GJ Tech Blog: Install SharePoint 2013 on a single server by using machine user

This installation guide will help in installation of SharePoint 2013 on a single server non-domain environment. Especially for development environment we need to install SharePoint, SQLServer and other required software on a single machine. The default SharePoint installation require domain accounts and environment, but for development purpose we will do some trick to do the installation by using machine user in non –domain environment. This guide is not recommended for production or staging environment.

The Installation steps includes :

Preparation of Virtual Machine
Installing SQL Server 2012
Installing SharePoint 2013

Preparation of Windows server 2008 R2 Virtual Machine

Open VMWare Player and click on "Create a New Virtual Machine".
Select the "Installer disc image file (iso)" radio button and browse for the Windows server 2008 R2 .iso file.
Don't provide any product key, you can update it later.
Provide other VM details e.g. –

Administrator password,
OS version,
Virtual machine name and location,
Hard Disk settings[If you are using single disk then use size something around 100GB ],
Use a single file option for disk,
RAM , use at-least 6GB for the VM
Set the same number of processors as your host
For best performances disconnect blue tooth , USB, sound card, printer etc.

Complete the wizard. It will start Installation of OS - Windows server 2008 R2
Once OS is installed, configure your VM so you can have internet connection on your guest VM.I usually set default VMNet8 adaptor for my VM.
Once you have Internet access on your VM, activate your window version.
Change Computer Name for your VM Machine- e.g. SP2013
Install all latest update for Windows and SP1. [Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) - http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=5842 ]
For development environment disable Enhanced Security Configuration for IE. = > "Start -> Administrative Tools -> Server Manager -> Under Security Information, click Configure IE ESC. -> Set Configuration OFF for Administrator and Users"
Other optional configuration for Best VM Performance, recommended only for development environment –

Open your Network {Local Area Network} Property and in the network configuration options, uninstall the QoS Packet Scheduler and the Link Layer Topology Discovery components, and uncheck IPv6. => "On Network Adaptors page -> Right Click your network {Local Area Network} -> open Property."
Turn off all firewalls ( Private, domain, Public) => "Start -> Administrative Tools -> Server Manager ->Go To WindowsFirewall-> Open Advance Security Property -> Set Firewall State to OFF"
Set the system properties for best performances => "computer -> Right Click properties -> Open Setting in Performance section -> In Visual Effect tab , select ‘Adjust for best performance’ -> in Advanced tab , select program in ‘adjust for best performances’"
Activate the Desktop Experience feature => "Initial Configuration tasks -> Add feature -> Desktop Experience"

Create Following accounts –

SQL_Service account - Create the SQL_Service account : "Control Panel -> User Accounts -> Create Standard User e.g. SQLServiceAdmin -> Set a password ,e.g. P@ssword1"
SharePoint Server Farm Account – Create the database access account account : "Control Panel -> User Accounts -> Create Standard User e.g. SPFarmAdmin -> Set a password ,e.g. P@ssword1"

Installing SQL Server 2012

Run the the SETUP of SQL Server 2012
On the SQL Server Installation Center, select Installation and "New SQL Server Stand alone installation"
Set the License key / Terms
Select “SQL Server Feature Installation” on Setup Role
Select features; required are - Database Engine Services, Management Tools – Basic. You can choose other features also if you are planning to use ,e.g SSRS, SSAS etc.
Set root directory , SQL Instance details [Use Default Instance]
Set service account [SQLServiceAdmin] for the SQL Server Agent and the SQL Server Browser services.
Then set the collation for SharePoint , I used default one
On the Database Engine Configuration Screen, choose mixed mode and set password for sa user , e.g. P@ssword1
Add the current user as SQL Server administrator.
Then Set Data Directories , Data File locations
Complete the wizard, it will install SQL Server 2012 on your VM
Configuring SQL Server 2012

