Appliance installation and configuration for Analytics Platform System

This article walks Analytics Platform System (APS) appliance administrators through the initial steps to set up and get started using your new appliance.

Install the hardware

Your new appliance will be delivered on pallets to the dock at your data center.

Important

In some cases, your independent hardware vendor unpacks, racks, and connects the appliance for you in your data center. If so, these instructions are not necessary and you can skip to the Configure the Appliance section below.

If your independent hardware vendor (IHV) isn't performing the hardware install, use the following steps to install the hardware.

Task	Description
Confirm documentation	Confirm that you've received all necessary documents and information from your independent hardware vendor. See Information to Obtain from Your IHV (Analytics Platform System).
Install hardware	Verify the data center can accommodate the appliance. Move the appliance components to the data center. Rack the network switches, PDUs, and cabling. See Hardware Installation (Analytics Platform System).

Power on the appliance

Task	Description
Power on the appliance	Power on each appliance component node in the required order, waiting as necessary to confirm that no errors are encountered.

Configure the appliance

Task	Description
Configure the appliance by using the SQL Server PDW Configuration Manager	Use the Configuration Manager to set appliance passwords, time zones, network and firewall settings, security certificates, and performance and other settings on your appliance. See Appliance Configuration (Analytics Platform System).

Warning

Configuration changes should only be made using the SQL Server PDW Configuration Manager. Changes not exposed through Configuration Manager are not supported. For example, the SQL Server PDW appliance only supports the US-English language setting.

Set up software servicing

Task	Description
Apply SQL Server PDW updates	(Optional) You might need to apply one or more SQL Server PDW updates to update your SQL Server PDW software to the latest version. See Apply Analytics Platform System Hotfixes (Analytics Platform System).
Configure Windows Server Update Services	Configure the appliance to receive updates from Windows Server Update Services for supporting software. See Download and Apply Microsoft Updates (Analytics Platform System).

Next steps

After you complete all of the preceding steps, your appliance is ready for use. You or other personnel at your location can proceed with the following tasks.

Task	Description
Install SQL Server PDW drivers and configure connectivity	Configure local computers to connect to SQL Server PDW by using SQL Server Data Tools, sqlcmd, business intelligence software, or other tools.
Create logons and server roles, and assign permissions	Plan and create logons and server roles that allow users to sign in to SQL Server PDW with the appropriate permissions.
Configure the Azure Data Management Gateway	The Gateway enables Azure users to access on-premises APS data by exposing APS data as secure OData feeds. The Gateway is installed on the Control node already. Ask Microsoft for assistance with configuration.
Monitor queries and appliance users	Use the Admin Console and other resources to monitor the queries and appliance users. See Monitor the Appliance by Using the Admin Console (Analytics Platform System).
Load data to SQL Server PDW	Load data to your appliance.
Create a disaster recovery plan	Plan how to protect your data from hardware failures or data overwrites. Create a plan using regular backups and restore plans for data corruption or loss.
Monitor the appliance	Monitor the appliance state, health, and performance by using system views, logs, and the Admin Console. Correct or report any problems. See Monitor Appliance Health State (Analytics Platform System).