Microsoft SQL Server 2017 and 2019 allow you to install the database engine and SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) on separate hosts. Parallels RAS 17.1 (and newer) supports this deployment scenario and gives you the ability to use SQL Server Reporting Services and the SQL Server database engine installed on separate hosts.
For step-by-step instructions on how to install and configure Parallels RAS Reporting Service with SQL Server 2019 and Microsoft SSRS 2019, please read the following Parallels KB articles:
Microsoft SQL Server 2017 and 2019 single server installation: https://kb.parallels.com/125164.
Microsoft SQL Server 2017 and 2019 multi-server installation: https://kb.parallels.com/125156.
Follow the instructions provided at https://kb.parallels.com/125164.
Note: For Parallels RAS installations running on multiple servers, it is recommended that Microsoft SQL Server is installed on a dedicated server.
To install a SQL Server instance (SQL Server 2016 or earlier):
Run the Microsoft SQL Server installation program and select the Custom installation type. Wait for the necessary files to be downloaded to your computer.
Once the files are downloaded, the SQL Server Installation Center window opens.
On the Installation page, select New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation.
Click Next and follow onscreen instructions until you get to the Feature Selection page.
On the Feature Selection page, make sure that at least the following SQL Server features are selected for installation:
Database Engine Services
Reporting Services - Native
Click Next.
On the Instance Configuration page, select the Named instance option and enter an instance name. When naming the instance, you have the following options:
Enter "RASREPORTING", which is the default instance name used by Parallels RAS Reporting. If you use this name, you don't have to specify it later when installing RAS Reporting and configure it in the RAS Console. This is the recommended option.
If you would like to use a different name, you can do that, but you will have to make sure that you use this name when installing and configuring RAS Reporting. The instructions for installing RAS Reporting (described later in this chapter) indicate where the instance name must be specified, so if you follow the instructions, you won't miss it. Note that the instance name cannot contain dashes, dots and some other characters.
After entering the instance name, make sure that it is also set in the Instance ID field.
Click Next and proceed to the Database Engine Configuration page.
On the Database Engine Configuration page, select the Server Configuration tab and add the following users to the SQL Server administrators list:
Local administrator (e.g. Administrator)
AD administrator (if you are just testing Parallels RAS Reporting on a local server, you can exclude this account).
SYSTEM (click Add, type "SYSTEM", click Check Names and click OK; the account will appear in the list as "NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM").
Complete the wizard using default settings on remaining pages.
Wait for the SQL Server installation to finish. On the Complete page, make sure that the installation was successful and exist the wizard.
You should also install SQL Server management tools, specifically the SQL Server Management Studio. It is not required by RAS Reporting, but it is an essential SQL Server management tool that you might find useful. If you've never worked with SQL Server Management Studio before and not sure whether you need it, we suggest you install it. For example, you can use it to view RAS Reporting database tables, constraints, and stored procedures, which may help you better understand the RAS Reporting database design. The installation link is provided on the SQL Server Installation Center window.
When using Microsoft SQL Server 2016 and earlier version, it must be configured for remote connections as follows:
Open Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio.
Right-click on the server and select Properties.
Go to Connections and select Allow Remote.
Open SQL Server Configuration Manager and go to SQL Server Network Configuration > Protocols for RASREPORTING.
Right-click on TCP/IP and choose Properties.
Make sure the Enabled property is set to Yes.
Select the IP Address tab and locate the IPAll section. Set the TCP Dynamic Ports field to be blank and the TCP Port field to "1433".
Restart SQL Server. To do so, in the SQL Server Configuration Manager, right-click the SQL Server service and choose Restart.
After the restart, in the SQL Server Configuration Manager, right-click on SQL Server Browser and choose Properties.
Select the Service tab and set the Start Mode property to Automatic.
Start the SQL Server Browser.
To configure Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services, follow these steps:
Run the Reporting Service Configuration Manager (Start > Apps > Microsoft SQL Server 2016 > Reporting Services Configuration Manager).
In the Reporting Services Configuration Connection dialog that opens, do the following:
Make sure the Server Name field contains the name of the server hosting the SQL Server instance.
Make sure the Report Server Instance field contains the name of the SQL Server instance that you've created earlier. If you used the default Parallels RAS name, it will appear as "RASREPORTING". If you used a different instance name, select that name.
Click Connect. If the connection is successful, the Reporting Services Configuration Manager window opens.
Select the Web Service URL category (not to be confused with Web Portal URL) in the left pane and set the following properties in the right pane:
Virtual Directory: Make sure that the directory name is "ReportServer_RASREPORTING". If you used a different name for the SQL Server instance, you should see that name instead of the "RASREPORTING" part.
TCP port: Set the port number to 8085.
Click the Apply button to apply the settings.
Select the Web Portal URL category in the left pane and then do the following:
Make sure that the Virtual Directory field is set to "Reports_<InstanceName>", where "InstanceName" is the name of your SQL Server instance. The default Parallels RAS name would be "Reports_RASREPORTING".
Examine the URLs field. Make sure that the port number after the server name is 8085. If it's not, click the Advanced button and change the port number.
Verify that you can access the Reporting Services Web Portal by clicking the URL on the Web Portal URL page. This should open the SQL Server Reporting Services home page in a web browser.
Click Exit to close the Reporting Services Configuration Manager.