Microsoft Dynamics GP Installation: overview for consultant

Please know that version update is also automated and starts right away as you do “unconscious upgrade”.  GP version 9.0 tries to be so friendly, that sometimes consultants say – I need certain level of control, I don’t want everything in upgrade to start automatically.  In this small article we will walk you through installation process.

• Server Side – GP has SQL scripts, that need to be ran one time to install GP server.  These scripts create and initialize DYNAMICS (GP System database) and company databases (TWO – is sample company database: Fabrikam, formerly The World Online in earlier versions)
• Accounts Structure.  Great Plains historically uses accounts segments  (which in turn are used by FRx reports).  When you are in installation you receive “stupid” questions about accounts structure – in order to install lesson company you need to select three segments and max length 9, then 3:4:2 should be selected as segment lengths
• User Workstation Installation.  When you are done with installation or version upgrade (via GP utilities), you need to install so-called “fat” (in opposite to thin – usually referred as Citrix or Terminal Server client WS) GP workstation
• If you are upgrading and at the same time moving GP server, you need to obtain GP moving scripts: capture logins, dropping logins, creating logins and users for DYNAMICS and company databases.
• Third Party ISV products installation.  These add-ons are typically Dexterity products, so you should know basics of Microsoft Dexterity chunks integration.  You preferably should be administrator for local computer, then you are good to launch GP workstation (old-good-way is to grab Dynamics.set file and drop it on Dynamics.exe file).  If your third party module requires SQL side procedures, please read instructions in ISV installation manual

If you need help with GP installation, feel free to call the author: 1-866-528-0577, help@albaspectrum.com