Install Logging Service

The Logging service collects and stores the logs from the Runtime Workstations. This may be installed on an IPFusion Workstation, on an independent server, or alongside the SQL server. Before installation, ensure you have the below prerequisites for your logging server:

Table 1. Logging Service Minimum System Requirements
CPU Intel Core i3-7300 or equivalent. Must have a minimum passmark score of 6000. See https://www.cpubenchmark.net/ for a list of processors.
Memory 8GB
Operating System Windows Server 2012 R2 or newer, Windows 10, Windows 11
Files IPFusion installer.
Table 2. SQL Server Minimum System Requirements
CPU Intel Core i3-7300 or equivalent. Must have a minimum passmark score of 6000. See https://www.cpubenchmark.net/ for a list of processors.
Memory 8GB
Hard Drive 500 GB of free space.
Operating System Windows Server 2012 R2 or newer, Windows 10, Windows 11
SQL Server Version Microsoft SQL Server 2012 SP1 or newer
SQL Server License Type The minimum requirement for the license for SQL server is to have an Express version. The logging service functions with other licensed versions of SQL server.
Logging and Reporting may be installed on systems with the below SQL setups:
  • Microsoft SQL Server 2012 SP1 or newer
  • No existing SQL installation

The logging service uses the MSMQ and MSDTC Windows services.

Install Logging and SQL Server

If you do not yet have SQL Server installed for Logging, you will need to install it before the Logging service. The below steps will guide you through installing both on the same server.

To install the Logging service and SQL Server:

  1. Unzip the installer folder and run the enclosed setup.exe file.
  2. In the Tools section, select Logging.
    Logging service location
  3. Click Install.
  4. In the IPFusion - Logging Server Setup, click Next.
  5. In the Prerequisites, check the option to install SQL Server Express 2017.
  6. Click Next. When prompted to choose the directory for the install files, click OK.
  7. Select New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation.
  8. Accept the license terms and click Next.
  9. Once the rule check completes, click Next.
  10. In the Feature Selection, click Select All then Next.
  11. Select to use the Default or instance of SQL server.
  12. Leave the Service Accounts at their default settings and click Next.
  13. In the Server Configuration select the Authentication Mode preferred and configure the users you want to have access to the database:
    • Windows authentication mode — Only specified Windows users will have access to the database. Use this option if you want to only log into Reporting using Windows users.
    • Mixed Mode (SQL Server authentication and Windows authentication) — Specified Windows users and a separate SQL administrator account will have access to the database. Use this mode if you want to be able to log in to the Reporting application using a username and password.
  14. Click Next to complete the SQL installation. Close out of the setup window to continue on to the Logging service installation.
  15. Click Next. After agreeing to the terms and conditions, click Next again.
  16. Ensure the Server field contains the address of your SQL server.
    Note: The logging service will use the default SQL instance.
  17. If you are using Windows authentication, ensure you are logged in as the proper Windows user for the SQL server and check Trusted Connection. If you are using an SQL user instead, uncheck Trusted Connection and enter in the username and password.
  18. Ensure the Database field contains the value ipfusion.
  19. To test the connection, click Test SQL Connection. If it is unable to connect, there is likely an issue with the information entered or your SQL configuration.
  20. Click Install. Once complete, click Finish.

Once the SQL and logging installation is complete, you may install SQL Server Management Studio to manage your SQL server.

Install Logging with Existing SQL Server

If you already have your SQL Server installed, you will not require further SQL installation. You can instead skip to just installing the Logging service. The logging service can be installed either on your existing SQL server, on an IPFusion Workstation, or on a standalone server. You can use these steps regardless of whether you already have an IPFusion database on the SQL server.

To install the Logging service alongside an existing SQL Server:

  1. Unzip the installer folder and run the enclosed setup.exe file.
  2. In the Tools section, select Logging.
    Logging service location
  3. Click Install.
  4. In the IPFusion - Logging Server Setup, click Next.
  5. In the Prerequisites, uncheck the option to install SQL Server Express 2017.
  6. Click Next. After agreeing to the terms and conditions, click Next again.
  7. Ensure the Server field contains the address of your SQL server.
    Note: The logging service will use the default SQL instance.
  8. If you are using Windows authentication, ensure you are logged in as the proper Windows user for the SQL server and check Trusted Connection. If you are using SQL authentication instead, uncheck Trusted Connection and enter in the username and password.
  9. Enter the name of your IPFusion database into the Database field. If you do not currently have one, one will be created using the entered name. By default, this value is ipfusion.
  10. To test the connection, click Test SQL Connection. If it is unable to connect, there is likely an issue with the information entered or your SQL configuration.
  11. Click Install. Once complete, click Finish.

Configure SQL Server

If your SQL server was not installed using the logging installer, you will need to perform some extra configuration. These steps will allow you to connect the Reporting application from a remote machine.

  1. On your SQL server, launch SQL Server Configuration Manager.
  2. Expand SQL Server Network Configuration and select the SQL server. If the TCP/IP is Disabled, right-click TCP/IP and select Enable.
  3. Right-click TCP/IP and select Properties.
  4. Scroll to the bottom and in the IPAll section, set the TCP Dynamic Ports to 1433.
  5. Select SQL Server Services.
  6. If your SQL server is not in a Running state, right-click the server and select Start. If it is running, right-click the server and select Restart.