Deploy PowerPivot Solutions

PowerPivot for SharePoint uses two solution packages to deploy its application pages and program files to the farm and to individual web applications. The farm solution is global. It is deployed once by SQL Server Setup when you install the first PowerPivot for SharePoint instance the farm, and is automatically available to any new PowerPivot for SharePoint servers that you add to the farm later.

The application level solution must be deployed manually for individual web applications. SQL Server Setup deploys it to the Central Administration web application, but farm administrators must deploy it manually for all other web applications.

Note

You can skip this step if you used the New Server installation option that installs PowerPivot for SharePoint as an operational server. Solutions are deployed for you when you use this option to install PowerPivot for SharePoint.

This topic contains the following sections:

Verify the Web Application uses Classic Mode Authentication

About the PowerPivot Solutions

Deploy the PowerPivot Web Application Solution

Retract the Solution

Verify the Web Application uses Classic Mode Authentication

PowerPivot for SharePoint is only supported for web applications that use Windows-classic mode authentication. To check whether the application uses Classic mode, run the following PowerShell cmdlet from the SharePoint 2010 Management Shell, replacing http://<top-level site name> with the name of your SharePoint site:

Get-spwebapplication http://<top-level site name> | format-list UseClaimsAuthentication

The return value should be false. If it is true, you cannot access PowerPivot data with this web application.

About the PowerPivot Solutions

Solution

Description

Powerpivotfarm.wsp

Adds Microsoft.AnalysisServices.SharePoint.Integration.dll resource files to the global assembly.

Installs features and resources files, and registers content types.

Adds library templates for PowerPivot Gallery and Data Feed libraries.

Adds application pages for service application configuration, PowerPivot Management Dashboard, data refresh, and PowerPivot Gallery.

Powerpivotwebapp.wsp

Adds Microsoft.AnalysisServices.SharePoint.Integration.dll resources files to the web server extensions folder on the Web front-end.

Adds PowerPivot Web service to the Web-front end.

Adds thumbnail image generation for PowerPivot Gallery.

Deploy the PowerPivot Web Application Solution

SQL Server Setup deploys the powerpivotfarm.wsp solution to the farm when you install the first PowerPivot for SharePoint server. When Setup is finished, the powerpivotfarm.wsp is fully deployed and no further action is required for that solution.

Powerpivotwebapp.wsp will be deployed to Central Administration. For all other web applications and installation scenarios, you must deploy the powerpivotwebapp.wsp after PowerPivot for SharePoint is installed.

Note

SQL Server Setup always deploys the powerpivotwebapp.wsp solution to Central Administration. This step is necessary to support PowerPivot Management Dashboard in Central Administration. Do not retract this solution from Central Administration.

  1. In Central Administration, in System Settings, click Manage farm solutions.

  2. Click powerpivotwebapp.wsp.

  3. Click Deploy Solution.

  4. In Deploy To?, select the SharePoint web application for which you want to add PowerPivot feature support.

  5. Click OK.

  6. Repeat for other SharePoint web applications that will also support PowerPivot data access.

Retract the Solution

Although SharePoint Central Administration provides solution retraction, you do not need to retract the powerpivotwebapp.wsp file unless you are systematically troubleshooting an installation or patch deployment problem.

  1. In SharePoint 2010 Central Administration, in System Settings, click Manage farm solutions.

  2. Click Powerpivotwebapp.wsp.

  3. Click Retract Solution.