If you want to install PowerPivot for SharePoint you have 2 options: You can either use an environment where SharePoint 2010 is installed and not configured or where it is already configured by the SharePoint Configuration Wizard. The difference are the the steps required to install PowerPivot.
The option where SharePoint is not configured includes less steps…
Install PowerPivot for SharePoint on a New SharePoint Server
“SQL Server Setup includes a New Server installation option for installing PowerPivot for SharePoint so that it is immediately available when Setup is finished. To use this option, you must start with a clean server that has SharePoint 2010 installed but not yet configured.”
See: Install PowerPivot for SharePoint on a New SharePoint Server
If you try this option there are 3 steps included:
- Step 1: Install SharePoint Server 2010 (Unconfigured)
- Step 2: Install and Configure SQL Server Components
- Step 3: Verify Installation
This kind of installation automatically does steps like configuring services and service applications as well as configuring secure store and data refresh.
Install PowerPivot for SharePoint on an Existing SharePoint Server
There are a lot of prerequisites you need to meet before you can even think of installing PowerPivot:
“You must have an operational single or multi-server farm of Microsoft SharePoint 2010 Enterprise edition. Excel Services must be enabled on your server or farm. The server must have been installed using the Server Farm installation option in SharePoint setup. A standalone SharePoint server that uses a built-in database is not supported.”
See: Install PowerPivot for SharePoint on an Existing SharePoint Server
If you meet all the requirements there are 11 steps included:
- Step 1: Check for a prior installation of Analysis Services
- Step 2: Install SQL Server PowerPivot for SharePoint
- Step 3: Deploy the PowerPivot Solution Package
- Step 4: Start Services on the Server
- Step 5: Create a PowerPivot Service Application
- Step 6: Configure Excel Services
- Step 7: Configure Secure Store Service and Data Refresh
- Step 8: Set Upper Limits on Disk Space Usage
- Step 9: Increase Maximum Upload Size for SharePoint Web Applications and Excel Services
- Step 10: Activate PowerPivot Feature Integration for Site Collections
- Step 11: Verify Installation and Configuration
You can script almost every step in this process using PowerShell:
You can use the PowerShell ISE to create and test PowerShell scripts.
PowerPivot Trouble Shooting
During the installation process I had a few issues to solve:
That's it. There is nothing special about the installation if you are carefully following the guidelines by Microsoft.
I created a few PowerShell scripts but they aren't ready for download.
Please leave a comment with your experiences... or take a look at Install SharePoint.