Default Configuration for PowerPivot for SharePoint
This topic describes the services and applications that are created and configured on SharePoint when you use the New Server installation option in SQL Server Setup to install PowerPivot for SharePoint.
The New Server installation option installs and configures a ready-to-use server, including configuration for SharePoint. The default configuration is sufficient for many deployment scenarios. If no interoperability issues or performance problems are detected, you can use the PowerPivot server system exactly as Setup configures it.
This topic contains the following sections:
Basic System Requirements for the Installation
Database Engine
Analysis Services in SharePoint Integrated Mode
SharePoint Configuration Database and Essential Services
Default Web Application and Root Site Collection
Claims to Windows Token Service
PowerPivot Solution Deployment
Excel Services Provisioning
Secure Store Service Provisioning and Data Refresh Configuration
PowerPivot System Service Provisioning
Usage Data Collection
Basic System Requirements for the Installation
Before you install PowerPivot for SharePoint using the New Server option, the computer must meet the requirements described below:
All of the SharePoint prerequisites have been installed and configured through the PrerequisiteInstaller.exe program on the SharePoint installation media.
All SharePoint program files have been installed through Setup.exe on the SharePoint installation media.
The SharePoint server has not been configured. This means that you did not run the SharePoint Configuration program (PSConfig.exe) prior to running SQL Server Setup using the New Server installation option. In order for New Server installation to work, SQL Server Setup must perform the configuration tasks for you. For more information, see Install PowerPivot for SharePoint on a New SharePoint Server.
Database Engine Provisioning
Choosing the New Server installation option adds the Database Engine to your deployment. Later, when SQL Server Setup configures SharePoint, it will use the local Database Engine to create the configuration, service application, and content databases.
The credentials used to provision the service are collected during SQL Server Setup. The person who runs SQL Server Setup should also be the Database Engine system administrator. The person must have selected the Add Current User option during setup to acquire the necessary permissions.
Analysis Services in SharePoint integrated mode
SQL Server Setup installs Analysis Services service in SharePoint integrated mode as a PowerPivot named instance. The credentials used to provision the service are specified during SQL Server Setup.
The person who runs SQL Server Setup should also be the Analysis Services system administrator. This person must have selected the Add Current User option during setup to acquire the necessary permissions. In addition, the service identity of the PowerPivot service application that connects to the Analysis Services instance must have Analysis Services system administrative permissions. These permissions are granted during setup using the New Server installation option, or when you create the PowerPivot service application manually in SharePoint Central Administration.
For more information about SharePoint integrated mode, see Analysis Services in SharePoint integrated mode (PowerPivot for SharePoint).
SharePoint Configuration Database and Essential Services
To configure a default configuration of PowerPivot for SharePoint, SQL Server Setup runs Psconfig.exe in the background to create the configuration database and enable required services, including the Microsoft SharePoint Foundation Workflow Timer Service, the Microsoft SharePoint Foundation Web Application service, and the Central Administration service. The credentials of the farm account are collected during SQL Server Setup, and the farm account is used to provision the services. The person who runs SQL Server Setup becomes the farm administrator.
Default Web Application and Root Site Collection
A default SharePoint Web application is created and configured. The web application is configured to use classic-mode authentication, as required by PowerPivot for SharePoint.
A root site collection is also created. The application runs as the farm account. The person who runs SQL Server Setup becomes the primary site collection administrator.
SQL Server Setup deploys the PowerPivotWebApp solution to the default Web application, and activates the PowerPivot feature for the root site collection.
The application and site collection use SharePoint default values.
In a default installation, a PowerPivot Gallery library is created automatically. For more information about this library, see Manage PowerPivot Gallery.
Claims to Windows Token Service
SQL Server Setup starts the Claims to Windows Token Service. This allows Excel Services to forward authenticated requests to the PowerPivot System Service.
For more information about how this service is configured, see PowerShell Configuration Script (PowerPivot for SharePoint) or Install PowerPivot for SharePoint on an Existing SharePoint Server.
PowerPivot Solution Deployment
SQL Server Setup deploys a global solution package (powerpivotfarm.wsp) and an application level solution (powerpivotwebapp.wsp) to the default web application. The solutions add configuration and application pages and program files to the Web front-end and Central Administration. For more information about when and how to deploy these solutions, see Deploy PowerPivot Solutions.
Excel Services Provisioning
SQL Server Setup activates Excel Services and creates a service application. The service application runs as the farm account. The service is added to the default service connection list. A trusted file location is enabled and configured for accessing workbooks in the default Web application.
The service is configured to use default values, with the exception of these Trusted File Locations properties:
Maximum Workbook Size is set to 50 megabytes. This aligns the upper limit for maximum workbook size to the default maximum file upload size for web applications.
Allow External data is set to 'Trusted data connection libraries and embedded' to allow data connections to be processed using the embedded connection strings within the workbook file. This value is required.
Warn on Data Refresh is turned off to allow thumbnails in PowerPivot Gallery. If you choose to turn this feature back on, be sure to add PowerPivot Gallery to trusted locations. For more information, see Create a trusted location for PowerPivot sites.
Secure Store Service Provisioning and Data Refresh Configuration
Secure Store Service is used in server-side data refresh operations that retrieve newer data for PowerPivot workbooks published to SharePoint. SQL Server Setup activates Secure Store Service, creates a service application, and generates a master key. The service application runs as the farm account. The service is added to the default service connection list. To enable data refresh, Setup also creates an unattended PowerPivot data refresh account to support scheduled data refresh. In a default installation, the unattended PowerPivot data refresh account also runs as the farm account. For more information about how to change this account, see Configure and Use the PowerPivot Unattended Data Refresh Account.
PowerPivot System Service Provisioning
SQL Server Setup activates PowerPivot feature integration for the root site collection and creates a PowerPivot service application. The service is added to the default group of service connections. Initially, the service application will run as the farm account. You can change this later in SharePoint Central Administration.
The application pool identity of the PowerPivot System Service has system administrator permissions on the local Analysis Services instance. These permissions are necessary for issuing data load and unload requests to the Analysis Services instance.
Enable Usage Data Collection
PowerPivot for SharePoint uses the SharePoint usage data collection infrastructure to gather information about PowerPivot usage throughout the farm. Although usage data is always part of a SharePoint installation, it must be enabled before it can be used. SQL Server Setup enables usage data collection during a New Server install.