Standard installation

NVivo Server 11

This topic explains how to install the NVivo Server software. Refer to Before you install, to understand what components are installed, where files will be located and server configurations that are not supported.

In this topic

Installation process overview

NVivo Server must be installed on a dedicated server (physical or virtual)—the server cannot have any other installation of SQL Server or any other

The process for installing NVivo Server is:

1. Add server roles and services before you install NVivo Server.

2. Consider administrator accounts—what accounts will you use to install and administer NVivo Server?

3. Install NVivo Server.

4. Configure the server firewall.

Once the installation is complete, you must activate the server license—refer to After you install for more information.

NOTE  SQL Server 2014 RTM, which is installed by NVivo Server, is no longer supported by Microsoft. We recommend that you apply the SQL Server 2014 SP2 service pack.

Add server roles and services

Before installing NVivo Server, you need to add server roles and services. The actions you need to take depend on your operating system.  

On Windows Server 2008 or 2008 R2, you should add the Application Server role using the Add Roles Wizard as follows:

1. On the Select Server Roles screen, select the Application Server check box, and then click Next.
2. On the Select Role Services screen, select the Web Server (IIS) Support check box, and when prompted, click Add Required Role Services.
3. Continue through the wizard, accepting the default settings.

On Windows Server 2012 or 2012 R2, you should add the Application Server role using the Add Roles and Features Wizard as follows:

1. Make sure the server has an Internet connection (or insert the Windows Server installation DVD), so the source files for .Net Framework 3.5 can be accessed when required.
2. On the Select installation type screen, select Role-based or feature-based installation, and then click Next.
3. On the Select destination server screen, select the machine you want to administer from the Server Pool, and then click Next.
4. On the Select server roles screen, select the Application Server check box, and then click Next.
5. On the Select features screen, expand .NET Framework 3.5 Features, and then:

1. Select the .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0) check box.
2. Select the HTTP Activation check box, and when prompted, click Add Features.
3. Click Next.

5. For the Application Server, on the Select role Services screen, select the Web Server (IIS) Support check box, and when prompted, click Add Features.
6. Continue through the wizard, accepting the default settings.

On Windows Server 2016, you should add the Application Server role using the Add Roles and Features Wizard as follows:

1. Make sure the server has an Internet connection (or insert the Windows Server installation DVD), so the source files for .Net Framework 3.5 can be accessed when required.

2. On the Select installation type screen, select Role-based or feature-based installation, and then click Next.

3. On the Select destination server screen, select the machine you want to administer from the Server Pool, and then click Next.

4. On the Select server roles screen, select the Web Server (IIS) check box, and when prompted, click Add Features. Click Next.

5. On the Select features screen, expand .NET Framework 3.5 Features, and then:

1. Select the .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0) check box.

2. Select the HTTP Activation check box, and when prompted, click Add Features.

3. Click Next.

6. Continue through the wizard, clicking Next until you get to the Select role services screen..

1. Click Windows Authentication (which is found under Web Server > Security).

2. Click Next.

7. Click Install.

Consider administrator accounts

Before installing NVivo Server, you should consider the administrator accounts you will use to install the software and the account you will nominate as the default NVivo Server administrator account.

The account you use to run the NVivo Server installer must have administrator privileges on the server.

During installation, you need to specify a default NVivo Server administrator account. This is the account you use to monitor the server in NVivo Server Manager and it may or may not be the same as the account used to run the installer.

The following considerations apply when choosing which accounts to use:

• Account used to install NVivo Server—this may be a local account on the server, or a domain account on a domain to which the server belongs.

• Default NVivo Server administrator account—this may be a local account on the server, or a domain account on a domain to which the server belongs. You may want to create a dedicated Windows group (for example, 'NVivo Administrators') and add user accounts to this group, as required. This account becomes the default Project Owner for the NVivo sample project.

IMPORTANT  You may need to disable the ‘User Account Control: Run all administrators in Admin Approval Mode’ security policy. If you are using an account that is a member of the server’s administrators group and the account is not the local administrator account ‘

• Open or create NVivo projects using the NVivo client

• Uninstall NVivo Server

Install NVivo Server

1. Log on to the server using an account with administrator privileges.

2. Mount the disk image (the .iso file) that is provided on the NVivo Server USB flash drive.

3. Open the root folder of the mounted drive, and then double-click setup.exe.

4. Click Install, and then follow the prompts to:

• Install any prerequisite components. You may be asked to restart your machine—on restart the installation will continue automatically. You may also be prompted to configure roles and services.

• Accept the license agreement and enter your license key.

• Choose the Complete set up option, and then select other options as required.

NOTE  When choosing the Windows account or group to be given server administrator permissions for NVivo Server—enter the server location (machine or domain name) and the Windows user name or group. This defaults to the local Administrators group on the server.

4. When the installation is complete, you should configure the server firewall.

NOTE  If you are installing NVivo Server on Windows Server 2016, you will see a warning message that the Application Server has not been configured. You can ignore this warning message.

Configure the server firewall

Firewalls can block communication channels. There are some ports and applications that must not be blocked by a

CAUTION To prevent unauthorized access to your network, configure the firewall so that these ports and applications are exposed to the required

Port exceptions include:

• TCP Port 8733 for the NVivo Service

• TCP Port 1433 for the

• UDP Port 1434 for the

• TCP Port 80 for

Application exceptions include:

 C:\Program Files\Microsoft

NOTE   If you are using a firewall that does not support application exceptions, you must manually configure the

1. Launch SQL Server Configuration Manager.

2. In the console tree, expand SQL Server Network Configuration, and then select Protocols for QSRNVIVO9.

3. On the right, under Protocol Name, double-click TCP/.

4. In the TCP/ dialog box, click the IP Addresses tab.

5. Under IPAll, locate TCP Dynamic Ports. The port number allocated to the SQL service is shown on the right.