I created a virtual machine for CRM 2011 with the idea of making it self sufficient so I could put it onto a laptop and take it offline and use it to demo to customers.
I added the sql server and IIS server for the CRM web application but I was still using the company active directory. I was discussing this with a friend and he was saying that it wasn’t going to work because as soon as I took this offline on the laptop, it would try and check the active directory, which it won’t be able to find and then I will have problems.
I have been mulling this over and basically thinking I would use the CRM 2011 virtual machine created by Microsoft and then today I read this great article with instructions to build a Microsoft CRM 2011 Virtual VM, it is a small succinct instructions
Install the Platform:
- Create a new Windows Server 2008 R2 64-bit VM (VirtualBox is good for this), enable a shared folder, grant at least 3GB RAM
- Complete the Windows 2008 installation and initial configuration
- Turn off “Internet Explorer Enhanced Security” (via Server Manager)
- Assign a static IP address to the server
- Add the Domain Services and DNS server roles
- Promote the server to be a domain controller (dcpromo)
- Install SQL Server 2008 R2 (including Full Text Search and SSRS, set SQL Agent to auto start)
- Test SSRS (http://servername/reportmanager)
- Create an Organizational Unit in the AD to house the CRM AD Groups
Install CRM:
- Install CRM Server
- Test CRM (http://servername:portnumber)
- Add sample data
- Install CRM Reporting Extensions (SSRS Data Connector)
- Test CRM Reports
- Install Email Router
- Install the latest CRM Rollup Packs
- Install Microsoft Office
- Add a second (bridged) adaptor to the VM to add internet access
- Configure Outlook to send/receive via Gmail pop3 and smtp
- Configure the Email Router to send/receive via Gmail pop3 and smtp
- Configure a user to use the router, test email send and receive
- Install the CRM Outlook Client and associated Rollup Pack
- Test the CRM Outlook Client
- Optionally install Visual Studio, CRM SDK, 3rd party tools like the View Replicator, etc
