On certain BizTalk consulting engagements we’re responsible for setting up a development environment to be handed over to the client and used by their developers. Generally, we get a virtual server image and install and configure BizTalk to run isolated.

Sometimes isolated isn’t the best way to go and we want to add the machine to the clients domain so the server can have network access. To do that, the machine will need to be renamed. Since I’ll probably be leaving my current client to their own devices, I wanted to provide a document for them stepping through how to do this.

A quick Internet search came up with one of my co-workers, Wade, and a posting he wrote a couple weeks ago on his experience with changing the computer name. Great starting point for my document! Thanks, Wade.

By the way, we really need to work on our company collaboration!!

<edit>Details posted here</edit> 

Came across something new today (imagine that!)  I was packaging up a new release that adds, among other things, a send port going to an FTP site.  The name of the target folder on the FTP site uses an ampersand (&, in case you don’t know ;-)).  Well, my deployment scripts use XML binding files to bind all the orchestrations and set up the ports, so I went into the binding file to add the new info for the send port.

Of course, when adding the ampersand in XML it needs to be escaped.  As in “&amp;”.  No problem.  The SendPort in the binding file has two elements that contain the target folder name.  Address and TransportTypeData.  The ampersand in the Address element can just be escaped as normal.  However, the ampersands in the TransportTypeData element (there are two instances in the element) cannot be escaped as normal.  If you used a binding file before you know (or you can see) that the data in the TransportTypeData element is itself escaped XML which then gets read by BizTalk to set up the properties on the send port.

My first guess was to try escaping it “twice”, such as “&amp;amp;”, with the hope that the first pass would result in “&amp;” and the second pass would result in the desired “&”.  The import wizard liked it, but when I tried going in to view the properties of the send port it came up and told me I had some invalid XML.  Back to the guessing game.

Except sometimes I don’t like guessing.  So I did it the way I should’ve in the first place.  I set up the port through the BizTalk Explorer and ran an export on the assembly binding to see how BizTalk did it.  Turns out it I was close, but needed to escape it one more time.  The right way to do it is “&amp;amp;amp;”  Perhaps that’s an XML trick not specific to BizTalk, but I never came across it before.

This was sent to me by a co-worker and thought a good list to keep around.

Handy BizTalk Server 2006 Resources

Key Websites

BizTalk Product Website

http://www.microsoft.com/biztalk/

BizTalk is a business process management (BPM) server that enables companies to automate and optimize business processes. This includes powerful, familiar tools to design, develop, deploy, and manage those processes.  Everything you need for easy installation is included—integrated management tools, support for Web services, and a new business activity monitoring (BAM) portal. In addition, BizTalk Server 2006 includes 23 application and technology adapters in the box for connecting to legacy systems (mainframe and mid-range) and line-of-business applications (SAP, Siebel, PeopleSoft, Oracle, and JD Edwards).

BizTalk Server TechCenter on TechNet

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/biztalk/

For IT professionals, visit Microsoft TechNet for tools and resources to help you plan, build, deploy, and support BizTalk Server.

BizTalk Server Developer Center on MSDN

http://msdn.microsoft.com/biztalk/

For developers, visit the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) for technical references and how-to resources to help you develop for BizTalk Server.  Includes product downloads, samples, blog sites, top newsgroup discussions, learning resources and technical references for architects and developers of BizTalk solutions.

BizTalk Server Support Center

http://www.microsoft.com/biztalk/support/

Lists a number of support options and services available for BizTalk Server.

Product Information, Pricing, Help, White Papers, Tutorials, Install/Upgrade Guides

BizTalk Server Product Information

http://www.microsoft.com/biztalk/evaluation/

Get a firsthand look at Microsoft BizTalk Server through a product overview, virtual labs and trial software, find out more about adapters and accelerators, and see analyst reports, case studies, news, and reviews.

BizTalk Server 2006 Pricing and Licensing

http://www.microsoft.com/biztalk/howtobuy/

Details on the editions, language versions, features, pricing and licensing of BizTalk Server 2006.

BizTalk Server 2006 PDF Help Files

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=8F3EC693-2865-4B85-8455-745511EA4267&displaylang=en

Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 Documentation in PDF format.

BizTalk Server 2006 Product Documentation on MSDN

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=64219

Visit the MSDN Library for BizTalk Server 2006 Help online.

BizTalk Server 2006 White Papers

http://www.microsoft.com/biztalk/techinfo/whitepapers

White papers on BizTalk 2006 topics such as product overview, business value, adapter enhancements, application deployment, BAM, developer tool and runtime improvements, setup and migration, hub/spoke deployment, RFID, etc.

