1 PROPOSED PRODUCTION INFRASTRUCTURE AND

SERVER SPECIFICATIONS
As such all specifications below are defined as virtual resources and do not necessarily map one to one to the actual
physical resources that the servers ultimately run on. Physical resources are dedicated to a virtual server only where
noted below.
Additionally, due to the virtual nature of the servers, it is relatively easy to increase (and in some cases decrease) the
allocated resources.

1.1 Document References

Document Name

Version

Author

Microsoft Dynamics TM AX 2012 R2 Installation Guide

April 2011

Microsoft Corporation

System Requirements for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2

http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=11094

Microsoft Corporation

Microsoft Dynamics TM AX 2012 R2 Security Architecture

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa496919.aspx

Microsoft Corporation

Dynamics AX Performance Team Blog (AX Database Configuration March 2008

Checklist Part 1):
http://blogs.msdn.com/axperf/archive/2008/03/10/welcomedatabase-configuration-checklist-part-1.aspx

David Reinhold
Microsoft Dynamics Ax Performance and
Scalability Engineer - Database

Dynamics AX Performance Team Blog (AX Database Configuration March 2008

Checklist Part 2):
http://blogs.msdn.com/axperf/archive/2008/03/13/ax-databaseconfiguration-checklist-part-2.aspx

David Reinhold
Microsoft Dynamics Ax Performance and
Scalability Engineer - Database

SQL Server Best Practices Article Pre-deployment I/O Best

June 2007
Practices
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/sql/bestpractice/pdpl
iobp.mspx

Microsoft Corporation
Mike Ruthruff
Applies to: SQL Server 2005

Resources for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R2

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh272863.aspx

Microsoft

Planning database configuration for Microsoft Dynamics AX

March 2010

Microsoft

1.2 Basic Requirements vs. Recommended Solution Design

The basic requirements (for what will enable the project to start) for the project vs. the recommended topology below.
From a conceptual level all the solution components could be co-hosted on one server, however there are a number
of constraints and best practices that dictate this approach is not in the best interests of the project.

Namely, the bare bones option of a consolidated server hosting all services for the solution SQL AX,
SharePoint, SSRS, SSAS

Hardware and licensing costs could be reduced by consolidation of services, however application
component complexities and supportability issues could outweigh and cost benefit saved up front.

The consolidation of services onto one server may also introduce issues with the strategic direction
addition of any services to this one platform in the future would cause compatibility, scalability, testability,
supportability and performance issues.

1.3 Recommended Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Environment

Proposed Production Infrastructure Environment

1.4 Windows Server Software requirements

Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 Standard Edition will be used as the operating system for all newly commissioned
servers. The latest hot fixes/service packs will be applied to all installations.

1.5 Network Requirements

Client to AOS: 100mb LAN connection with less than 5 milliseconds latency

AOS to Database: 1000mb LAN connection with less than 5 milliseconds latency

Integration Server to AOS: 1000mb LAN connection with less than 5 milliseconds latency

SharePoint to AOS: 1000mb LAN connection with less than 5 milliseconds latency

Microsoft Dynamics AX can operate on networks that use Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4) or Internet Protocol
Version 6 (IPv6)

1.6 Domain requirements

Computers running Microsoft Dynamics AX components must have access to other computers in the same
Active Directory service domain, with Active Directory configured in native mode.

To support e-mail alerts in Microsoft Dynamics AX, an SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) server must be
present in the environment.

1.7 SSL Web Server Certificate Requirements

There is currently no requirement for an Web Server certificate

Not Covered any further - Requirements to be identified if needed

1.8 AX 2012 Application Object Server Hardware requirements

The AX 2012 Application Object Server will be used to host a single Production instance of the Dynamics AX 2012
AOS R2 Service.
Note:

During the implementation phase of this project, this server will be used to host two AOS instances, namely the
Config AOS Instance and the UAT/Pre-Production AOS Instance.

At go-live the Config AOS will be decommissioned and the Pre-Production Instance will be converted into the
Production AOS instance.

All Dynamics AX transaction processing will be performed by the AOS, so it is pertinent that this server is sized
adequately to handle the following user load:

40 x Wireless Warehouse users

40 x Enterprise User CALs

105 x Functional User CALs

65 Functional User CALs have been allocated to users that will access information via Enterprise Portal

CPU Count:
Memory:
OS:
LAN:
Disk:
Software:

40 Functional User CALs have been allocated to Warehouse users.

2+ (Dual/Quad Core Intel Xeon or AMD Processor (x64))

8 GB
Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard Edition (x64)
Gigabit Ethernet Connection
C: 50GB RAID 1 (OS only)
D: 60GB RAID 1 (Applications)
Dynamics AX 2012 Cumulative Update 2

Application Object Server (AOS) Role

1.9 AX 2012 Integration Server Hardware requirements

The purpose of the AX 2012 Integration Server will be to host all of the solution components related to integration e.g.
AX 2012 Web Services, InVan Application Server, etc.

