Installing & Configuring SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services

For the last one year I was working on reporting services and as project is closed, now its time to do some documentation and knowledge sharing :). So I started to prepare a doument which can be used as a starting point for future projects. In this post I will be posting its first part - Installing and Configuring SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services.

Its my first technical post and your valuable feedback will surely be very helpful and appreciated.

1       System Requirements

 

    1. Windows Server 2003 / Windows 2000 Server/ Windows vista / Windows XP/ Windows Server 2008
    2. IIS 5.0 or later is required for Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services (SSRS) installations.
    3. ASP.NET 2.0 is required for Reporting Services. When installing Reporting Services, SQL Server Setup will enable ASP.NET if it is not already enabled.
    4. SQL server 2005 with SP1(In case you need to reinstall reporting services its advised to reinstall full SQL server rather then just reporting services).
    5. SQL Server Setup requires Microsoft Windows Installer 3.1 or later and Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) 2.8 SP1 or later. You can download MDAC 2.8 SP1 from this Microsoft Web site.
For detailed requirements see: Hardware and Software Requirements for Installing SQL Server 2005 -

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms143506.aspx

2       Install the SQL server reporting services

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa545330.aspx

3       Post Installation Configuration

On the report server computer, follow these steps after setup is finished to complete the deployment:
  1. Open port 80 in Microsoft Windows Firewall to enable incoming requests over port 80. If you installed Reporting Services on Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack, HTTP requests over port 80 are blocked by default. To open port 80, do the following:
    1. Click Start, point to Control Panel, click Windows Firewall, click Exceptions, and then click Add Port.
    2. In Name, type Web Server (TCP 80).
    3. In Port number, type 80.
    4. For the protocol, select TCP.
    5. Click OK.
  2. Modify Windows Firewall settings to enable remote administration.
a.    Log on as a local administrator to the computer for which you want to enable remote administration.b.    Open a command line window, and then run the following command: netsh.exe firewall set service type=REMOTEADMIN mode=ENABLE scope=ALL c.    Verify that remote administration is enabled. You can run the following command to show the status: netsh.exe firewall show state 
    1. Add InetInfo.exe to the Windows Firewall Exception List
      1. Click Start, point to Control Panel, and click Windows Firewall.
      2. Click Exceptions.
      3. Click Add Program.
      4. Click Browse.
      5. Select %windir%\system32\inetsrv\inetinfo.exe
      6. Click Change Scope to set the scope.
      7. Click OK.
      8. Reboot the computer.
    2. Enable remote connections to the SQL Server instance that hosts the report server database
      1. Click Start, point to Programs, point to Microsoft SQL Server 2005, point to Configuration Tools, and click SQL Server Surface Area Configuration Tool.
      2. Click Surface Area Configuration for Services and Connections.
      3. Open the folder for the SQL Server instance that hosts the report server databases.
      4. Click Remote Connections.
      5. Click Local and Remote Connections.
      6. Click Using both TCP/IP and named pipes.
      7. Click OK, and then restart the service.
    3. Run the Reporting Services Configuration tool, connect to the report server instance you just installed, and review the status indicator for each setting to verify that it is configured. Make sure that it’s all green ticks.
  1. Assign write permissions to the temporary ASP.NET folder to reporting service account (<domain or computer name>\reportingsvc).

4       Verify Reporting Services Installation

4.1     Verify that the report server is installed and running

    1. Run the Reporting Services Configuration tool, connect to the report server instance you just installed, and review the status indicator for each setting to verify that it is configured.
    2. Open the Services window and verify that the Report Server Windows service is running. To view the status of the Report Server Windows service, click Start, point to Control Panel, double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Services. When the list of services appears, scroll to Report Server (MSSQLSERVER). The status should be Started.
    1. On the instance of SQL Server that is hosting the report server database, verify that the SQL Server Agent service is running. SQL Server Agent must be running before users define subscriptions and other scheduled operations. Use the SQL Server Surface Area Configuration tool to enable SQL Server Agent.
    1. In a browser window, type http://localhost/reportserver (http://<computer name>/ReportServer<instance name>).The URL will be different if you installed the report server as a named instance.  You can also go and try running report server directly through IIS. 
  1. Run reports to test report server operations. For this step, you can install and publish the sample reports if you do not have any reports available. For more information, see AdventureWorks Report Samples in SQL Server Books Online.

4.2     Verify that Report Manager is installed and running  

  1. In a browser window, type http://localhost/reports  (http://<computer name>/Reports<instance name>) this is the virtual directory for Report Manager. 
You can also go and try browsing report manager directly through IIS. 
  1. Use Report Manager to create a new folder or upload a file to test whether definitions are passed back to the report server database. If these operations are successful, the connection is functional.

 

References:

 Update : Check my other post on troubleshooting Reporting services installation and other problems here.

30 Comments

  • Reply

    Not really very helpful.

    "Assign write permissions to the temporary ASP.NET folder" - where is that?

    What happens if the checks that all is well don't pan out?

  • Reply

    @ Grant - Thanks for pointing that out, will try to add some to-dos if verification of installation fails.

    This link provide steps for assigning permissions to temp asp.net folder - http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa545633.aspx


  • Reply

    This is a great check list. helped me a lot! Keep up the good work

  • Reply

    Its a good checklist. I find this helpful, will certainly post a few comments if i find anything thats worth notifying

  • Reply

    Thanks Puru, your comments are most welcome.

