Microsoft CRM Support for SQL Server Named Instances

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Junior's Gone Wild...

Every so often a I get a question regarding CRM support for SQL Server named instances. With Microsoft SQL Server 2000 and 2005, you have the option of installing multiple copies, or instances of SQL Server on one computer. When setting up a new installation of SQL Server or maintaining an existing installation, you can specify it as:

  • A default instance of SQL Server - This instance is identified by the network name of the computer on which it is running, and SQL Server can have only one default instance.
  • A named instance of SQL Server - This instance is identified by the network name of the computer plus an instance name, in the format <computername>\<instancename>, and SQL Server can support up to 15 named instances.

When we launched CRM 3.0 last December, we had only fully tested the installation of CRM databases on the default instance of SQL Server. Consequently, the Microsoft CRM 3.0 Implementation Guide states that only setting up against a SQL Default Instance is supported.

Well, our sustained engineering team have now completed testing against named instances, and will now support this configuration. Anyone wishing to install Microsoft CRM 3.0 against a Named Instance must call CRM Customer Support, who will walk you through the process of disabling the EDW (Environmental Diagnostics Wizard) so that setting up against a SQL Named Instance is possible.

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.