BizTalk Server 2006 Tutorials

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=6a5f6ef4-aeb8-4d8d-a521-37333a875ce4&DisplayLang=en

Download the BizTalk Server 2006 tutorials for detailed information on how to implement simple scenarios and use a variety of BizTalk tools while creating compiled, testable solutions.  Released March 22, 2006

BizTalk Server 2006 Installation and Upgrade Guides

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=46922

Review the BizTalk Server 2006 installation instructions for how to install BizTalk Server 2006 on Windows XP, Windows 2000 Server, or Windows Server 2003 in a single server or multi-server environment.  Released April 10, 2006

BizTalk Books Planned

Pro BizTalk 2006

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1590596994/

by George Dunphy, Ahmed Metwally

List Price: $59.99, Amazon Price: $37.79

Paperback: 600 pages

Publisher: Apress (October 16, 2006)

ISBN: 1590596994

Book Description

Pro BizTalk 2006 is a high-end resource that is based on real feedback from BizTalk developers. Authors George Dunphy and Ahmed Metwally are well known within the BizTalk community, and here they cover topics not discussed in other books, like performance tuning, scalability, and administration. This book also features examples of specific, real-world implementations.

Download the 120-day BizTalk Server trial software and begin optimizing and automating your business processes.  Released April 3, 200

BizTalk 2006 Recipes (A Problem-Solution Approach)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1590597117/

by Mark Beckner, Ben Goeltz, Brandon Gross, and Brennan O’Reilly (Paperback Jul 1, 2006)

List Price: $59.99, Amazon Price: $37.79

Paperback: 700 pages

Publisher: Apress (July 1, 2006)

ISBN: 1590597117

Book Description

BizTalk 2006 Recipes: A Problem-Solution Approach is based on the experiences of many of the most prominent experts in the field. It features over 170 problem-solving recipes for BizTalk developers and administrators.  BizTalk Server 2006 builds on the heritage and core architecture of BizTalk Server 2004, leading to a powerful tool that encompasses the latest Microsoft technologies and industry standards for automating and managing business processes. BizTalk Server 2006 adds incremental value to BizTalk 2004 by improving administration, deployment, and other key areas of the product.

Professional BizTalk Server 2006

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0470046422/

by Darren Jefford

Paperback: 700 pages

Publisher: Hungry Minds Inc,U.S. (March 22, 2007)

ISBN: 0470046422

Book Description

Description not available yet.

Product Trial Download and Tools

BizTalk Server 2006 Trial Software

http://www.microsoft.com/biztalk/evaluation/trial/default.mspx

Download the 120-day BizTalk Server trial software and begin optimizing and automating your business processes.  Released April 3, 2006

BizTalk Server 2006 Best Practices Analyzer

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/biztalk/downloads/bpa.mspx

Use the BizTalk Server 2006 Best Practices Analyzer to check your deployment against a variety of best practices, including high availability, security, management, and performance.  Released June 2, 2006

BizTalk Server 2006 Orchestration Designer for Business Analysts

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=64542

This Visio add-in allows business analysts to create basic orchestration flows and implement them using BizTalk Server 2006.

Online/Virtual Training

BizTalk Server Virtual Labs

http://msdn.microsoft.com/virtuallabs/biztalk/ or

http://www.microsoft.com/biztalk/techinfo/virtual-labs.mspx

Learn how to take full advantage of BizTalk Server key features through virtual labs.  It’s simple and free: no complex setup or installation is required to try BizTalk Server running in the full-featured MSDN Virtual Lab. You get a downloadable manual and a 90-minute block of time for each module. You can sign up for additional 90-minute blocks any time or take advantage of our introductory experience with the new Virtual Lab Express.

·       Express Lab: What’s new in BizTalk Server 2006
·       BizTalk 2006 New Features for Deploying and Managing a BizTalk Application
·       BizTalk 2006 New Features for Working with Flat Files
·       BizTalk 2006 Integrating Business Rules
·       BizTalk 2006 Working with Maps
·       BizTalk 2006 Working with Schemas

First Look: Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 for IT Professionals

https://www.microsoftelearning.com/eLearning/offerDetail.aspx?offerPriceId=77178

This online clinic provides IT professionals with an introduction to BizTalk Server 2006 and how to deploy and manage applications in a BizTalk environment. Major topics covered include installing and configuring BizTalk Server 2006 and managing a BizTalk Server environment.

First Look: Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 for Developers

https://www.microsoftelearning.com/eLearning/offerDetail.aspx?offerPriceId=78008

This online clinic provides developers with an introduction to the BizTalk Server 2006 development environment and BizTalk messaging and orchestration services. Major topics covered include building a messaging integration solution and building a business process integration solution.

