Setup and Configuration of the Workflow for Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 Administration

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 Administration

A practical and efficient approach to planning, installing and configuring your Dynamics AX 2009 environment.

• Effectively consolidate and standardize processes across your organization with a centralized source for a variety of business needs
• Discover how to effectively plan and implement Dynamics AX 2009 in your business and fully grasp the necessary hardware, network, and software requirements to do so
• Understand the varied components that make up your Dynamics AX environment, including the role of base server components, how to implement the Enterprise Portal and Role Centers for web browser access to Dynamics AX, and the various workflow capabilities required to fit the needs of your company
• Get to grips with Dynamics AX data components and understand when and how to exchange data synchronously or asynchronously and migrate data
• Includes carefully organized instructions along with screenshots that clearly display how to administer and configure your Dynamics AX environment with ease

Workflow prerequisites

Before we begin installing and setting up Workflow, you will need to have administrator privileges on the machines in which you are installing Workflow on. The following prerequisites are required:

• Internet Information Services (IIS) 7
• .NET Framework 2.0
• Business Connector

The Workflow component for Dynamics AX utilizes the Business Connector to communicate directly to Dynamics AX from its web service. Although it depends on the number of users and computing resources available, it is best practice to implement the Workflow web service application on its own server.

Workflow accounts setup

The Workflow system in Dynamics AX utilizes two accounts to function properly. If these accounts are not specified, workflow will still function; however, it is best practice to have dedicated accounts. One account is the service account. This account is responsible for the communication between Dynamics AX and the Workflow web service. The other account is the execution account. This account is responsible for executing Workflow tasks and processes. Similar to the Business Connector proxy account, these two accounts must be created with the following criteria:

• The password must never expire
• It must not be interactive
• It must not be associated to any Dynamics AX users

Once the Workflow accounts have been created, the next process is to ensure that the Dynamics AX Workflow system will use the accounts. To do this, perform the following steps:

1. Log in to Dynamics AX 2009.
2. Go to Administration | Setup | Security | System service accounts.

   

3. In the System service accounts form, specify the Workflow System Account and the Workflow Execution Account. To specify the accounts that were created in the Active Directory, mark the Alias field radio boxes. When complete, click on the OK button.

   

Now that the Workflow accounts have been specified, the Dynamics AX Workflow system can utilize these accounts when communicating with the Workflow web service. It is also possible to create a user within Dynamics AX but not Active Directory, and use the Dynamics AX user accounts as the Workflow Service and Execution accounts. These accounts may appear as different users in Dynamics AX; however, these accounts will be impersonated by the AOS service account to the Workflow web service. This can make troubleshooting and connection auditing more difficult and therefore, it is not recommended.

Installing Workflow

Since Workflow consists of various parts that function together to create the Dynamics AX 2009 Workflow system, we will break down each part’s setup and complete each setup individually.

Creating a website for Workflow

Before we can install the Workflow extended server component, we must have a website available to install upon. It is possible to use the default website that is on port 80. However, it is not recommended; therefore, a new website must be created. For information regarding how to create a website in IIS 7, refer to http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc772350(WS.10).aspx.

Installing the Workflow component

By now you should be accustomed to the process of installing the extended components for Dynamics AX. Installing Workflow is no different. The following steps will guide you through the process:

1. 1. Run the Microsoft Dynamics AX Setup wizard to add new components. In the Add or modify components screen of the wizard, mark the Workflow checkbox, as shown in the following screenshot and then click on the Next button:

      

   2. In the following screen of the wizard, specify the password for the .NET Business Connector proxy account, and then click on the Next button:

      

The Domainuser name field will automatically be populated if the Business Connector proxy user is specified in the Administration | Setup | Security | System service accounts form in the Business Connector Proxy group.

1. In the next section of the wizard, you will be prompted to tweak the Workflow service. In other words, you can select which website you want to install the Workflow service into. By default, the wizard will select the default website in IIS. However, it is recommended to install Workflow on its own dedicated site and port, you have the flexibility to do so. When you are satisfied with the settings on this page, click on the Next button.

   

2. In the following screen you will be prompted to specify the AOS account for the Workflow service to grant permissions to. If there is more than one AOS and each AOS service account is different, provide the accounts for each AOS so that they can access the Workflow service.

   

3. In the following step, you are prompted to complete the installation of the Workflow by clicking on the Finish button. You will want to restart IIS after the Workflow has been successfully installed. Therefore, leave the option checked at the bottom, as shown in the following screenshot:

   

4. Once installed, you will be prompted with the final screen. The final screen will display the result of the installation of the Dynamics AX 2009 Workflow system. If the installation is successful, you will see a green box next to the installed component. Otherwise, if the box is orange or red, you should open the log file after you close the wizard by marking the checkbox at the bottom.

   

Enabling Workflow in Windows Server 2008 R2

In Windows Server 2008 R2, additional setup is required to enable the Workflow web service. The Workflow web service application pool must be enabled to run 32-bit applications. Otherwise, the Workflow service will fail. To set up the application pool to run 32-bit applications, perform the following steps:

1. Go to the IIS console and access the web server that you installed the Workflow web service on.
2. Under &ltYour web server&gt | Application Pools, select the Dynamics AX Workflow application pool.

   

3. Under Actions, go to Advanced Settings…. In the Advanced Settings window, set the Enable 32-Bit Applications property to True. When complete, click on the OK button to save the changes.

   

After performing these steps, the Workflow web service can then be used by Dynamics AX to process Workflows. Next, we will set up Dynamics AX to use the Workflow web service.