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Install Email Router on multiple computers

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Applies To: Dynamics CRM 2013

You can deploy and run the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Email Router on multiple computers in a Microsoft cluster to provide high availability and failover functionality. In Windows Server 2003 this kind of server cluster is known as server clustering and in Windows Server 2008 it is known as failover clustering. Both of these server clustering technologies are supported with the Email Router.

To implement the minimum configuration for a cluster with failover capabilities, you must have the following hardware and configuration:

  • At least two nodes running Windows Server that support clustering.

  • A common storage I/O technology between the nodes in the cluster, such as Parallel SCSI or Fibre Channel.

  • The cluster configured in an active/passive manner.

To install and run the Email Router in a failover cluster environment, follow these steps in the order listed.

In This Topic

Step 1: Install and configure the cluster

Step 2: Install the E-mail Router to the active primary node in the cluster

Step 3: Install the E-mail Router to the passive node in the cluster

Step 4: Create the generic resource service for the cluster

Step 5: Verify and monitor the cluster

Step 1: Install and configure the cluster

  1. Install the minimum configuration of a two-node cluster with a shared disk.

  2. Configure the cluster as active/passive. The Email Router does not support an active/active cluster deployment.

 More information: Failover Clusters and Designing and Deploying Server Clusters.

Step 2: Install the E-mail Router to the active primary node in the cluster

  1. Run Email Router Setup on the active primary node in the cluster.

    Important

    You do not have to install the Email Router on a computer that is running Microsoft Exchange Server. We recommend that you install the Email Router as the only application on Windows Server 2003 or Windows Server 2008 computers in the cluster or in an existing cluster that is operating with a light load.

    Installing the Email Router on nodes operating in an active/active cluster, such as an Exchange Server active/active cluster, is not supported.

  2. Start the Email Router Configuration Manager on the first node and configure the Email Router. Verify that the Email Router is routing messages correctly.

  3. Copy all Email Router application files to the common storage or shared hard disk. By default, the Email Router files are located at <drive:>\Program Files\Microsoft CRM Email.

    The following files must be located on the common storage or shared disk so that they can be moved to the secondary node in the event of a failover:

    • Microsoft.Crm.Tools.EmailAgent.Configuration.bin

    • Microsoft.Crm.Tools.EmailAgent.SystemState.xml

    • Microsoft.Crm.Tools.EmailAgent.xml

    • Microsoft.Crm.Tools.Email.Management.config

    • EncryptionKey.xml

    Important

    The Email Router files should be manually secured on the common storage or shared disk. We recommend that you grant full control only to the service account running the Email Router service ("Microsoft CRM Email Router") and to those administrators who might have to update configuration files manually.

  4. Update the following Windows registry subkey so that the Email Router will use the shared disk to load the Email Router settings:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\MSCRMEmail 

    To do this, change the ImagePath value to point to the common storage or shared disk drive where the Email Router files were copied.

  5. Restart the "Microsoft CRM Email Router" service. To do this, on the Start menu, type services.msc, and then press ENTER; or click Run, type services.msc, and then press ENTER. In the services list, right-click the "Microsoft CRM Email Router" service, and then click Start. Close the Services application.

Step 3: Install the E-mail Router to the passive node in the cluster

Install and configure the Email Router on the passive secondary node in the cluster

  1. Run Email Router Setup on the second node in the cluster.

    Important

    Do not run the Email Router Configuration Manager and do not copy the files to the common storage or shared hard disk as described in "Step 2: Install the E-mail Router to the active primary node in the cluster".

  2. Update the Windows registry subkey as in the previously performed steps on the primary node. Repeat these steps for each additional node in the cluster.

  3. Restart the "Microsoft CRM Email Router" service. To do this, on the Start menu, type services.msc, and then press ENTER; or click Run, type services.msc, and then press ENTER. In the services list, right-click the "Microsoft CRM Email Router" service, and then click Start. Close the Services application.

Step 4: Create the generic resource service for the cluster

  1. On each node in the cluster, start the Services MMC snap-in. In the list of services, right-click "Microsoft CRM Email Router," click Properties, and then set Startup type to Manual. Close the Services MMC snap-in.

  2. Start Active Directory Users and Computers. Locate the PrivUserGroup {GUID} security group for the deployment. Add the computer accounts for each node in the cluster. Close Active Directory Users and Computers.

  3. If you are using Windows Server 2003, start Cluster Administrator or, if you are using Windows Server 2008, start Failover Cluster Manager, and create a generic service resource. Use the following parameters:

    • Name: Create a descriptive name for the generic service resource, such as MSCRM E-mail Router.

    • Resource type: Generic Service

    • Group: Cluster Group

    • Possible owners: Add all nodes in the cluster.

    • Dependencies: If you are using Microsoft Exchange Server and you have installed the Email Router on the Exchange Server (not recommended), add Exchange Server Information Store.

    • Service Name: Microsoft CRM Email Router

    • Start Parameters: Leave blank.

    • Use Network Name for Computer Name: Leave unchecked.

    • Do not checkpoint any Registry keys.

  4. Bring the resource online. If necessary, configure the resource properties, such as the failover policies.

  5. Close Cluster Administrator or Failover Cluster Manager.

For more information about how to create a generic service resource, see Checklist: Installing a Generic Service resource.

Step 5: Verify and monitor the cluster

During a failover of node 1 (the primary node), node 2 (the secondary node) will become the primary node and the common storage or shared disk resources described in “Step 2: Install the Email Router to the active primary node in the cluster" will move from node 1 to node 2. To test for failover, start Cluster Administrator or Failover Cluster Manager and force a failover.

See Also

Install Email Router and Rule Deployment Wizard
Configure the Email Router
Troubleshooting Email Router issues