Configuring IT Analytics Solution to Work with Notification Server R7

In envirnonments where the instance of SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services used by Altiris IT Analytics Solution is on the same host and website as the Notification Server, Reporting Services Reports within the IT Analytics will not function after R7 is installed. In this instance, the application of R7 will force the website that houses the virtual directories for Notification Server to operate under .NET 1.1. This means that any other virtual directory hosted under the same website in IIS will be forced to use .NET 1.1 regardless of whether or not those virtual directories have been set to use .NET 2.0. Since Reporting Services requires .NET 2.0 this will cause Reporting Services to not function properly.

In environments where the Notification Server and SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services are installed on the same host, the resolution is to utilize a separate IIS website and Application Pool. It is recommended to use the Default Web Site and the DefaultAppPool for Notification Server and create a new Website and Application Pool named ReportingServices to use with the two Virtual Directories required by SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services. When a separate Website and Application Pools are used, the Notification Server will use .NET 1.1 and Reporting Services will use .NET 2.0 and each will be able to function properly. Follow the instructions below to fix this issue:

1. Create a new folder in the c:\inetpub directory to use as the base folder for the new website. Be sure to name this folder something descriptive such as ReportingServices.
2. Launch IIS on the server hosting NS and SQL Reporting Services.
3. In IIS Expand the Servername node.
4. Right click on the Web Sites node and select New>Web Site.
5. Click next on the Web Site Creation Wizard screen.
6. In the Description box type the name for this new web site and click next. Be sure to use something descriptive such as ReportingServices.
7. Follow the instructions below to set the appropriate IP Address and Port Settings:
   
   1. In the IP Addresses dropdown list the default is generally (All Unassigned), however you can specify that this website be confined to a particular IP Address. Only change this if you know it is the appropriate setting, otherwise leave (All Unassigned) selected.
   2. For the TCP port be sure to use something that is not currently in use by another web site under IIS. You can check this by bringing up the properties window for each of the other web sites under the Web Site folder. In most cases the Default Web Site will be configured to use port 80. If that is the only web site that is currently listed than using port 8080 is a common practice.
   3. Leave the Host Header box blank.
   4. Click the Next button.
8. In the path textbox browse to the new folder that you created in step 1. Leave Allow anonymous access to this Web site checked and click next.
9. Check the following:
   
   1. Read
   2. Run scripts
   3. Execute
10. Click Finish.
11. Launch SQL Reporting Services from Start>All Programs>Microsoft SQL Server 2005>Configuration Tools>Reporting Services Configuration
12. Connect to the Local instance.
13. Select the Report Server Virtual Directory item in the left frame.
14. Click the New button and select the website that you just created. Leave the Virtual Directory as the default and click OK.
15. Select the Report Manager Virtual Directory item in the left frame.
16. Click the New button and select the website that you just created. Leave the Virtual Directory as the default and click OK.
17. Click the Web Service Identity item in the left frame.
18. Make sure that the Report Server and Report Manager dropdown lists are using an application pool that is different than the one being used for Notification Server. If you are unsure you can create new application pool from this window and use that application pool for both dropdown lists.
19. Click Apply.
20. Launch the Altiris Console.
21. Navigate to Configuration>Solution Settings>IT Analytics>Connection Settings.
22. Under the Reporting Server section click the edit icon (pencil) next to the Report Server Virtual Directory URL setting.
23. In the textbox type in the http://<servername>:<port>/ReportServer/ and click the Verify Connection button.
    
    1. <servername> is the name of the server running Reporting Services.
    2. <port> is the port number you gave the new Web Site you created in Step 1 above.
24. Click the edit icon (pencil) next to the Report Folder Name setting.
25. Leave the default of IT Analytics and click Save Folder Settings.
26. Click the Report Setup task in the Left Tree of the Notification Server.
27. Select the Available Reports tab and check any and all reports you'd like to install. To install all available reports click the Install checkbox in the Header row of the table.
28. Click Apply. This will launch a progress window. Once the Close button is enabled click it.
29. Navigate to the IT Analytics tab and validate that you can access the dashboards and reports.