Configure a Reporting Service server

Current version: 8.1

The Sitecore Reporting Service fetches reporting data from various data sources, for example, the collection and reporting databases, to use in Sitecore reporting applications, such as Experience Analytics. The Reporting Service can run on the same server alongside other server features, or can run independently on a dedicated server.

In the reporting architecture, the Reporting Service sits between the reporting applications and the rest of the Sitecore Experience Database (xDB) architecture and handles the processing of all your report queries.

Recommendations

  • xDB Cloud configuration – if you are running xDB Cloud edition then configure your Reporting Service environment according to this topic and the instructions for configuring xDB Cloud.

Important

Synchronize all servers to a single reliable time source, for example, by means of the Network Time Protocol (NTP). The aggregation of engagement automation states depends on the system time and changing this can lead to incorrect aggregation results or loss of data.

Note

Do not make changes directly to the configuration files. Instead, you must create a patch file that performs the required changes during runtime.

Configure a Reporting Service server

To configure a Reporting Service server:

  1. Install a Sitecore instance using the Installing the Sitecore Experience Platform guide on the Sitecore Developer Portal website.

  2. Remove or restrict access to the client. You do not need the Sitecore client on a Reporting Service server.

  3. Configure database connection strings. This topic contains a list of all database connection strings required for each server type.

  4. Download the spreadsheet that lists of all the configuration files that you must enable or disable for each server type.

    Important

    If you are using Windows File Explorer, you must ensure that file extensions are displayed. To display file extensions, in the File Explorer Options window, on the View tab, ensure that the Hide extensions for known file types check box is clear.

  5. Enable or disable the relevant files for a Reporting Service server.

    Note

    If you do not use the Sitecore Commerce product in your Sitecore XP installation, then you must disable the configuration files that belong to Sitecore Commerce Connect, regardless of whether the spreadsheet says to disable them or enable them.

  6. In the following config files, update each of the parameter values:

    Configuration file

    Section

    Parameter

    Value

    Sitecore.config

    <sites>

    <site name="website" database="web"/>

    database

    master

    Web.config

    <system.webServer>

    <modules

    Comment out the entry for SitecoreAntiCSRF

    <add name="SitecoreAntiCSRF" type="Sitecore.Security.AntiCsrf.SitecoreAntiCsrfModule, Sitecore.Security.AntiCsrf" />.

  7. Configure a search and indexing provider. This topic contains a list of links and other information you need to configure Lucene or Solr as your search and indexing provider.

Optional configuration

There is an additional optional step for configuring a Reporting Service server:

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