So you have BizTalk Server 2006 R2 installed and are chomping at the bit to check out what BizTalk RFID is all about. Here is a quickstart guide to installing BizTalk RFID and some helpful pointers to get you up and running.

Prep Work

• I'm assuming you have a typical BTS 2006 R2 developer install on a stand-alone or virtual machine. (although BizTalk RFID can be installed stand-alone!)
• You have already downloaded the Install Guide.

Components of a BizTalk RFID Install

• BizTalk RFID Server - Including Business Rules Engine - way cool!
• BizTalk RFID Manager  - UI Administration Console (MMC snap-in)
• RFIDSTORE - SQL Server Configuration and Management db
• RFIDSINK - SQL Server Tag Events Sink db

We can choose to install each component on a single machine (as I have done on a development VM side-by-side with BTS 2006 R2) or you can slice and dice as you needs dictate. Perhaps moving the SQL DB's to remote machines, or even clustering the whole show is supported.

Types of Installs

• Typical - Installs everything but the SDK
• Custom - Roll your own install
• Complete - Installs everything

Tip: Choose the Complete install as you will definitely want the SDK.

Pre-Requisites

• MSMQ - Install via Add or Remove Programs > Windows Components
• WSE 3.0 - Get it from here 

Note: I assumed you have BTS 2006 R2 installed so pre-requisites for R2 have been met.

Run the Installation Wizard

Follow the install process and refer to the guide you downloaded first if you run into a hurdle. The only install issue I had was

"Failed to execute deferred command line C:\Program Files\Microsoft BiztalkRFID\bin\ManagedCustomActions.exe "CreateADMarker".

Ignore this as its relates to Active Directory. Only appears when installing to a workgroup machine (i.e. that is not on a domain) and is not an critical error.

Post Install

Tip: Change the default web site that BizTalk RFID uses

During a typical install of BTS 2006 R2, Windows SharePoint Services is configured to use the default web site in IIS. BizTalk RFID uses IIS to host all process and device provider WCF services and, by default, also uses the default web site. WSS and BizTalk RFID do not play well together (In fact they refuse to even talk!)

Although the solution is now documented in the Install guide, this is probably the number one gotcha and many hours and hair follicles have been lost already.

Create a new web site in IIS

1. In IIS, right-click the Web Sites node and select New > Web Site.
2. Call your new site something like RFIDServices.
3. Create a new folder under Inetpub called wwwrfid and choose it as the Path.
4. Make sure Anonymous access is allowed.
5. Select Read, Run scripts, Execute, and Browse access permissions.
6. Finish the wizard.
7. After the site is created, check the ASP.NET framework version is set to 2.0 (on the ASP.NET tab of the Properties dialog)

Change Web Site ID

When IIS creates a new site is generates a new web site identifier. We need to configure BizTalk RFID with the new web site ID.

1. In IIS, select the Web Sites node.
2. In the right-hand-side panel, note the identifier value listed.

Nice 11 digit number...So lets change that to something easier to remember.

1. Open a command window.

2. Execute the following command replacing the <web site id> with your current web site id and <new web site id> with something like 3 (i.e. the next number)
   
   CSCRIPT %SYSTEMDRIVE%\Inetpub\AdminScripts\adsutil.vbs STOP_SERVER W3SVC/<web site id>
   CSCRIPT %SYSTEMDRIVE%\Inetpub\AdminScripts\adsutil.vbs MOVE W3SVC/<web site id> W3SVC/<new site id>
   CSCRIPT %SYSTEMDRIVE%\Inetpub\AdminScripts\adsutil.vbs START_SERVER W3SVC/<new site id>
   

Configure BizTalk RFID to use new web site

1. Launch BizTalk RFID Manager.
2. Right-click on the server node, and select Properties.
3. On the Advanced page, enter the new web site id.
4. Ensure the other IIS settings are correct if you set non-default ones when you created the new web site above.
5. Click OK.

Now when you add a device provider or RFID process, BizTalk RFID will use your new, clean, web site to host the WCF services.

Finished. Well done.

Tip: The last tip tonight is also a gem. Here is the link to the BizTalk RFID Samples.

They're all good, but particularly the Event Handler and Provider Project Templates. (a must for any self-respecting developer). Download them and go explore, play, and let me know how you get on.