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Install SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 without a domain

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Any setup of Team Foundation Server is not complete until you have at least tried t work with SharePoint. While I have many customers that like to stay away from  SharePoint I also have many that make it an integral part of not just their TFS install, but their corporate network, offerings and culture.

note: To really use SharePoint effectively you have to buy into it as “the” solution or your internal network.

The questions is irrelevant, the answer is SharePoint

- Adam Cogan 

SharePoint 2013 Preview is fully supported by Visual Studio 2012 Team Foundation Server, but I do not know what the Office teams take on Go-Live or actually using SharePoint 2013 is.

Install SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 without a domain  

Figure: SharePoint Server 2013 Preview

I have been using Office 2013 for a while and it is fairly solid. I have some high hopes for the interaction as there are some major advances in the new SharePoint.

Install SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 without a domain  

Figure: Install software prerequisites

There was always a lot of… trial and error… in finding and installing the prerequisites for SharePoint in the past and as of SharePoint 2010 you have an option on the Installation wizard to have it all done for you.

I heartily recommend that approach…

Install SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 without a domain  

Figure: Always run Windows Update

It may seam like a small thing, but make sure that you run Windows Update both before and after each installation. There may be critical updates that would make your install process as slick as possible. Also if you rely on your organisation to manage windows updates then make sure that your System Administrators have approved all of the updates that you might need. Ask them to approve all updates for:

Its a long list, but lacking a windows update can make you life incredibly painful with often little understanding as to why.

Install SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 without a domain  

Figure: Make sure that you restart

Most of the new generation of Microsoft products do as much auto detection of potential problems before they become a problem. How well they do depends on the product team, but so far SharePoint 2013 is doing ok.

Install SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 without a domain  

Figure: You need the Key from TechNet

You can get the Key for SharePoint 2013 from http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/evalcenter/hh973397.aspx 

Install SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 without a domain  

Figure: Never select “Stand-alone” install!

Everyone makes this mistake once so please take note… never… ever… select “Stand-alone” install option. You will not be asked to select a SQL server is it will automatically install and use Express.

Install SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 without a domain  

Figure: Select “Complete” install

Once you select complete the install of the files progresses. We will do the configuration later.

Install SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 without a domain  

Figure: Poo!

An error during the setup is not what you want to see and after clicking close I for a little more detail.

Install SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 without a domain  

Figure: An Unspecified 1603

Don’t you just love the Unspecified error Install SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 without a domain but as this is a Preview, my first response is to run the install again. My guess would be a timeout, or some other glitch in the bootstrapper so…

Install SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 without a domain  

Figure: A rerun solved the problem

Whatever the problem was just running the installation again seamed to have kicked it into gear.

Now that we have SharePoint 2013 installed we need to configure it.

Install SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 without a domain  

Figure: This is a stand alone instance so a new farm

Although we selected “Complete Install” earlyer, the configuration we want is a “Stand-alone” one, but configured our way…

Install SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 without a domain  

Figure: Configure the database

If you don’t see this screen next you need to uninstall SharePoint and re-install selecting “Complete” as the install mode. Like I said, everyone makes that mistake once.

Install SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 without a domain  

Figure: You need a domain to create a farm

Fudge buckets! I want to configure it myself and I do not want to use SQL Express, so what to-do! So getting a “The username is invalid. The account mist be a valid domain account” is very frustrating… in 2010 the message was “Local accounts should only be used in standalone mode” and was equally annoying… don’t tell me how to install… I will tell you.

Command line to the rescue! You need to run “New-SPConfigurationDatabase” from the PowerShell command line  to configure with local accounts.

After that small interlude we can now carry on with the configuration to get SharePoint 2013 up and running on my local VM.

Install SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 without a domain  

Figure: Do not disconnect from this server farm

Just make sure that you don’t un-configure our work around for local accounts.

Install SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 without a domain  

Figure: Review the configuration

And off it goes…

Install SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 without a domain  

Figure: Takes a few minutes to configure

It only takes a few minutes to configure SharePoint at this point and that should create everything you need to get into the Admin site.

Install SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 without a domain  

Figure: Now we need to configure the features and services

I am going to configure everything as it will give me a chance to play, but note that only features you use will be turned on and using memory. If you don’t use them, they stay off/unloaded.

Install SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 without a domain  

Figure: There are tones of optional services

Here is a list of the available services and what they do:

Everything except the “Lotus Notes” connector are of use Install SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 without a domain

Install SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 without a domain  

Figure: This may take some time…

…Or considerably longer…

Install SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 without a domain  

Figure: Search error

I got a search error, but Soeren L. Nielsen has a solution  and I don’t need search.

Install SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 without a domain  

Figure: Creating your first Site Collection

I needed to create a default site to use the features, but as this is a “2013” experience site I may need to create a 2010 experience site for some things I may want to do.

DONE

Install SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 without a domain  

Figure: Admin site is up and working

To make sure things are working, do a little smoke test. Check the Admin site, and then run up the first Collection that you made.

Install SharePoint 2013 on Windows Server 2012 without a domain  

Figure: Wooo… nice new portal

Now I can get on with the fun….

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