Dortmund
University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Prof. Dr. Martin Hesseler
University of Applied Sciences and ArtsDortmund (Germany)
European Microsoft Dynamics Academic Alliance Conference
„Technical concept of how
Fachhochschule Dortmund use
Microsoft Dynamics™ NAV 2013
in large classes
Dortmund
University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Agenda
► Department of Informatics (actual degree programs and enroled students)
► NAV in the curriculum (ERP-modules, NAV-training and new MDSCP)
► Requirements for the use of NAV 2013 (technical and organizational)
► Solving approach (idea and problems)
► Final concept (how we use NAV 2013)
► Technical realization (PowerShell scripts and web service)
► Practical experiences (first tests and critical conclusion)
Dortmund
University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Department of Informatics (1)
Degree Programs (enroled students)
Bachelor Programs:
► IT- and Software-Systems (21, start 2013)
► Informatics (839)
► Information Technology (112)
► Medical Informatics (282)
► Software Technology (119 dual)
► Web & Media Informatics (158 W3L = online)
Dortmund
University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Department of Informatics (2)
Master Programs:
► Informatics (108)
► Medical Informatics (28)
► Business Informatics (81 (FH) + 132 (combined) total = 213)
Total figures
► > 2.700 enroled students (increasing)
► about 140 new students each year in Business Informatics
► only 10% female but 15% international students
► 41 professors (25% female).
Dortmund
University of Applied Sciences and Arts
NAV in the curriculum
ERP-modules in business informatics
► Basic studies (1.-3. semester) ► All studies (4.-6. semester)
general ERP basics
ERP development
Dortmund
University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Example: Module 391 „ERP 1“
Content of the module (2 lec. + 2 ex.) + e-learning-course
► Definitions, classification and historical development
► Advantages and disadvantages of standard software
► Market demand and industry solutions
► Selection process and consequences
► Requirements for project management
► Process model and implementation phases
► Installation and configuration
► Setting up clients
► Fundamentals of company-specific adjustments (C/SIDE)
► Operational use
► Maintenance and administration
► Career prospects
Dortmund
University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Additional qualification
Special NAV-training (regular Microsoft courses)
► „Einführung in Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013“ (80100)
► „Introduction to C/SIDE in Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013“ (80042)
Not part of the regular curriculum, 2 weeks only offered in the semester break More than 30 applicants each year, but max. 20 participants
Goal: Earn the official Microsoft exam Development 1 (MB7-840)
(prometric test center)
Costs: 100% financed by cooperating NAV-partners
(GOB Software & Systeme)
New:
Member of the MDSCP
since September 2013
Dortmund
University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Requirements for NAV 2013
Technical
► 3 tier architecture with Microsoft SQL DB
► Acceptable response time
► Flexible workplace (in the lab / at home)
► Access via windows and developer client
Organizational
► Easy to administrate (“as little effort as possible”)
► Easy to use (“no further logins”)
Dortmund
University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Solving approach
Idea
► One “big” central DB (like SAP)
► Generic case studies / projects (object-IDs)
Problems
► License restrictions (limited amount of new objects)
► Limited workbench management (free accessible objects)
Dortmund
University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Final concept / technical realization
Concept for the use of Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 (in large classes)
► Individual databases for each student (= 200 DBs)
► Uniform case studies and development projects
► Regular student license
Technical realization (developed by Marcus Görtz)
► One master database (demo data with actual valid student license)
► PowerShell scripts for DB and system administration
► Web Page and service for student registration
► Batch files for client start and login process
Dortmund
University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Technical details (1)
Preparation (1) (before the beginning of each semester)
► Update demo data and student license in master DB (lecturer)
► Create 200 new individually named DBs based on the master DB (autom. ≈ 15 min.)
lecturer update … PowerShell script copy
Dortmund
University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Technical details (2)
Preparation (2) (before the beginning of first semester)
► Rule to calculate port IDs for each instance (in total 800 ports)
► Setting up 200 NAV server instances (automatical by script, one-off) examples:
NAV instance assingned SQL DB used port Ids
NAV70_001 NAV70_001 (DB + log) Management services = 9015
Client services = 9016
SOAP services = 9017
OData services = 9018
NAV70_002 NAV70_002 (DB + log) Management services = 9025
Client services = 9026
SOAP services = 9027
Dortmund
University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Technical details (3)
Registration of user (beginning of each semester)
► Students have to register for ERP course on sepcial web site
► Web formular assignes student account with next free NAV instance no.
► Relationship user account – instance no. is stored in DB
student
registration
relation
student account + instance no.
Dortmund
University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Technical details (4)
Setting up users (on 2 places after registration is completed)
► 1. User set up in SQL DB via PowerShell script (for developer client access)
student account + instance no.
► 2. User set up in NAV server via PowerShell script and Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server Console (for windows client access)
… PowerShell
Dortmund
University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Technical details (5)
Login procedure (windows client) (during semester)
copy RTC.bat
1
► Start RTC.bat file
► Program reads instance DB (1) and creates new config file with this data
► Save config file (DynNAVClientSettings.config) in its own directory (2)
► RTC.bat file starts windows client with parameter: directory of config file (3)
► Windows client reads info (inst. no. + ports) out of config file (4) and connects with NAV server (5)
3
4
5
Dortmund
University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Technical details (6)
Login procedure (developer client) (during semester)
DEV.bat
1
► Start DEV.bat file
► Program reads instance DB (1)
► DEV.bat file starts developer client (2) with parameters:
a) IP of DB server b) DB name c) student account
► Developer client and connects with DB (3)
Dortmund
University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Technical details (7)
System infrastructure (in figures)
► 1 Windows domain (VM) with 64 GB RAM
► 200 NAV server (.exe processes)
► 1 Microsoft SQL server with 200 databases (NAV70_001 … NAV70_200)
► each DB ≈ 250 MB + redologfile ≈ 500 MB
► in total only 150 GB disk space
Dortmund
University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Practical experiences
First test (last semester)
► Optional ERP course (≈ 25 concurrent user)
► Permanently assigned workplaces in ERP lab
► Reduced script support
► No external login (“home office”)
Critical conclusion
► Acceptable response time
► PowerShell scripts will be improved
► Automatic Windows authentification requires separate DB
► No problems, almost no manual administration effort (and no copied projects ;-)
Dortmund
University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Discussion and contact data
Questions?
Mail: [email protected]
Please contact: Martin Hesseler or Marcus Görtz
Mail: [email protected]
Fachhochschule Dortmund, FB Informatik Emil-Figge-Str. 42
44227 Dortmund (Germany)
Dortmund
University of Applied Sciences and Arts
