Recently, I try to configure Visual Studio 2010 for a specific AX 2012 R3 AOS instance out of multiple AOS instances installed in the same box. The scenario is as follows:
- Machine_1 : Running three Dynamics AX 2012 R3 AOS instance (AOS_1, AOS_2, AOS_3)
- Machine_2 : Running SQL server 2012 DB and three SSRS instance (SSRS_1, SSRS_2, SSRS_3).These three reporting service instance is configured as per three AOS(s) above consecutively.
- Machine_3 : Remote desktop server for AX client, Visual Studio 2010, MS Office 2013.
The requirement is to configure VS in order to work with AOS_3 for SSRS_3 developments in AX VAR layer from Machine_3 which remote desktop server for accessing AX client and VS.
I will not go details about installation and configuration of multiple AOS , multiple SSRS instance setup as these information are well documented in technet. The followings basically helps to sort out most of the issues with distributive setup with multiple instance while developing objects for SSRS and EP in VS.
Key points to be noted as follows:
- Validate Dynamics AX client successfully opens and points to VAR layer environment (AOS_3) from RD.
- Validate settings for reporting server in dynamics ax from RD. Expected result success.
- Validate Report Manager URL is working in RD.
- Validate to successfully deploy SSRS report from Dynamics AX client in RD
Checklist:
A. The domain account you are using for developing and deploying report must have the following roles in report manager URL:
1. Open report manager URL
2. Click on the "Folder Setting" or select "DynamicsAx" folder and lookup for "Security" and click
3. Key in domain group name or domain user id, assign the role as "Content manager" and "DynamicsAxBrowser". Click OK.
4. If you are setting users only for viewing Ax reports, choose "DynamicsAxBrowser" and "Browser" roles.
5. On the top right side of the page, click "Site settings" - "Security" and click "New role assignment". Key in domain group name or user name. Assign "System administrator" role and click OK.
B. Required setup for Internet Explorer in remote desktop server (Machine_3) (Version IE 11):
1. Go to Tools - Internet Option - Advance (tab page). Scroll down to find "Enable integrated windows authentication". Select the check box next to it and click apply.
2. Go to tab page, "Security", select the zone "Local intranet", click on "Sites", click "Advance". Add the reporting manager URL and close.
3. In the same tab page, select "Custom level". Scroll down and under user authentication group, select the radio button "Automatic log on with current user name and password". Click OK and Apply and Close.
C. Dynamics ax client configuration utility in the remote desktop server (Machine_3):
1. Open client AX configuration utility.
2. Check the "Active configuration store".
# If this is set as registry, create a VAR layer configuration for AOS_3. In the connection tab page click "Refresh configuration". Export out the client configuration file and save this in a local drive.
# If this is not set as registry and points to a shared location in e.g.in Machine_1 as \\Machine_1\AX2012Config\AOS_1_USR.axc). In this case, your local client will always points to this configuration by default as this is set a default in the local machine registry and as a result, your VS will points to this default entry. In this case, go to Machine_1 where AOS_3 is installed, create a VAR layer configuration file (e.g. AOS_3_VAR.axc) for a AOS_3 instance you want to work with and save it in the same location (\\Machine_1\AX2012Config\) . You may choose other location as well. In the Remote desktop machine, open the AX client configuration, click menu button "Manage" and select"Set configuration store". Browse for VAR layer configuration code (\\Machine_1\AX2012Config\AOS_3_VAR.axc). click OK and your active configuration store set accordingly. After this, create a VAR layer configuration for AOS_3. In the connection tab page click "Refresh configuration". Export out the client configuration file and save this in a local drive. Click Apply and OK to close the AX client configuration utility.
D. Visual Studio configuration setup:
1. We are going to use /AxConfig parameter to pass to VS in order to point VAR layer configuration file for AOS_3 you have just exported as above. E.g, the VAR layer configuration file has been exported out and saved in the location \\Machine_3\AX2012 config\
2. Create a shortcut of the visual studio in desktop in your remote desktop server (Machine_3)
3. Right click and open the property window
4. Set target location as follows: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio
10.0\Common7\IDE\devenv.exe" /AxConfig "\\Machine_3\AX2012 config\AOS_3_VAR.axc" . For more information, refer
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg889291.aspx
E. Required windows service
1. Go to list of windows services (Services.msc).
2. Select "RemoteRegistry" service and start it.
Validate your setting as above. Hope this is helpful.
Cheers!
