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Scale-out Deployment (Native Mode Report Server)

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Use the Scale-out Deployment page in Reporting Services Configuration Manager to view the initialization status for a scale-out deployment or to join a report server to a scale-out deployment. A scale-out deployment refers to two or more report server instances that share a single report server database.

Applies to: Reporting Services Native mode.

An initialized report server describes a server that can encrypt and decrypt sensitive data that is stored in a report server database (stored credentials and connection strings are examples of encrypted data that is stored in the database). Report server initialization is a requirement for report server operations.

A scale-out deployment is used in the following scenarios:

  • As a prerequisite for load balancing multiple report servers in a server cluster. Before you can load balance multiple report servers, you must first configure them to share the same report server database.

  • To segment report server applications on different computers, by using one server for interactive report processing and a second server for scheduled report processing. In this scenario, each server instance processes different types of requests for the same report server content stored in the shared report server database.

To configure a scale-out deployment, start with two or more report server instances that are all connected to the same report server database. After all of the instances are installed, you connect to the first report server and then use the Scale-out Deployment page to join each additional instance. Only a report server that is already initialized to use a database can initialize additional nodes.

To open this page, start the Reporting Services Configuration Manager and select Scale-out Deployment in the navigation pane. For more information, see Reporting Services Configuration Manager (Native Mode).

Options

SQL Server Name
Specify the name of the SQL Server Database Engine instance that hosts the report server database.

Database Name
Specifies the name of the database to which the report server instance is currently connected.

Server Mode
Displays the mode of server and database. The server mode is either Native or SharePoint integrated. Scale-out deployments are supported for both modes.

Server
Shows the report server name. In most cases, this is the name of the computer on which the report server is installed.

Instance
Shows the report server instance name. Report server instances are based on SQL Server instances.

Status
Indicates whether the report server is initialized or waiting to join a scale-out deployment:

  • For a standalone report server that is not part of a scale-out deployment, this page shows that the report server instance is initialized with respect to its dedicated report server database. Status is set to Joined.

  • For a report server that is waiting to join a scale-out deployment, this page contains empty values for Server, Instance, and Status. A report server is waiting to join a scale-out deployment if you selected an existing report server database that is already used by another report server instance. A message on this page instructs you to connect to a report server that is already joined to the farm. To complete this request, click Connect, select a report server that is already initialized to use the report server database, click Scale-out Deployment, select the report server instance that is Waiting to Join, and then click Initialize.

  • For a report server that is currently part of a scale-out deployment, this page shows initialization status for all of the report server instances that share the same report server database. When viewing status for a scale-out deployment, it does not matter which server you are connected to. The status information is reported identically for all nodes in the scale-out deployment.

    For a report server that is already part of a scale-out deployment, you can use this page to add or remove nodes.

Initialize
Click Initialize to add a report server to the scale-out deployment. This step configures a report server to use a symmetric key in a shared report server database. You can use Initialize to add a report server instance to a scale-out deployment or to troubleshoot a migration or installation problem.

A report server instance is only available if you have previously configured a connection to the shared report server database. In addition, you must perform the initialization from a report server that is already initialized to use the report server database.

Remove
Click Remove to remove the encryption keys of the selected report server instance from the report server database. You can remove keys to remove a report server from a scale-out deployment or to troubleshoot a migration or installation problem. With this option, only the encryption keys for the specified report server instance are removed. Encrypted data in the report server database is not affected.

As a precaution, be sure to create a backup copy of the symmetric key before you remove it. Once you remove the encryption keys of the last report server in the list, you introduce new requirements for any subsequent report server initialization for that database. The new requirement is that after you initialize a report server you must restore a backup copy of the symmetric key. Restoring the symmetric key is necessary if you want to access the encrypted data that is currently in the report server database.

If you no longer need the encrypted data or if you do not have a backup copy of the key, you must delete the encrypted data. For more information, see Encryption Keys (SSRS Native Mode).

See Also

Initialize a Report Server (SSRS Configuration Manager)
Configure and Manage Encryption Keys (SSRS Configuration Manager)
Configure a Native Mode Report Server Scale-Out Deployment (SSRS Configuration Manager)