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This post is about how to set up a lab environment for BizTalk Server 2016 locally on your PC. BizTalk is an integration platform from Microsoft.

Index

• Background
• Briefly about BizTalk
• Prerequisites
• BizTalk Server 2016 Requirements
• Install Windows Server 2016
• Install Visual Studio 2015
• Install Visual C++ redistributable package
• Install SQL Server 2016
• SQL Server 2016 Configurations
• Install SQL Server Management Studio
• Install .NET 3.5 & .NET Framework 3.5
• Install SQL XML 4
• Account configurations – Add Windows Account to Administrator Group
• Enable IIS
• Event Log Configuration
• Install BizTalk Server 2016
• BizTalk Server Configuration
• Install Microsoft BizTalk Adapters
• Install BizTalk ESB Toolkit (Optional)
• Finishing of
• Summary
• References

Background

Recently I have been working with BizTalk Server for the first time.

When I encounter something new that I want to learn in a short period, I’d like to learn by doing. That approach naturally leads to that I will mess things up and break things. Great way of learning – but not a great approach in an environment shared by other colleagues.

BizTalk is a complex system. It is not that kind of software that you download an .exe-file, executes and just click next-next-finish. And it is a server installation. I decided to write a blogpost about how to set up BizTalk locally on your PC, so you can start blowing things up without causing problems with your colleagues.

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Briefly about BizTalk

BizTalk is an integration platform from Microsoft. The idea is to provide a comprehensive platform full of adapters to common system and technologies. BizTalk contains all the building blocks you need to create a modern integration platform for your enterprise. (Although, it is getting more and more commonly to build integrations in Microsoft’s cloud service –  Azure). BizTalk has been around for many years, it is more of a classic ‘on premise’ software that you install in your datacenter.

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Prerequisites

BizTalk Server 2016 is a server installation software. That means that you need a Windows Server OS to make it run properly. To fix that you need to virtualize a machine with that OS.

1. Here is a blogpost that explains how to set up a Hypervisor (Hyper-V) that can virtualize a Windows 2016 Server (You need Windows 10 Pro on your PC to enable Hyper-V): https://www.raspberryfield.life/2019/03/03/a-brief-look-at-virtualization-and-virtual-machines-windows-10-pro/ [2019-03-22]
2. Here is a post that explains (with images) how to install Windows Server 2016 on a virtual machine: https://www.raspberryfield.life/2019/03/11/install-windows-server-2016-hyper-v/ [2019-03-22]

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BizTalk Server 2016 Requirements

This is a summary of the requirements to develop in and setup BizTalk Server 2016. How to install these requirements are described in their own sections. Table present suggested order of installation.

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Install Windows Server 2016

Follow the installation guide suggested under prerequisites.

VM with Windows Server 2016 trail, available for 180 days.

This is my setup in Hyper-V:

The VM is connected to the default switch so I have internet connection by default via my PC.

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Install Visual Studio 2015

How to download Visual Studio 2015 Professional with Update 3.

1. Browse to: https://visualstudio.microsoft.com/vs/older-downloads/
2. Click on the year 2015.
3. Click on the button Download.
4. Sign in with you Microsoft account (don’t have one? It’s free to create).
5. Now, browse to Visual Studio Professional 2015 with Update 3:

   

6. Download the .exe file.

Once you have the file, save it on your server (VM) e.g.: C:\Installed Softwares\VS2015

How to install Visual Studio 2015

1. Execute the file as Administrator and installation will begin.

   

2. Chose Default and Install:

   

3. This will take a while. (Note! Internet connection required):

   

4. Launch (It will take a while to actually launch):

   

5. When prompted to sign in (don’t need to do it now) chose Not now, maybe later.
6. Choose your theme preferences and start Visual Studio (This will take a while to):

   

Congratulations! You have now installed Visual Studio 2015 compatible with BizTalk 2016.

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Install Visual C++ redistributable package

Download at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/3179560/update-for-visual-c-2013-and-visual-c-redistributable-package [2019-03-23] :

Click on the link above and a download of the file vcredist_x64.exe will start.

Install the software (as Administrator) and restart the computer:

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Install SQL Server 2016 (with Service Pack 2)

How to download SQL Server 2016 (evaluation):

1. Download files at: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/evaluate-sql-server-2016 [2019-03-22]

   

   Once you have the file, save it on your server (VM) e.g.: C:\Installed Softwares\SQL2016
2. Execute the file as Administrator. A download wizard will start: Choose Custom:

   

   Choose download location (yes, it says install but it is actually a download):

   

   Download of all files and .exe will start (download and extract will take a while):

   

How to install SQL Server 2016 SP2:

Go to the download location and browse to: C:\SQLServer2016Media\Evaluation_ENU execute the SETUP.EXE file as Administrator and choose New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation:

SQL Server 2016 Setup will start:

Table show settings in the different sections:

The installation will take some time.

