Software requirements for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server

 

Applies To: Dynamics 365 (on-premises), Dynamics CRM 2016

This section lists the software and application requirements for this version of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server.

In This Topic

Windows Server operating system

Server virtualization

Active Directory modes

Internet Information Services (IIS)

SQL Server editions

Accessing Microsoft Dynamics 365 from the Internet - Claims-based authentication and IFD requirements

Software component prerequisites

Verify prerequisites

Windows Server operating system

This version of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server can be installed only on Windows Server 64-bit-based computers. The specific versions and editions of Windows Server that are supported for installing and running this version of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server are listed in the following sections.

Important

The following Windows Server versions are not supported for installing and running this version of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server:

  • Windows Server 2016 Essentials

  • Windows Server 2012 Foundation

  • Windows Server 2012 Essentials

  • Microsoft Windows Small Business Server editions

  • The Windows Server 2008 family of operating systems

Supported Windows Server 2016 editions

The following editions of the Windows Server 2016 operating system are supported for installing and running Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server:

  • Windows Server 2016 Standard

  • Windows Server 2016 Datacenter

Supported Windows Server 2012 editions

The following editions of the Windows Server 2012 operating system are supported for installing and running Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server:

  • Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard

  • Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter

  • Windows Server 2012 Standard

  • Windows Server 2012 Datacenter

Server Core installations

With the exception of the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Help Server and Microsoft Dynamics 365 Reporting Extensions roles, you can install any Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server server role on a Server Core installation of Windows Server. Server Core is a minimal server installation option for the Windows Server family of operating systems. Server Core provides a low-maintenance server environment with limited functionality. For more information about Server Core as implemented on Windows Server 2012, see Server Core for Windows Server 2012

Important

To install Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server on a Server Core Windows Server, you must run Setup in silent mode from the command line. More information: Use the command prompt to install Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server

The Help Server role cannot be installed on a Windows Server running as Server Core.

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Reporting Extensions for SQL Server Reporting Services cannot be installed on Server Core. This is because Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services, which is required by Microsoft Dynamics 365 Reporting Extensions for SQL Server Reporting Services, cannot be installed on a Windows Server running Server Core.

Server virtualization

Microsoft Dynamics 365 servers can be deployed in a virtualized environment by using Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2012 with Hyper-V or virtualization solutions from vendors who participate in the Microsoft Windows Server Virtualization Validation Program (SVVP). You must understand the limitations and best practices of server virtualization before you try to virtualize your installation of Microsoft Dynamics 365. For information about Hyper-V, see the Microsoft Virtualization website.

Active Directory modes

The computer that Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server is running on must be a member in a domain that is running in one of the following Active Directory directory service forest and domain functional levels:

  • Windows Server 2008

  • Windows Server 2008 R2

  • Windows Server 2012

  • Windows Server 2012 R2

For more information about Active Directory domain and forest functional levels, see the Active Directory Domains and TrustsMicrosoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in Help.

Important

  • The computer that Microsoft Dynamics 365 is running on shouldn’t function as an Active Directory domain controller.

  • When you use the Add Users Wizard, only users from trusted domains in the current forest will be displayed. Users from trusted external forests aren’t supported and don’t appear in the wizard.

  • Installing Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server in an LDAP directory that is running in Active Directory Application Mode (ADAM) is not supported.

Internet Information Services (IIS)

This version of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server supports Internet Information Services (IIS) versions 8.0 and 8.5.

We recommend that you install and run IIS in Native Mode before you install Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server. However, if IIS is not installed and it is required for a Microsoft Dynamics 365 server role, Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server Setup will install it.

Important

Microsoft Dynamics 365 can’t use a website that has more than one http or https binding. Although IIS supports multiple http and https bindings, there is a limitation in using additional bindings with Windows Communication Foundation (WCF). WCF is required when you use Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Outlook. Before you install or upgrade, you must remove the additional bindings from the website used for Microsoft Dynamics 365 or select a different website.