  • Reply

    When i deploy the reports thro BIDS it gives me the following error keyset does not exist. Pls help me solve this problem

  • Reply

    Thanks, Its really very helpful to me. keep it up.

  • Reply

    Excellent Sir !!!!!! i respect youe grt knowledge in domain ......

    I hv one Scenario where i hv to give access based on login made to view reports. I hv 3 levels of designation in my project 1) Sr MGr , 2) Mgr , 3)Engg .Can u please explain me how i can achieve this . I am trying using "userid" global varibal , but still didint successed in achiving same .

    Bhushan Nirgude
    bnirgude@gmail.com

  • Reply

    Bodoh punya tutorial..

  • Reply

    yo.. really helpful !!

  • Reply



    Hi,

    I am facing a problem with SQL Server Reporting Services as follows.

    I have developed a SSRS using MS Studio 2005. Everything is working fine while I access the report through c# code. Once the report is visible in Report Viewer let keep the report open for 30 - 120 minutes. Now if I refresh the report then a message displayed in Report Viewer saying that "Execution '1c5xyc455nny2145y2xkjnv3' cannot be found."


    Your Suggestions will be highly appreciable.

    Regards
    Baljeet

  • Reply

    tried to install ssrs 2005 from the sql server 2005 express advanced (x86 ) on a windows 2003 x64.
    All the set up went well with the reporting servicing configuration manager.
    However when we browse the site localhost/reportserver I got application error "/reportserver"

  • Reply

    Hi Stefano,

    Can you please check whether your report server is installed as a named instance or not. Please refer step 4.1.4 for details.

  • Reply

    thanks a lot!

  • Reply

    Great article, but what should i look for if the report manager is not showing and the report server is? I get the following: The XML page cannot be displayed
    Cannot view XML input using XSL style sheet. Please correct the error and then click the Refresh button, or try again later.


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    A name was started with an invalid character. Error processing resource 'http://localhost/ReportsManagerDev/'. Line 1, Pos...

    <%@ Page language="c#" Codebehind="Home.aspx.cs" AutoEventWireup="false" Inherits="Microsoft.ReportingServices.UI.HomePag...

    -------------------

    For the reportserver site i see the name and the server version so i think that site is ok.
    localhost/ReportServerDev - /

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services Version 9.00.4035.00

  • Reply

    Reporting Services Configuration Manager - I got grey tick for Initialization.

    Try to connect to reporting service engine via SQL Server Management Studio and received the following error 'rsEventLogSourceNotFound ".

    Do you have any idea?

  • Reply

    HI,

    Using below Commands I am successfully able to start Report server & Reporting Services on my System:-

    a. Log on as a local administrator to the computer for which you want to enable remote administration.b. Open a command line window, and then run the following command: netsh.exe firewall set service type=REMOTEADMIN mode=ENABLE scope=ALL c. Verify that remote administration is enabled. You can run the following command to show the status: netsh.exe firewall show state
    Add InetInfo.exe to the Windows Firewall Exception List
    Click Start, point to Control Panel, and click Windows Firewall.
    Click Exceptions.
    Click Add Program.
    Click Browse.
    Select %windir%\system32\inetsrv\inetinfo.exe
    Click Change Scope to set the scope.
    Click OK.
    Reboot the computer.

    Now I am facing Issue with :--
    Report server Virtual Directory Settings
    Report Manager Virtual Directory Settings




  • Reply

    This is very resourceful ! But how come more than 90% of the materials i had used earlier never made mention of the Firewall port 80 restriction tht has left me stranded for so long !
    Thanks alot for this post !!

  • Reply

    Sir You gave us an information in a very simple manner .
    Thank for that ..
    Regards: Gautam

  • Reply

    good one.But I have a problem im unable to find ReportManager or Reports in virtual directory of IIS. What may be the problem. Awaiting quick response

  • Reply

    wow it works.... thanks a lot.

  • Reply

    Very useful information for people working on SSRS
    Dentist Carlisle Pa - www.carlislepadentist.com

  • Reply

    yes SQL server 2005 really works hard to deal in proper so that can be done in very easy way,thanks.

  • Reply

    For the error:
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    A name was started with an invalid character. Error processing resource 'localhost/ReportsManagerDev'. Line 1, Pos...

    <%@ Page language="c#" Codebehind="Home.aspx.cs" AutoEventWireup="false" Inherits="Microsoft.ReportingServices.UI.HomePag...

    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Try checking a couple of things in IIS.
    -Is the asp.net version of the application pool and the website set to the correct one?
    -Does the Directory Security allow Integrated Windows Authentication?

  • Reply

    exact what I was looking for, thank you!

  • Reply

    he i wnt to install new sql server

  • Reply

    Very good article. It helps

  • Reply

    If you need more info on the products available, reporting software is a really useful resource. I've been there a few times and they have some great tips and tricks.

    www.reportingsoftware.info

  • Reply

    I have installed Reporting services in my local system and i had import already developed reports. When i view the query pane doesn't display any query in query window. But i can able to view the preview and results. I couldn't fnd the problem why is not display the query in the window.

  • Reply

    really helpful!

    thanks a lot ;)

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