BizTalk Friday Brown Bag Webcasts (Public and Internet Accessible)

Recordings

2005

Mar 4            BizTalk Server 2006 “Pathfinder” Technical Overview Jeff Wierer

                   <erikleasdtjupiterBrown BagsBTSBAG55_JWierer_BizTalk 2006 Pathfinder Tech Overview-internal NDA only.wmv> (internal/NDA only)

Jun 17           BAS and Sharepoint Adapter in Pathfinder (BizTalk 2006) Gary Keong & Sunghwa Jin

                   http://www.livemeeting.com/cc/microsoft/view?id=BTSBAG-64&pw=35DKTQ

Jun 24           BAM in Pathfinder (BizTalk 2006) New Features Mubarak Elamin & Brad Paris

                   http://www.livemeeting.com/cc/microsoft/view?id=BTSBAG-65&pw=35DKTQ

Jul 1             New Features of Pathfinder (BizTalk 2006) Messaging Engine Ruslan Yakushev

                   http://www.livemeeting.com/cc/microsoft/view?id=BTSBAG-66&pw=35DKTQ

Aug 26          Windows SharePoint Services (WSS) Adapter in Pathfinder (BizTalk 2006) Greg Prickril & Adrian Hamza

                   http://www.livemeeting.com/cc/microsoft/view?id=BTSBAG-71&pw=35DKTQ

Sep 9            Adapters New Features (POP3 & SMTP Drilldown) in Pathfinder (BizTalk 2006) – Erik Leaseburg & Doug Girard

                   http://www.livemeeting.com/cc/microsoft/view?id=BTSBAG-72&pw=35DKTQ

Oct 14          Writing Effective BizTalk Server Adapters Kartik Paramasivam

                   http://www.livemeeting.com/cc/microsoft/view?id=BTSBAG-75&pw=35DKTQ

Nov 18          Beginning-to-End Ordered Delivery (Sequential FIFO) in BizTalk 2004 and 2006 Erik Leaseburg

                   http://www.livemeeting.com/cc/microsoft/view?id=BTSBAG-76&pw=35DKTQ

Dec 2            Best Practice Analyzer (BPA) BizTalk 2006: Rules Design Spec Review/Discussion Gruia Pitigoi-Aron

                   http://www.livemeeting.com/cc/microsoft/view?id=BTSBAG-77&pw=35DKTQ

Mon, Dec 12   BizTalk Server 2006: Development and Adapters Joe Sharp

                   http://www.livemeeting.com/cc/microsoft/view?id=BTSBAG-78&pw=35DKTQ

2006

Jan 6           Future Directions: Beyond BizTalk Server 2006 Eddie Churchill

                http://www.livemeeting.com/cc/microsoft/view?id=BTSBAG-79&pw=35DKTQ

Feb 10          BizTalk Server 2006 Lifecycle: Deployment, Monitoring & Maintenance Nikhil George & Erik Leaseburg

                http://www.livemeeting.com/cc/microsoft/view?id=BTSBAG-81&pw=35DKTQ

Feb 24          Upgrading from BizTalk Server 2004 to 2006 Charlie Ferebee

                http://www.livemeeting.com/cc/microsoft/view?id=BTSBAG-82&pw=35DKTQ

Mar 3           BizTalk 2006 Adapter for SAP Gruia Pitigoi-Aron

                http://www.livemeeting.com/cc/microsoft/view?id=BTSBAG-83&pw=35DKTQ

Mar 17          BizTalk 2006 Adapters for DB2 and Host Files – Ricardo Mendes

                http://www.livemeeting.com/cc/microsoft/view?id=BTSBAG-84&pw=35DKTQ

Apr 7           BizTalk 2006 Adapter for Oracle DB – Puru Amradkar

                http://www.livemeeting.com/cc/microsoft/view?id=BTSBAG-85&pw=35DKTQ

Apr 28          BizTalk 2006 Adapter for Siebel – Puru Amradkar

                http://www.livemeeting.com/cc/microsoft/view?id=BTSBAG-87&pw=35DKTQ

May 5           BizTalk 2006 Adapter for WSE 3.0 Jesus Rodriguez, Rick Pelletier, Javier Mariscal (Two Connect) & Mark Fussell

                http://www.livemeeting.com/cc/microsoft/view?id=BTSBAG-88&pw=35DKTQ

May 12  WSE 2.0 SP1 Adapter for BizTalk 2006 Michael Elizarov

                http://www.livemeeting.com/cc/microsoft/view?id=BTSBAG-89&pw=35DKTQ

May 19  BizTalk Operations Rob Cameron

                http://www.livemeeting.com/cc/microsoft/view?id=BTSBAG-90&pw=35DKTQ

May 26  BizTalk 2006 Adapter for RIM BlackBerry Jennifer Zouak (Zouak Consulting)

                http://www.livemeeting.com/cc/microsoft/view?id=BTSBAG-91&pw=35DKTQ

Jun 2           BizTalk Adapter for WebSphere MQ (Client-Based) Anil Balakrishnan

                http://www.livemeeting.com/cc/microsoft/view?id=BTSBAG-92&pw=35DKTQ

Here’s some additional information concerning my previous post on fixing some thread pool errors.  After implementing that fix, we ran a file that created over 100 concurrent instances.  Well, the MaxIOThreads and MaxWorkerThreads were both set to 100, so we got some thread pool errors again.  When I first researched that solution everything I saw said to set both of those to 100 and the internals of the server would multiply that out for multi-proc boxes.  So set at 100 for a 4 proc box you would end up with 400 threads.

