In previous posts, Ryan shared how we can provide rich, interactive charts and graphs with SharePoint 2010 and IT Analytics cubes. In this post, I will show you how to set up a new, basic instance of SharePoint 2010 Enterprise, along with installing and configuring a Business Intelligence Center site that uses PerformancePoint Servces to use with IT Analytics.
Prerequisites
You can find the SharePoint 2010 hardware and software requirements listed at the following link:
I am using a Hyper-V instance of Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise with SQL Server 2008 R2 installed with 3CPUs, 3Gb RAM and 40Gb of disk space. Please note that PerformancePoint 2010 is licensed only with SharePoint 2010 Enterprise.
SharePoint Installation
Once the Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 installation dialog box appears, I recommend clicking on "Install software prerequisites" first. The install is great and installing any updates, roles and settings to ensure the install goes smoothly. After the software prerequisites installation completes, click on "Install Sharepoint Server."
After entering my SharePoint 2010 Enterprise license, you will be prompted to select Standalone or Server Farm. Given the available functionality and flexibility, I will be installing a Server Farm. When promoted for server type on the next page, I will select "Complete" so all components are installed and available.
That is the last step for installing SharePoint 2010 Server. We will now launch in to configuring my SharePoint 2010 instance.
A few clicks in to the wizard, I am asked if I want to connect to an existing server farm or create a new server farm. In this post, I'll create a new server farm.
Next, I specify the server and credentials on the following page.
After setting credentials, I need to create a passphrase that I will use as I add more SharePoint servers to this farm.
The rest of the options, I will leave at default and click through until the configuration is complete.
Next, I must configure the server farm. A browser comes up and gives me an option to go through a wizard or manually configure the server. I'll use the wizard. I'll leave all the services at their default settings and select "Use existing managed account," and click Next.
The next page is important. This is where I will define my PerformancePoint "site" on SharePoint. I'll give this site a title of "IT Analytics" and have the site run right off the root folder.
I scroll down to define what sort of site this is. There are a number of templates out of the box, but the one I am interested in, Business Intelligence Center, is located in the Enterprise tab. The Business Intelligence Center is where I will use IT Analytics as my datasource for custom reports, dashboards, charts and tables. I click OK and a processing window appears. Once that completes, my farm configuration is complete.
Two critical elements must also be configured:
1. The Secure Store and Unattended Service Account - This must be a shared domain account that will be used for accessing data sources we define within PerformancePoint.
2. Secure Store Service - PerformancePoint uses this service to store the unattended service account password. Additionally, the credential database is encrypted by a key. This key must be created before defining any data sources in PerformancePoint.
Now that my SharePoint Performance Point site is configured, I can now start creating custom dashboards, charts and tables using IT Analytics, and enabling my users do the same!