Open SQL Server management studio
Right click the Database engine and click "Properties".
Set the maximum Server Memory [e.g. 500 MB]
In the "Advanced" screen set the "Maximum Degree of Parallelism" to 1.
Configuration for Database : Once you install the SharePoint 2013 , then for each Content DB, Search Db, Temp DB , configure these settings –

Locate the database node, right click it and click properties
In the "Files" screen,
Set data files [Ideally, use one data file for each CPU cores]
Set the initial size of the files [e.g. 1000 MB].
Set the auto-growth [e.g 512 MB]

Open SQL Configuration Manager.- Locate Protocols for MSSQLSERVER and enable "Named pipes"

Optionally Install SQL Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 - http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=26727

Installing SharePoint 2013

Start SharePoint 2013 Server installation wizard.
Click the "install software prerequisites" link, and pass the License terms and summary.
After prerequisites installed, reboot your virtual machine
After reboot, complete the installation wizard.
Running the Software Update - you must also install the following [if not already installed].

SharePoint parsing process crashes in Windows Server 2008 R2 (KB 2554876) [Included in Windows 2008 Server R2 SP1]
IIS 7.5 configurations changes (KB 2708075) [Included Windows 2008 Server R2 SP1]
.NET Framework version 4.5 hotfix KB 2759112 [http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkId=267536]

Go back to the SharePoint 2013 installation screen and click on the "Install SharePoint Server" link. Pass the License terms
In the "Server Type" screen, choose the "Complete" installation.
In the File Location screen, set the search index files location. I used default locations.
Then, launch the installation.
On the Run Configuration Wizard, UNCHECK the check box and CLOSE the wizard
Using SharePoint 2010 Management Shell to create the SharePoint 2010 Configuration databases

Open the SharePoint 2013 Management Shell
Run this command - New-SPConfigurationDatabase
Enter parameter values : The database name e.g. SharePoint_Config, The database Server name e.g. SP2013, Enter Farm credentials e.g. SP2013\SPFarmAdmin , P@ssword1.
Then enter passphrase e.g. P@ssword1.
PowerShell command will take a long time (>15 minutes) to create the SharePoint Farm databases.

Now Open SharePoint 2013 Products Configuration Wizard from start menu to Finalizing the SharePoint installation.
Click, yes on the warning dialog
Select “Do not disconnect from this server farm”
Specify a port number [e.g. 1111] for SharePoint 2013 central administration site.
Complete the configuration wizard. After Completion, the Central Administration site for SharePoint 2013 automatically opens. Enter your credentials.
The SharePoint 2013 Central Administration site is displayed and you are asked to participate to the Customer Experience Improvment Program.
Then you are asked to use the configuration wizard. If you want the minimal services and processes to run in your development environment then do not run this wizard.

Troubleshooting SharePoint 2013 Installation

Issue # 1: "New" ribbon icon disabled in central admin, when you are trying to create any new web application or new service. Resolution: Open the Internet Explorer with "Run as Administrator" privileges.
Issue # 2: Central admin site launched with a blank page. Resolution:

Enable “Basic Authentication” for Central administration site in IIS.[ IIS-> Sites-> SharePoint Central administration-> Authentication] and reset IIS.
Add the Central Admin app pool user to the local admins group in machine (if they are different) and Reset iis .
Another Reason may be that some of the authentication providers may not be installed in IIS properly. If you cannot see windows/Basic/Digest authentication mechanisms in authentication list. Then add these authentications in IIS and enable windows authentication for your site, if not work then try for basic authentication.

Issue # 3: could not load file or assembly 'Microsoft.IdentityModel. Resolution: Download the pack from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=eb9c345f-e830-40b8-a5fe-ae7a864c4d76&displaylang=en and install it in your machine.
Issue # 4: An exception of type Microsoft.SharePoint.Upgrade.SPUpgradeException. Resolution: You may get this error, when you are trying to configure the SharePoint central admin (SharePoint product configuration wizard). So, download the chart control from http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=122517 and install it.