BizTalk Server 2013(R2) installation (multi Server) - Screen shots

While working on the BizTalk Server Performance Lab; we took screen shots from pre-requisites installation, BizTalk installation, configuration , multi-server configuration and few other best practices. 

* Note: This was a performance lab install and is meant to assist you with the installation and configuration of BizTalk Server. This does not replace the installation guide.

The following process walks you through Installing and Configuring for BizTalk Server 2010/2013(R2). The screen shots are attached with all steps.  When doing a Multi-Server Configuration (BizTalk and SQL not on same machine is also considered multi-server) we ONLY support domain groups. Ensure that you do not use local groups.

You can find all screenshots in one attachment here(BizTalk Installation & Configuration)

Pre-Requisites:

• IIS
• Application Server Role
• .NET 4.5, 3.5
• COM+ Network Access
• DTC
• SQL Tools are required for BAM/ESB toolkit.
• *SQL Server 2005 notification services is required for BAM alerts. With 2013 R2 we do not require 2005 Notification services as Database Mail is utilized.

Attachments:

• Add Roles on BizTalk Server.zip (Attachment for screenshots)
• MSDTC Configuration.zip(Attachment for screenshots)
  • Ensure that all BizTalk Servers and SQL Servers have the same DTC security configuration is identical on all servers
  • If SQL Server or BizTalk Servers are clustered the Clustered & local DTC has also been configured with similar settings

BizTalk Server Installation

• BizTalk Server Installation.zip(Attachment for screenshots)
  • Best practice is to install the same features on all server(even though) you might not configure same features on all servers. This is for the CU’s or service packs so that all assemblies are consistent across all servers within the group

BizTalk Server Configuration - First Server

• BizTalk Server - SSO Configuration.zip

  • Typically in production environments we recommend to Cluster ESSO. In this scenario the First BizTalk Server is also the Master Secret Server

  • Creates a Windows Service named Enterprise Single Sign-on

  • To cluster ENTSSO please use the following url: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa561823.aspx

  • This creates the SSODB on the specified SQL Server.

  • BizTalk Group Configuration.zip

    • While configuring the BizTalk Group you configure the domain groups and the SQL Server for the MessageBox, DTA and Management DB.
    • Typical best practice recommendation for high volume environment is to separate the BizTalk and SQL Servers on to different SQL Server Instances

  • BizTalk Runtime Configuration.zip

    • • Runtime configuration is really straight forward where you are creating default host instances for isolated and inprocess services. You have an option to select either 32-bit or 64-bit processes.
      • Creates one new windows Service(BizTalk Server Group:BizTalkServerApplication) or inprocess hostname. This is the default BizTalk engine
      • Typically it is recommended to change the startup type on the BizTalk host instances windows services to “Automatic(Delayed Start)”. This is to ensure that BizTalk host instances only startup after ENTSSO process
      • If you plan to use default hosts with wither POP3, FTP or MLLP(before 2013 R2) leave the inprocess host to 32 bit process

  • Biztalk Rules Engine Configuration.zip

    • Straight forward configuration; specify database and  service account for BizTalk Rules Engine. Here we used the BizTalk Service account for Inprocess host instance; you can also create a dedicated service account for this

BizTalk Server Configuration – Join to Group – Second/Third Server – ONLY ENTERPRISE LICENSE

See the attachments; straight forward configuration of the SSO Join to group; Group Join to group

• SSO Configuration - Join to Group.zip
• Runtime Configuration Join to Group.zip(Group, Runtime & Rules Engine)

After Configuration Steps – IMPORTANT

Please ensure that you configure the following SQL jobs:

• Backup BizTalk Server Job - SQL-Backup BizTalk Server Job.zip

  • The "Backup BizTalk Server" SQL Agent job creates synchronized backups of all BizTalk Server databases.  This is accomplished by using marked transactions with the “Full” database recovery model.  This is required for the backups to be transactionally consistent across databases.
  • Therefore, you must use the "Backup BizTalk Server" SQL Agent job to backup your BizTalk databases.  This job must first be configured so it knows where to store the full backups and the transaction log backups.

• DTA Purge and Archive Job

  • This bigger the size of tracking database the slower the data moves from trackingdata tables to DTA DB. This directly impacts your performance
  • The tracking feature in BizTalk provides valuable historic information for analysis and troubleshooting purposes but can mean storing and managing large amounts of tracking data.  In order to prevent performance problems and to maintain a healthy BizTalk environment it is important that this data is actively managed.
  • BizTalk Server provides a SQL agent job which archives and purges old data from the BizTalk Tracking (BizTalkDTADb) database.  It is important to configure and enable the DTA Purge and Archive SQL Agent job to perform this housekeeping process
  • The job can run in two modes that are documented below:
    • Archive and Purge mode: (https://msdn.microsoft.com/enus/library/dd802818(BTS.10).aspx)    
    • Purge mode: (https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd745781(BTS.10).aspx)

Other Best Practices and Options available

• Changing the power setting on the servers from balanced to performance increases your system responsiveness and overall performance. Power Configuration.zip

• Disable Global Tracking.zip

  • To avoid any tracking to happen in BizTalk Server you can choose to disable the global tracking by going into the Group settings and unchecking the enable tracking property
  • Even when Global Tracking is successfully disabled the DTA database can continue to grow for two reasons:
  • Every time the BizTalk Backup job runs it inserts a row in the MarkLog table of every database backed up (that will include DTA).
  • Every time you terminate a suspended instance a row will be written to ServiceInstances table in DTA

• Create Multiple MessageBoxes.zip

  • We only recommend creating multiple message boxes when the message box database and the SQL jobs supporting the process are no longer able to handle the volume. To discuss various scenarios that you need this please contact support

• HostThrottlingSettings.zip

  • The changes in the attachment are NOT recommended. In the scenario while we were testing, we decided to see what the engine could handle in a MST perspective. Several changes are performed in the attachment which WILL NOT apply to your environment. Please validate your requirements or contact support if your BizTalk Server is throttling continuously.

• CreateHosts.zip

  • Attachment that show how to create a new host instance

Security Groups & Accounts

• it is recommended that you utilize domain groups and service accounts