When the Install has completed:

You must restart the computer after the installation completed.

Here is a simple test from the command prompt if the SQL Server is up and running:

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SQL Server 2016 Configurations

Disable Shared memory

When installing SQL Server and BizTalk Server on the same machine, it impacts the performance on BizTalk server negative. With a simple configuration we can avoid this unwanted behavior.

Go into the computer management (right click Start). Click your way to the dialog showed on the image and set Shared Memory Properties – Enable to NO:

Now, as described in the prompt, restart (stop and start) the service:

Read more about it here: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/biztalk/install-and-config-guides/set-up-and-install-prerequisites-for-biztalk-server-2016#disable-shared-memory [2019-03-22]

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Install SQL Server Management Studio

This tool is not a requirement for BizTalk Server. However, it is the most common IDE for MS SQL and it will be handy to have it on the same machine while learning BizTalk.

Install it from SQL Server Installation Center:

Link will take you to download page:

The installation is pretty straight forward. Run the .exe file as Administrator.

Restart the computer.

Open Microsoft SQL Server Management studio 17 (SSMS).

Connect to the SQL Server installed on your computer:

Now you will be connected to the local SQL server and you can manage it from SSMS.

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Install .NET 3.5 & .NET Framework 3.5

Add the features in Turn Windows Features on or off:

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Install SQL XML 4

Download SQL XML 4.0 SP1 at:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30403 [2019-03-22]

Choose sqlxml_x64.msi and download it.

Screenshot from the installation:

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Account configurations – Add Windows Account to Administrator Group

The account you use for installing BizTalk Server must be a member of the local Administrators group

Join Admin group: Start-> Computer Management-> Local Users and Groups-> Groups-> Administrators-> Make sure your account is in this group:

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Enable IIS

From Windows Features.

Add the Web Server (IIS) Role:

Enable all IIS options:

And finally install the new roles / features.

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Event Log Configuration

Sometimes the Event Log can grow too big. If that happens during BizTalk Server installation, it wont properly be installed. To prevent this unwanted behavior, do the following:

Start-> Event Viewer-> Windows Log-> right click; Application-> Properties-> Overwrite events as needed.

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Install BizTalk Server 2016

Download BizTalk 2016 Evaluation ISO:

Once you have the file, right click and mount it:

Run the .exe file in BizTalk Server folder as Administrator:

Chose Install Microsoft BizTalk Server 2016:

User name:

Accept the license terms:

Next, chose if you want to participate in the evaluation program:

If you want to install all features of BizTalk Server, you must choose them under Additional Software (I aim for a full install):

Safest is to choose Automatically install the redistributable prerequisites from the web:

Finally, Install:

Wait for the installation:

Chose Windows update or not:

Finish the installation:

Launch the BizTalk Server Configuration.

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BizTalk Server Configuration

Chose Custom Configuration and chose an account from the local Administrators Group. My account is named Administrator:

We need to start some configurations, we have to walk through all the sections in the left pane:

Enterprise SSO:

Choose Create a new SSO system.

In the left pane, click on Enterprise SSO Secret… Choose a password with at least 7 characters.

Group:

BizTalk Runtime:

Business Rules Engine:

BAM Tools:

Enable BAM alerts:

I won’t be using BAM alerts (That includes configuration for a mail server etc.):

BAM Portal:

BizTalk EDI/AS2 Runtime:

Now, go back to overview and click Apply Configuration:

An installation wizard will open, click next:

This step will take a while:

You want everything to be successful:

Now you can go back to the overview page and see the status:

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Install Microsoft BizTalk Adapters

Mount the disk again and go to the setup.exe file again.

This time run the installation for Install Microsoft BizTalk Adapters:

Chose custom install for the adapter:

Settings for installation:

Install:

Repeat the step above for the next two adapters. They are all fairly equal in installation steps.

The last adapter will be slightly different to install:

Chose custom:

Custom Install:

This is your goal with the BizTalk Adapter Installation:

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Install BizTalk ESB Toolkit (Optional)

For a complete install from the ISO, also choose to install ESB toolkit:

Next step:

Finish install:

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Finishing of

After you have installed BizTalk Server, a SDK for developing BizTalk Applications has been added. You can now start developing BizTalk Project from Visual Studio 2015:

BizTalk Server Administration Console is the application where you will administrate all your BizTalk applications:

Make sure that the SQL Server Agent is running (right click start.):

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Summary

Honestly, this is a mess. To get BizTalk up and running and all the steps you have to walk through… I just wish you good luck with BizTalk.

BizTalk – a very consultant friendly system.

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References

Microsoft’s official BizTalk Documentation, https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/biztalk/install-and-config-guides/set-up-and-install-prerequisites-for-biztalk-server-2016 [2019-03-22]

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