I haven’t spent a lot of time confirming this, but it looks like that’s not right.  It looks like that setting is not per proc.  Maybe it is for ASP.NET which uses the machine.config and is pretty much what all the documentation on these settings is based on, but BizTalk doesn’t.  I bumped both values up to 400 (4 proc) and the thread issue went away.

As a side note, I really need to look at another facet to make sure when we get a file that causes over 400 concurrent we aren’t screwed.  Maybe some type of loop that handles 100 at a time.  I don’t know.

I’ve done plenty of development projects on my own to make sure I know how to expose an orchestration through a webservice (”expose” is probably the wrong word but it’s what the industry uses.)  What I haven’t done is deployed a webservice created for an orchestration to another server, such as a test box.  Guess what I’ve been doing recently??

Deploying the BizTalk bits is standard stuff so I didn’t have any issues on that end.  I was hoping the web service deployment would be a simple copy-paste and set up the website.  Turns out there is plenty of other stuff to do along the way.  Most of it, I learned the hard way:  Fix error retest research error fix error retest…You get the idea.  I say it’s the hard way, but I enjoy it.  I get to learn a lot of things I wouldn’t had there been a simple checklist to follow (which, by the way, there isn’t (at least a complete checklist.))

The main reason for this post was to publish the checklist that worked for me.  Not so folks can blindly follow it, because depending on your architecture this may not work for you, but rather to get some information out there so that it can get folks thinking along the right lines.  I also wanted to have a trail of what I ran into and how it was solved in case I’m ever in a similar situation.

Before I run through what was done I should explain the architecture.  I was deploying the web service on the BizTalk box (Win2003), which connects to a SQL Server on another box (Win2003).  That’s it.  Simple.  That’s what I thought, too!

So without further ado, here’s what I went through to get the web service and orchestration set up so they could talk properly.  Like I said before, deploying the BizTalk piece was nothing new so I won’t go over that.

Web Service install:  Getting the service there is a simple copy-paste.  Now comes the fun part.

1. SOAP and SQL adapters run in through the BizTalk Isolated Host.  What this means for the web service is that it needs to run under a user that has access to run this service.  To do that, set up an Application Pool in IIS and configure the identity that it runs under to be a user that is a member of the group that runs the Isolated Host.  In my case, it was a domain group.  Now configure the web application (I’m assuming this was already created) for the web service to run in this new Application Pool.


2. Remember (or in my case, write down) the user you used for the App Pool identity


3. In my case, I wanted to set up a separate website just for web services published for BizTalk.  So I did.  On my dev box I didn’t do that (WinXP).  So after I set up the new website on the desired port, I thought I needed to modify the receive port binding.  The virtual directory setting on the binding remains relative, meaning “/ApplicationName/WebService.asmx“.  There is no documentation on this setup and my search came up empty, so I assumed BizTalk would need something more to tell it the website was not on the default web site.  After playing around quite a bit with the virtual directory and public address values, turns out my assumption was wrong and BizTalk is smart enough to figure it out.  Good little BizTalk…sit…stay…rollover…Good Boy!!  End result:  No changes to the binding.  I still have no idea what good the Public address setting is, though.


4. This one took me a while, mainly due to the webservice being one-way.  One of the aspects of one-way services is that if there is an error, the client doesn’t get to know about it.  Which means when I would test it, I could see in the IIS logs that there was a 500 response, but the client would never get the error.  In hindsight I could’ve updated the webservice to log the error, but I instead modified it to return something.  In the end I added an exception log for when it is one-way so future errors will be logged.  Anyway, turns out I was battling a permission issue for quite some time and didn’t even know it.  Another area where the docs are lacking is in security setup.  Turns out the user that you wrote down in step 2 above needs to be a member of the IIS_WPG group on the box.  This one was easy to find in the docs and I had done this up front.  What wasn’t covered was that the user also needs to be a member of the STS_WPG group.  Mainly so the user has access to the temp folders. 

That’s it.  I left out a lot of debugging steps and the trial and error stuff in the hopes of keeping this short.  Seems like my posts are getting longer and longer these days.