Optimize AX Enterprise Portal

EP Architecture

• Utilizes IIS and SharePoint 2010/2013
• Data and Security come from the AOS
• Reports and Cubes from SSRS/SSAS
• Do your cubes process successfully?
• Have you setup ledger account categories? - These are required for many of the KPI's.
• Can deploy Role Center Pages both on Web and in AX Client
• Has most functionality of client

Setup

• Use the pre-requisite checker built in setup to detect missing pre-requisites. It will even provide links to download and install missing components as well as options to make configuration changes for you wherever possible. 
• For development purposes you can now install all components on one machine. 
• Use XPO export/import to move simple code changes from one machine to the other. 
• Use the right-click deploy to EP option on projects to deploy all (Web related) objects in the project to Enterprise Portal. 
• Use the AxUpdatePortal utility to deploy one or more objects from the command line or script (C:\Program Files\Microsoft Dynamics AX\60\Setup). 
• Use the AxUpdatePortal utility to deploy object(s) to a remote server. 
• SharePoint Server 2010 has search capabilities built-in. For SharePoint Foundation 2010 you need to install Search Server 2010 Express. 
• Install the Enterprise Search component during AX setup to enable rich search capabilities in Enterprise Portal and Client. 
• To include your data in search set the Searchable property to Yes on the Query. You should also check for and resolve any Best Practice Errors for the query to be included in search. 

EP Features

• Procurement Site– Provides Vendor & Invoice management.
• Sales Site– Provides Customer & Sales management.
• Compliance Site– Provides Compliance management & Reporting.
• Project Management Site– Provides Project management.
• Service Management Site -Provides Service Agreements & Service Management between Service Providers and Customers.
• Employee Services Site– Provides Employee Profile Management, Expense Reports management & Performance information.
• Vendor Self-Service Site– Provides Vendor Profile & Vendor Transaction management.
• Customer Self-Service Site– Provides Customer Order & Customer Service management.
• Anything you want to customize…

Performance Design

• SQL Setup - make sure SQL server is properly configured for AX. The EP portal uses SharePoint and will require additional SQL resources. Determine if these should be on a separate server from AX.
• AOS Setup - try and dedicate an AOS to EP
• SharePoint Setup - utilize a Server Farm where possible and split the services as much as possible.
• NLB Cluster - use a NLB for larger deployments or higher uptime. 
• Number of users - plan for 100 or so users per front end
• CPU load - watch the CPU on the servers 
• VMware - beware of Vmotion, this will momentarily drop the network connection and cause outages,

• Warm up SSRS
• Warm up SP

Performance Problems

• AX Code*
• AOS
• SQL Server
• IIS
• Windows
• Network LAN/WAN
• External Pressures
• Virtual Considerations
• Number of Users

Code

• Get the development cookbook
• Learn to debug code
• Follow best practices
• Ensure SQL Design and Indexing

Performance Resources

• Tips to improve Enterprise Portal and Role Center performance [AX 2012] 
• Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Enterprise Portal Performance Tips
• AX Performance Team Blog
• Troubleshoot EP Performance
• Improving SharePoint Performance
• SharePoint Optimization
• Speeding up AX in General
• Performance in virtual environments