4. Planning & Prep
Standards
• Take same care with Development
as with Production
• Use Naming Conventions
Databases
Service Accounts
• Script your Actions with
PowerShell
• Use Virtual Technology to test,
snapshot and refine
• Take pride in your environment
• Plan!!
5. Planning & Prep
Service Accounts
• Install / Setup Account
PowerShell Scripts
Cumulative Updates/Service Packs
• Service Accounts
BI Services App Pool Account
Unattended Accounts
PerformancePoint
Excel Services
Visio Services
PowerPivot Data Refresh
• Standards
Naming conventions
Descriptions
Sensible Names
Understand Service Accounts and the principle of least
privileges. Don’t log in using Service Accounts. Create a
setup account and do all patching/config with it.
6. Planning & Prep
Server Topology
• Common Mistakes
Install SSRS on SQL Server
Install SharePoint Foundation on SQL Server
Configure SQL Server as an Application
Server
Plan your server topology.
Server OS
SharePoint Foundation
FE Profile
Excel
Services
Search …….
Server OS
SQL Server
SharePoint Foundation
DB SSAS SSIS SSRS PP
7. Planning & Prep
Server Topology
• SSQL Server
2012 SP1
Default SQL Instance
Database Engine
SSAS
SSIS
PowerPivot SQL Instance
SSAS SharePoint Mode (PowerPivot)
• SharePoint Server
SSRS (SharePoint Mode + Add In)
PowerPivot for SharePoint 2013 Add-In
Service Applications (SSRS, Excel,
PowerPivot, PerformancePoint)
Good Example of a 2 Server BI Farm.
Server OS
SQL Server
DB SSAS SSIS
Server OS
SharePoint Foundation
WFE Profile
Excel
Services
Search SSRS PP
8. Planning & Prep
PowerPivot
• Analysis Services SharePoint Mode
Separate SSAS Instance
Grant Service Account as Admin
• SharePoint Server
PowerPivot for SharePoint 2013 Add-In
Secure Store for Data Refresh Account
9. Planning & Prep
SSRS
• On SharePoint App Servers
Install SQL Instance (Same Version of SQL)
Reporting Services – SharePoint
Reporting Services Add-In for SharePoint
PowerShell Commands
Install-SPRSService
Install-SPRSServiceProxy
10. Planning & Prep
Desktop / Devices
• Silverlight
Power View
PerformancePoint
Power Pivot Gallery
• Browser Support
IE8+ for editing
All browsers for browsing
• Excel
2013/O365 required for Power View / Power BI
2010 supports Power Pivot
2007 workbooks will render in Excel Services
Be prepared for the devices and client experience available.
11. Setting Up
Excel Services
• Start Service
• Create Service Application
No Database
BI Services App Pool
Grant Access To Process Identity (Cannot Open
Workbook Error)
• Configuration
Global Settings
Set Unattended Secure Store ID
Trusted Data Connection Libraries
Data Model Settings
Add SSAS PowerPivot Server
• Quick Test
Sample Workbook
The best starting point for your BI farm and the base service
for PowerPivot
12. Setting Up
PowerPivot
• PreReqs
Excel Services
Data Model Server (SSAS SharePoint Mode)
Secure Store (Unattended Data Refresh Account)
Installed PowerPivot for SharePoint 2013 Add-In
• Configuration
Grant Access to Central Admin DB (Management
Dash)
Install PowerPivot Addin (on every server in farm)
Set Up and Run Configuration Tool
Create Service Application
Configure Data Refresh
Re-run Configuration Tool
• Test
Sample Workbook
PowerPivot requires Excel Services and is fundamental to Self
Serve BI
13. Setting Up
SSRS
• PreReqs
SSRS 2012 (SharePoint Mode) Installed
SSRS 2012 for SharePoint Add-In Installed
PowerShell if necessary
Silverlight (for Power View)
• Configuration
Create Service Application
Create SSRS Reports Library
• Test
Load Report Builder
Create Sample report
SSRS integrates with Excel and PowerPivot to provide
PowerView
14. Setting Up
PerformancePoint
• PreReqs
PPS Service
Silverlight (for Decomposition Tree)
Set Site as Trusted Sites
ADOMD.NET (for SSAS Data Sources)
• Configuration
Create Service Application
Define Unattended Settings
• Test
Connect to SSAS Data Source
Create and Deploy Dashboard
PerformancePoint Services gives a graphical view across
multi-dimensional cubes in addition to a dashboarding tool
15. Setting Up
Visio Services
• PreReqs
Visio Service
• Configuration
Unattended Account in Secure Store
Create Service Application
Global Settings – set Unattended account
Set up AD Group for Diagram Authors
• Test
Sample Visio File
Visio Services provides alternative visualisations when
hooking up Visio stencils to data
16. Common Issues
• PowerPivot Data Refresh Errors
Check Excel Data Model Settings (full instance
name)
Ensure AppPool Account has Admin Permissions in
SSAS PowerPivot instance
• Data Sources
Check Unattended Accounts have access
• PPS Dashboard Designer
Check Site is Trusted
Check ADOMD v10 installed on SP Server
The best starting point for your BI farm and the base service
for PowerPivot
17. Next Steps
• SQL 2012 CU 4+
Power View reports against Multi Dimensional
models (SSRS only)
• SQL 2014
• Kerberos
Per User authentication
Kerberos Guide http://www.microsoft.com/en-
us/download/details.aspx?id=23176
• Data Management
• Self Service Policy
Now the core services are working what next for your farm?
18. Power BI
• Cloud/Hybrid Only Service
Reduced Complexity
Cope with Rapid Change
Cost Effective (Infrastructure/Management)
• Some Services On-Premises Only
PerformancePoint
SSRS Integrated
• Focus on Excel and Self Service
Power View
Power Pivot
Power Query
Power Map
Microsoft’s roadmap is Cloud Only with PowerBI – Is this a
game changer?