Install XpressDox Server

Important information to read before installing your XpressDox Server

This document contains instructions on how to install your XpressDox Server. Before you start, please note:

 

• The following instructions assume you have the authority and rights to add and configure a website on your network / server environment.
• The instructions also assume you have experience creating and configuring websites within IIS, and creating and connecting to a SQL server database in a Windows environment.
• By default, XpressDox is installed to run over the HTTP protocol, however it is recommended to make use of the HTTPS protocol together with a valid SSL certificate. Detailed instructions are provided here to assist in converting from HTTP to HTTPS.
  Please note that from v14 onwards, HTTPS is required.
• The installers are available for download here.

 

 

Hardware Recommendations

Based on our experience we recommend your own hosted server has these, or higher, hardware specifications. Below is suitable for an environment where there are 1000 users.

True Server Environment

• Processor: Intel XEON CPU 1.8 Ghz or faster. 4 Core with Hyperthreading (Minimum)
• RAM: 32 GB ECC Ram
• Hard drives: Minimum of 4 Hard drives configured in Raid 10. (Enterprise SSDs are recommended, but Enterprise SAS drives should suffice)
• Ethernet Connection: 1 GB port or faster
• Bandwidth: 50 Mbps or faster internet connection (Full Duplex) 50 Mbps Download and 50 Mbps Upload speed. (It will work on slower connections but with degraded performance)

Desktop Server Environment

• Processor: Intel Core i5 CPU 2 Ghz or faster. 4 Core with Hyperthreading (Minimum)
• RAM: 32 GB Ram
• Hard drives: Minimum of 4 Hard drives configured in Raid 10. (Enterprise SSDs are recommended, but Enterprise SAS drives should suffice)
• Ethernet Connection: 1 GB port or faster
• Bandwidth: 50 Mbps or faster internet connection (Full Duplex) 50 Mbps Download and 50 Mbps Upload speed.

Virtual Environments

• 4-8 vCPU (Depending on underlying CPU speed) If 1.8-2.0 Ghz we recommend 8 vCPU’s. With 2.4 Ghz and faster 4 vCPU should suffice.
• 32Gb vRAM
• 150 GB Minimum Storage for Operating System and supporting software.
• 500 GB Storage for XDOX data. These can be on one virtual drive or separate virtual drives, but it is important that the underlying hard drive infrastructure must have at least 6 drives in Raid 10, SSDs are also recommended here.

 

 

Software Requirements

• Microsoft Windows Server 2012, or higher
• Microsoft .Net Framework v4.5.2, or higher
• Internet Information Services (IIS) v7, or higher
• Microsoft SQL Server [Express] 2012, or higher

 

 

Once the installation is complete, here are some other useful resources:

• Configuring SSO and hiding the login screen once SSO is configured
• Saving to external file systems or DMS: Azure, SharePoint, NetDocuments, or iManage
• Install tasks
• Install reporting
• Configure Docusign

 

 

Server Installation guide

 

1. Configure Windows Server

Using Server Manager, configure the roles and features of your Windows Server. In addition to the defaults ensure these values are set:

• Server Role Web Server Role
• Web Server (IIS) > Web Server > Performance, enable Static and Dynamic Content Compression
• Features, .NET Framework 4.5 WCF Services -> HTTP Activation

 

 

2. Add or Configure Application Pool

Using IIS Manager, add or configure an application pool for your XpressDox Server processes. In particular ensure these values are set:

• .NET CLR version, set to .NET CLR Version v4.0
• Managed pipeline mode, set to Integrated

 

 

3. Add or Configure Website Application

Using IIS Manager, add or configure a website application to host your XpressDox Server. In particular ensure these values are set:

• IIS Authentication – Anonymous Authentication and Forms Authentication

 

 

4. Install XpressDox Server Application Files

Run the downloaded server installer, typically named Setup-xpressdox-Cloudx-x-x-x.exe, available for download here. Ensure these steps are taken:

• Destination Directory, set to the physical path of your website application configured in IIS
• When the application installation finishes, the Microsoft Office Access database engine installation launches automatically. Install the database engine. This is required by XpressDox Server to use Microsoft Excel files as data sources.

 

 

5. Configure the Application for HTTPS (required for v14)

• Please ensure a valid SSL certificate is installed
• Add a valid HTTPS binding to the website
• And also ensure that the IIS Rewrite Module is installed in IIS
• Configure the web.config file for HTTPS. Detailed instructions are provided here on converting from HTTP to HTTPS.

 

 

6. Add or Configure Application Database

Required only for NEW XpressDox Server installations

Using your SQL Server database management tool:

Run the XpressDox.sql script to configure the database:

[Installation_Directory]\DatabaseScripts\XpressDox_Cloud_Creation.sql

Please note that the database modification scripts, which are necessary in some updates, will be executed automatically by the program.

The database structure will be updated from time to time. If your configured database user has access to change the structure of the database then the scripts will run automatically. Otherwise it will be necessary to run this updated script manually each time.

 

 

7. Configure XpressDox Server

Open the Web.config file from the installation directory and ensure your preferences are set for these values:

• Set the ServerUrl property with your domain base URL. Please note that the URL should have a trailing /
• XpressDoxApplicationDatabase, set to the connection string for your SQL Server application database

Typically, SQL Server Authentication is used in these connection strings. But should you wish to make use of Integrated Windows Authentication, you need to set the application pool identity to an appropriate user.

• Email server settings, set your email server credentials if you require outbound email support
• Replace all placeholders indicated by Square Brackets […] to match your desired configuration. A commented explanation text is included above each property.

 

 

8. Run XpressDox Server

Navigate to your configured host name to launch your XpressDox Server.

 

 

9. Troubleshooting

For further information on any errors, all details are logged at [Installation_Directory]\logs\XpressDoxServer.log

 

 

Support

Send support requests to XpressDox Support support@xpressdox.com