SQL Server editions

Any one of the following Microsoft SQL Server editions is required and must be installed and running on Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2012, or Windows Server 2008 as supported by the version of Microsoft SQL Server. Additionally, Windows Server 2012 (RTM or R2) or Windows Server 2008 (SP2 or R2) must be 64-bit-based versions.

  • *Microsoft SQL Server 2016, Enterprise with Cumulative Update 2 (CU2)

  • *Microsoft SQL Server 2016, Standard with Cumulative Update 2 (CU2)

  • *Microsoft SQL Server 2016, Developer, with Cumulative Update 2 (CU2) (for non-production use only)

  • SQL Server 2014 Enterprise, 64-bit with SP2

  • SQL Server 2014 Business Intelligence, 64-bit with SP2

  • SQL Server 2014 Standard, 64-bit with SP2

  • SQL Server 2014 Developer, 64-bit with SP2 (for non-production use only)

  • Microsoft SQL Server 2012, Enterprise, 64-bit SP3

  • Microsoft SQL Server 2012, Business Intelligence, 64-bit SP3

  • Microsoft SQL Server 2012, Standard, 64-bit SP3

  • Microsoft SQL Server 2012, Developer, 64-bit SP3 (for non-production use only)

Important

  • *For recommendations that help improve performance when you use SQL Server 2016 with Microsoft Dynamics 365, see Improve performance when you use Microsoft Dynamics 365 with SQL Server 2016.

  • 32-bit versions of Microsoft SQL Server database engine are not supported for this version of Microsoft Dynamics 365.

  • SQL Server Compact or Microsoft SQL Server Express editions are not supported for use with this version of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server.

  • Microsoft SQL Server 2008 versions are not supported for use with this version of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server.

Accessing Microsoft Dynamics 365 from the Internet - Claims-based authentication and IFD requirements

The following items are required or recommended for Internet-facing deployment (IFD). This topic assumes you will be using Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) as the security token service (STS). For more information about configuring Microsoft Dynamics 365 for claims-based authentication, see Configure IFD for Microsoft Dynamics 365.

Important

Exposing the Microsoft Dynamics 365 website to the Internet is not supported unless claims-based authentication is used and Microsoft Dynamics 365 is configured for IFD.

Similarly, Outlook Anywhere (RPC over HTTP) is not supported as a solution to connect Dynamics 365 for Outlook to an on-premises deployment of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server over the Internet. The on-premises deployment of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server must be configured for IFD as described in the topic Configure IFD for Microsoft Dynamics 365.

In order for Microsoft Dynamics 365 for tablets to successfully connect to a new deployment of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server, you must run a Repair of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server on the server running IIS where the Web Application Server role is installed after the Internet-Facing Deployment Configuration Wizard is successfully completed. For repair instructions, see Uninstall, change, or repair Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server.

  • The computer where Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server is installed must have access to a security token service (STS) service, such as Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) federation server. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server supports Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) 2.0 (Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2), 2.1 (Windows Server 2012), and 3.0 (Windows Server 2012 R2) versions.

    Note

    Currently, this version of Microsoft Dynamics 365 doesn't support Active Directory Federation Services for Windows Server 2016 (AD FS 2016).

  • Note the following conditions for the web components before you configure IFD:

    • If you are installing Microsoft Dynamics 365 in a single server configuration, be aware that Active Directory Federation Services 2.0 installs on the default website. Therefore, you must create a new website for Microsoft Dynamics 365.

    • When you run the Internet-Facing Deployment Configuration Wizard, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server must be running on a website that is configured to use Transport Layer Security (TLS) or Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server Setup will not configure the website for TLS/SSL.

    • We recommend that the IIS website where the Microsoft Dynamics 365 web application will be installed requires TLS/SSL.

    • The website should have a single binding. Multiple IIS bindings, such as a website with an HTTPS and an HTTP binding or two HTTPS or two HTTP bindings, are not supported for running Microsoft Dynamics 365.