CPU Count:
Memory:
OS:
LAN:
Disk:
Software:

2+ Processors or Processor Cores

6 GB
Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard Edition (x64)
Gigabit Ethernet Connection
C: 50GB RAID 1 (OS only)
D: 100GB RAID 1 (Applications)
Dynamics AX 2012 R2

Integration Services (Web Services) Role

Help Server Role

Internet information Services

Dynamics Anywhere Application Server Role

1.10 AX 2012 SQL Database Server Hardware requirements

The SQL database server will be used to host the Dynamics AX 2012 R2 Application database and associated model
database.
The specification below is an indication and we have not gone through any capacity planning exercises to base the
below specification on it is an indication based on our anticipated load on the server e.g. one of the items
considered was the future (near real-time) integration with the Manufacturing System.

CPU Count:
Memory:
OS:
SQL:

2+ (Dual/Quad Core Intel Xeon or AMD Processor (x64))

16GB
Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard Edition (x64)
SQL Server 2008 R2 Standard Edition (x64)

SQL 2008 R2 x64 Database services

LAN:
Disk:

Gigabit Ethernet Connection

C: 50+GB (OS Only)
60GB (TempDB databases) RAID 1 (or RAID 10)
300 GB (Data Files) RAID 10 Dedicated SAN LUN separate to other data drives
300 GB (Log Files) RAID 10 Dedicated SAN LUN separate to other data drives

Note

When running on a virtualized environment it is pertinent to ensure that the virtual hard drives are deployed on the
underlying physical drives as to reduce/eliminate any contention on the physical drives IO capabilities.

1.11 SQL Server Reporting Services Hardware requirements

The purpose of this server is to host the SQL Server reporting services extensions used by Dynamics AX to render
the system reports.
CPU Count:
Memory:
OS:
SQL:

2+
8GB
Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise Edition (x64)
SQL Server 2008 R2 Standard Edition CU3 or later required (x64)

SQL 2008 R2 x64 Reporting services

Dynamics AX 2012 Cumulative Update 2

SQL Server Reporting Services Extensions

LAN:
Disk:

Gigabit Ethernet Connection

C: 40GB (OS only)
D: 40GB (Indexing)

1.12 SQL Server Analysis Services (BI DW Server) Hardware

requirements
The purpose of this server is to host the SQL Server Analysis services extensions used by Dynamics AX to store the
Dynamics AX cubes, and provide a future proof solution that can be used to store BI Data Warehouses and ETL
packages required by the AX project e.g. Cubes/Data Warehouse and ETL packages used by the SandOP functions.
A new SSAS 2008 is required to run the Dynamics AX Cubes.
CPU Count:
Memory:
OS:
SQL:

2+
8GB
Windows Server 2008 R2 Standard Edition (x64)
SQL Server 2008 R2 Standard Edition (x64)

SQL 2008 R2 x64 Analysis services

SQL 2008 R2 x64 Database Services

SQL 2008 R2 x64 Integration Services

Dynamics AX 2012 Cumulative Update 2

SQL Server Analysis Services Extensions

LAN:
Disk:

Gigabit Ethernet Connection

C: 40GB (OS only and Program Files)
D: 40GB (SQL Database Files) RAID 10 Dedicated SAN LUN separate to other data drives
E: 40GB (SQL Transaction Files) RAID 10 Dedicated SAN LUN separate to other data drives
F: 40GB (SSAS Database Files) RAID 10 Dedicated SAN LUN separate to other data drives
G: 40GB (SSAS Transaction Files) RAID 10 Dedicated SAN LUN separate to other data drives

D and E (SQL drives) to be formatted with 64KB data chunks with 1024 offset (http://msdn.microsoft.com/enus/library/dd758814%28v=sql.100%29.aspx). All remaining drives formatted as 4KB data chunks (default).

1.13 SharePoint / EP Server Hardware requirements

The purpose of this server is to host the Dynamics AX 2012 R2 Enterprise Portal and Enterprise Search roles.
CPU Count:
Memory:
OS:
Software:

2+
16384+ MB
Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise Edition (x64)
Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Enterprise SP1
Microsoft SharePoint Office Web Applications 2010
Dynamics AX 2012 R2

Enterprise Portal Role

Disk:

Enterprise Search

C: 60GB (OS only)

D: 40GB (Indexing Only)

1.14 Additional software requirements for all servers

The following software must be present on a computer before any Microsoft Dynamics AX components can be
installed:

Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 (Certain AX components require .NET 4.0. These are highlighted in the AX
2012 R2 System Requirements document)

Microsoft Windows Installer 3.1 or Windows Installer 4.0

General

The AX Client delivered as a Published Application via Citrix Session off the existing server farm.

Note The Dynamics AX Remote Desktop Services Integration feature isnt supported on Citrix.

Gigabit backbone to all servers.