Steps to install

VEM2011 Installation

There are two steps to undertake:

1. Import Managed Solution
2. Install Web/Azure Component (monitor site)

The order of installation does not matter, but the TrackingUrl in the VEM2011 solution configuration must resolve to the monitor site.

1. Importing the VEM2011 Managed Solution

Navigate to to Settings > Solutions in your CRM and choose the option to Import on the toolbar, and remember to uninstall it's simply a matter of deleting the managed solution.

Note: This version of VEM2011 may be used either for on-premise or on-line installations. The plugins are sandboxed and reports work in fetchxml partial-trust environment suitable for use in CRM2011 on-line. VEM custom workflows use Workflow Jobs, see here. The VEM Template Editor Filemanager component works cross-domain so you can host your template images on the monitoring site.

As you start to import you should tick the box to activate processes - if you are upgrading a previous VEM2011 installation with a different user to the current workflow / plugin owner this may cause the import to fail. In this case, you need to unpublish existing workflow and disable or remove existing plugin steps prior to import. In addition as the plugin assembly has changed significantly it may be necessary to choose the option to override existing customisations.

Immediately after importing, you should visit the VEM2011 Configuration Page and update Plugin Settings. The webservices url and organization are automatically determined but you must set the correct tracking url in order for VEM to work correctly.

2. Installing the VEM2011 Web Component

You can choose to install the web and email components on a different server to that hosting the CRM web services (e.g. with CRM2011 on-line).

Prerequisites: This module should be installed on a server with Windows 2008 SP2 or Windows 2008 R2 and IIS role with IIS6 Metabase compatibility setting. Other prerequisites .Net 4.0, IIS Url Rewrite Module and Windows Identity Foundation are automatically installed if not present.

After you enter your credentials and CRM Server Url the installer tries to authenticate and retrieve a list of organizations and endpoints from the discovery service. There are currently 3 different modes here:

On-line (LiveId Authentication):

1. Enter your LiveId and Password, ensure the Domain field is EMPTY.
2. The CRM Server field depends on your global location:
   North America = https://crm.dynamics.com
   EMEA = https://crm4.dynamics.com
   APAC = https://crm5.dynamics.com

On-premise (AD Authentication):

1. Enter full network credentials including User Name, Password and Domain.
2. CRM Server Url as in your Deployment Manager (including protocol prefix).

On-premise (IFD Authentication):

1. Enter your CRM Username (domain\user) and Password, ensure the Domain field is EMPTY.
2. CRM Server Url as in your Deployment Manager (including protocol prefix).

At the next screen you can choose your preferred organization and binding information for the tracking website. Leads from the VEM ContactUs webform are created in this organization. Other than this your selection is unimportant as this installation will service all tenants in this deployment. Note, however, that this does not apply to on-line tenants as the organization service endpoints will have different Urls.

Choices made for the tracking site bindings will be checked prior to installation, but may be manually updated post-install using IIS Manager. You will need to do this if you wish to use HTTPS protocol to ensure a suitable SSL certificate is employed. Whatever url you decide to use - this must be used in the VEM Solution Configuration Page.

Email Components

The installer looks for the CRM Email Router 'service' folder and if located copies the VEM Email Handler files to this location. See here for more information.

Keep Alive Service

A VEM KeepAlive Service is installed using the installing user credentials (except on-line). This may be easily configured to poll the monitoring site to ensure it is JIT-compiled and ready to service recipient interactions without a startup delay.

Installing the VEM2011 Azure Components

As an alternative to hosting your own internet-facing server to deploy the VEM Monitor website you can use the VEM2011 Azure Components in your Windows Azure subscription. This module uses an Azure WebRole to host the monitoring site with communicates with email recipients via HTTP(S) and your CRM server via XrmServices. It also uses an Azure BLOB Container to host images you use in your emails and upload via the VEM Filemanager.