Sitecore 9.1 Installation Step by Step

You might get this article lengthy but I tried to explain each step with it's possible internal steps.To initiate on Sitecore 9.1, it requires below steps and Prerequisites.

Step 1: Download package Sitecore 9.1.0 rev. 001564 (WDP XP0 packages).zip from sitecore (https://dev.sitecore.net/Downloads/Sitecore_Experience_Platform/91/Sitecore_Experience_Platform_91_Initial_Release.aspx)

Step -2 Installation Prerequisites

There are some changes in the prerequisite for the Sitecore 9.1 from the Sitecore 9.0. Let’s check them out:

1. Windows 10/Window Server 2016
2. Windows Powershell 5.1 or Later ($PSversionTable)
3. Microsoft SQL Server 2016 SP2 or Microsoft SQL Server 2017
4. .NET Framework 4.7.2 or Later
5. .NET Core Runtime
6. Solr 7.2.1
7. Web Deploy 3.6 of Hosting Servers
8. URL Rewrite 2.1
9. Microsoft SQL Server Data-Tier Application Framework (DAC Fx) version 17.1
10. Microsoft SQL Server Transact-SQL ScriptDom
11. SQL System CLR Types for Microsoft  SQL Server
12.  Sitecore Install Framework 2.0.0
13. IIS 10
14. Web Platform Installer:
    Web Platform Installer version 5.0 can be downloaded from Microsoft Website(https://www.microsoft.com/web/downloads/platform.aspx)

Step 3: Enable few IIS, WWW and .Net 4.7 options from Control panel

It is required to turn on the windows features for IIS required for the Sitecore. I enabled many from them, leaving CGI, ASP and Diagnostics. After it restart your PC as required by enabling the Windows features.

Step : 4 Web Platform Installer version 5.0 can be downloaded from Microsoft Website(https://www.microsoft.com/web/downloads/platform.aspx)

Search Web Platform installer from windows search section and open this as in below screen shot.

Step : 5 This step covers above written Step 2 regarding Installation Prerequisites for points 7,8,9, 10 and 11

• Web Deploy 3.6 of Hosting Servers
• URL Rewrite 2.1
• Microsoft SQL Server Data-Tier Application Framework (DAC Fx) version 17.1
• Microsoft SQL Server Transact-SQL ScriptDom
• SQL System CLR Types for Microsoft SQL Server

Web Deploy 3.6 of Hosting Servers

Now install all selected features from Web Installer.

Step : 6 Time to initiate Sitecore Installation with Power Shell

You need Microsoft PowerShell® version 5.1 or later  Following are the commands required to initiate the Sitecore Installation. Make sure you are running the PowerShell in Administrator mode:

# Enabling PowerShell Policy to allow to run commands

Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

# Add the Sitecore MyGet repository to PowerShell

Register-PSRepository -Name SitecoreGallery -SourceLocation https://sitecore.myget.org/F/sc-powershell/api/v2

# Install the Sitecore Install Framwork module

Install-Module SitecoreInstallFramework

# Install the Sitecore Fundamentals module (provides additional functionality for local installations like creating self-signed certificates)

Install-Module SitecoreFundamentals

# Update Module SitecoreInstallFramework

Update-Module SitecoreInstallFramework -Force

# Trusted repo PSGallery

Set-PSRepository -Name PSGallery -InstallationPolicy Trusted

# Trusted repo SitecoreGallery

Set-PSRepository -Name SitecoreGallery -InstallationPolicy Trusted

# Import the modules into your current PowerShell context (if not already done)

Import-Module SitecoreFundamentals

Import-Module SitecoreInstallFramework

# if Sitecore.Pathfinder and Sqlsrever does not exist, install them

Install-Module Sitecore.Pathfinder

Install-Module SqlServer

# Verifying prerequisites for sitecore installation framework use these helpful commands

$PSversiontable

Get-PSRepository

Get-InstalledModule

Installation Steps

Also check if JRE version as JRE 10 is required so here I downloaded the same from link (https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html )

Step : 7 Check if JRE version as JRE 9 is available in your system else download it from below URL.

https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/java-archive-javase9-3934878.html

Or download JRE 9  from below link

https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/java-archive-javase9-3934878.html

Once installation done then set Environment variable in your system as below.

Step : 8 Install Solr 7.2.1

• To set up Solr in more easier way please download file install-solr.ps1 from (https://github.com/Sitecore/Sitecore.HabitatHome.Utilities/blob/develop/XP/install/Solr/install-solr.ps1) and file helper.psm1 from (https://github.com/Sitecore/Sitecore.HabitatHome.Utilities/blob/develop/XP/install/Solr/helper.psm1) from Sitecore.HabitatHome.Utilities.

• Make the changes according to the folder where you want to install the Solr in install-solr.ps1.

• Open the Windows Powershell as Administrator.

• Execute .\install-solr.ps1.

Below screen will come once solr installation completed.

Step 9: Initiating the Sitecore Install

You should see the following when extract the Sitecore 9.0.1 rev. 171219 (WDP XP0 packages).zip to your working directory, for me it is:

·         Sitecore 9.0.1 rev. 171219 (OnPrem)_single.scwdp.zip

·         Sitecore 9.0.1 rev. 171219 (OnPrem)_zp0xconnect.scwdp.zip

·         XP0 Configuration Files 9.0.1 rev 171219.zip

Further extract XP0 Configuration Files 9.0.1 rev 171219.zip at the same path, so you find the files this way:

Step 10: Enable the Contained Authentication on the SQL server using the following Command.

Run below command on sql query window.

sp_configure ‘contained database authentication’, 1

GO

RECONFIGURE

GO

Now Unzip the XP0 Configuration files 9.1.0.rev.001564.zip and copy and paste all files into F:\RSI\Deployment\9.1

Copy and Paste license.xml file into Deployment location(same as in above image).

Many installation errors due to missing prerequisites in sitecore 9.0 are handled now with this release sitecore solve this problem.

Open the Poweshell as administrator.

Run the following command: Install-SitecoreConfiguration -Path .\prerequisites.json

Open XP0-SingleDeveloper.ps1 and change the following parameters:

Execute .\XP0-SingleDeveloper.ps1

ERRORS : After executing above script I got below few errors

Error 1 : Another error comes due to wrong solr path given in install-solr.ps1

After changing the solr path issue got fixed.

Error 2 : The error suggested that I have to install additional SQL server modules for Web Deploy to work, as given on the Microsoft’s website

To fix this issue I got help from

https://naveed-ahmad.com/2017/11/03/sitecore-9-sif-installation-error-error_scriptdom_needed_for_sql_provider/

https://kb.sitecore.net/articles/019579

After fixing above issues I run the same script and that gives me a perfect installed instance of sitecore 9.1

Happy Learning!!!