This setup guide walks you through the steps to install and configure a SharePoint 2013 farm and an Office Web Apps 2013 farm.
I have included a range of topics from preparing for the farm deployment through the deployment itself, including the following topics:
- A checklist I use to help organize and prepare for the farm build
- All the implementation details I like to decide on before the build
- The prerequisites to prepare for a SharePoint farm build
- The install and configuration steps for SharePoint
- The Windows Firewall rules to enable intra-farm communication
- The install and configuration for Office Web Apps
- A checklist I use to guide next steps once the farm is deployed
I usually use the contents of this guide to produce documentation for my clients when I am engaged to build a SharePoint farm, starting with giving them the preflight checklist to get everything ready for me before I arrive, and ending with the next steps checklist to give them direction on what to do next. I like leaving this information with my clients because it provides them with answers and direction. You’re welcome to do the same.
Preparation/Preflight Checklist
- Order SSL certificate for URL domain(s)
- Procure and configure hardware load balancing (if load balancing)
- Provision virtual servers – Windows 2012 (preferred) or Windows 2008 R2 SP1+
- Install and configure Forefront UAG
- Install SSL certificate on servers
- Create DNS entries for domains to resolve to Forefront/load balancer
- Copy setup media to servers
- Copy SharePoint 2013 setup files to SharePoint servers
- Copy SharePoint 2013 Language Packs to SharePoint servers
- Copy KB2554876, KB2708075, KB2759112, KB2765317 to SharePoint servers
- Copy Office Web Apps 2013 setup files to Office Web Apps servers
- Copy Office Web Apps Language Packs to Office Web Apps servers
- Provision SQL Server 2012 (preferred) or SQL Server 2008 R2
- Provision service accounts in Active Directory and grant permissions
- Grant SP Farm service account local Administrator on SharePoint servers
- Grant SP Farm “Replicate Directory Changes” AD permissions (see note)
- Grant SP Farm SQL Server permissions – DB Creator and Security Admin
- Identify SharePoint 2013 and Office Web Apps 2013 product keys
- Identify outbound e-mail server details
- An SMTP address for SharePoint outbound email (for alerts, etc.)
- An e-mail address for the “From” or “Reply To” address in system e-mails
Note: Please see this TechNet article for the steps on how to grant AD permissions: http://technet.microsoft.com/hh296982
Farm Implementation Details and Prerequisites
Install and Configure
- SharePoint 2013 Server Installation
- SharePoint 2013 Farm Configuration
- Joining Additional SharePoint Servers to the Farm
- Configuring the Windows Firewall for SharePoint Farm Traffic
- Office Web Apps 2013 Server Install and Configuration
Next Steps Checklist
- SQL DBA to configure database backup schedule
- Networking/Infrastructure resource configure routing and load-balancing rules
- System Center administrator to configure system monitoring
- Operations team to plan for regular patching and maintenance
- Build an FAQ community support SharePoint site to log common end-user questions
- Document SharePoint support information and resources