    • Access to the Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) federation metadata file from the computer where the Configure Claims-Based Authentication Wizard is run. Note the following:

      • The federation metadata endpoint must use the web services trust model (WS-Trust) 1.3 standard. Endpoints that use a previous standard, such as the WS-Trust 2005 standard, are not supported. In Active Directory Federation Services 2.0, all WS-Trust 1.3 endpoints contain /trust/13/ in the URL path.
    • Encryption certificates. The following encryption certificates are required. You can use the same encryption certificate for both purposes, such as when you use a wildcard certificate:

      Important

      If you use a certificate that is created by using a custom certificate request, the template that was used must be the Legacy key template. Custom certificate requests created by using the CNG key template are incompatible with Microsoft Dynamics 365. For more information about custom certificate request templates, see Create a Custom Certificate Request.

      • Claims encryption. Claims-based authentication requires identities to provide an encryption certificate for authentication. This certificate should be trusted by the computer where you are installing Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server so it must be located in the local Personal store where the Configure Claims-Based Authentication Wizard is running.

      • TLS/SSL (HTTPS) encryption. The certificates for TLS/SSL encryption should be valid for host names similar to org.contoso.com, auth.contoso.com, and dev.contoso.com. To satisfy this requirement you can use a single wildcard certificate (*.contoso.com), a certificate that supports Subject Alternative Names, or individual certificates for each name. Individual certificates for each host name are only valid if you use different servers for each web server role. Multiple IIS bindings, such as a website with two HTTPS or two HTTP bindings, aren’t supported for running Microsoft Dynamics 365. For more information about available options, contact your certification authority service company or your certification authority administrator.

  • The CRMAppPool account of each Microsoft Dynamics 365 website must have read permission to the private key of the encryption certificate specified when configuring claims-based authentication. You can use the Certificates Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in to edit permissions for the encryption certificate found in the Personal store of the local computer account.

Software component prerequisites

The following SQL Server components must be installed and running on the computer that is running SQL Server before you installMicrosoft Dynamics 365 Server:

  • SQL word breakers

    This is only required for some Microsoft Dynamics 365 language editions. For more information about word breaker versions for languages supported by SQL Server see Configure and Manage Word Breakers and Stemmers for Search.

  • SQL Server Agent service

  • SQL Server full-text indexing

The following components must be installed and running on the computer where Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server will be installed:

  • Services

    • Indexing Service

      To install this service, see the Windows Server documentation.

    • IIS Admin

    • World Wide Web Publishing

    • Net.Tcp Port Sharing Service

  • Windows Data Access Components (MDAC)

  • Microsoft ASP.NET (Must be registered, but does not have to be running.)

Verify prerequisites

Before you install Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server, you should understand the following:

  • Microsoft SQL Server can be, but is not required to be, installed on the same computer as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server.

  • If Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server and Microsoft SQL Server are installed on different computers, both computers must be in the same Active Directory directory service domain.

  • Microsoft SQL Server can be installed by using either Windows Authentication or mixed-mode authentication. (Windows Authentication is recommended for increased security and Microsoft Dynamics 365 will use only Windows Authentication).

  • The service account that SQL Server uses to log on to the network must be either a domain user account (recommended) or one of the built-in system accounts supported by SQL Server (Network Service, Local Service, or Local System). Installation of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server will fail if the SQL Server service account is the local administrator.

  • The SQL Server service must be started and can be configured to automatically start when the computer is started.

  • The Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services service must be started and configured to automatically start when the computer is started.

  • The SQL Server Agent service must be started. This service can be configured to automatically start when the computer is started.

  • Although it is optional, we recommend that you accept the SQL Server default settings for Collation Designator, Sort Order, and SQL Collation. Microsoft Dynamics 365 supports both case-sensitive and case-insensitive sort orders.

  • Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server Setup requires at least one network protocol to be enabled to authenticate by using SQL Server. By default, TCP/IP protocol is enabled when you install SQL Server. You can view network protocols in SQL Server Configuration Manager.

See Also

Microsoft SQL Server hardware requirements for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Server
Microsoft Dynamics 365 reporting requirements

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