Network Card)


Note:Do not install the Microsoft CRM Outlook client on the Small
Business Server computer.


Before you begin, consider the following factors:
• Updated device drivers. It is important to make sure you have
updated device drivers that are compatible with Windows Server
2003.
• Critical data backup. If upgrading to Small Business Server 2003,
make sure you have backed up all critical data on the system and
have tested the backup to guarantee data integrity.
• Power supply. Use an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) for the
server. If a power outage occurs, a UPS provides the server with
enough backup power to save data and safely shut down.
• Business growth. Always plan a Small Business Server installation
for growth. Plan your installation based on anticipated growth. Doing
so saves you time and money in the future.


Microsoft CRM Server Hardware Requirements
Microsoft CRM Server requires the following minimum hardware configuration:
• Computer/Processor: Dual 700 MHz Intel Pentium (Xeon PIII) or
compatible CPU
Recommended: Dual 1.8 GHz Pentium (Xeon P4)
• RAM: 512 MB
• Controller: SCSI with hardware RAID 5 (3 drives minimum)
• Network Card: 10/100 Mb



In large deployments that include multiple Microsoft CRM Servers, the
Microsoft CRM Servers may be configured within a Windows Load Balancing
Service (WLBS) cluster. Microsoft CRM 3.0 supports clustering and farm
configurations for high availability as well as for load balancing. Microsoft CRM
3.0 supports a Web Farm configuration using technologies such as Windows
Load Balancing Server and BigIP.Microsoft CRM 3.0 also supports active/passive SQL and Exchange Clustering
for data store and e-mail, respectively.