Part 3 - Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2013 Preview Series – Initial Farm Configuration, Default Web Application and Site Collection

ARTICLES IN THIS SERIES
Part 1 - Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2013 Preview - A First Look
Part 2 - Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2013 Preview Series – Central Administration
Part 3 - Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2013 Preview Series – Initial Farm Configuration, Default Web Application and Site Collection
Part 4 - Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2013 Preview Series – System Setup
Part 5 - Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2013 Preview Series – Application Management

OVERVIEW
In Part 2 of the Microsoft SharePoint Foundation 2013 Preview Series, we talked about the Central Administration web site and some of the new features. In this article we are going to look at the initial farm configuration options available in SharePoint 2013.

CONFIGURATION WIZARDS
The SharePoint 2013 Foundation Preview “Initial Farm Configuration Wizard” is discussed in depth below.

1. First let’s take a look at the Farm Configuration Wizard in SharePoint by selecting Configuration Wizards in the Central Administration Quick Launch.  Nothing much change in this section when compared to SharePoint 2010.
2. Next, select “Launch Farm Configuration Wizard” link. You will see the welcome screen. You will notice an icon just after the Welcome text. Clicking on it will show you a hint on what you can do with the wizard. Select "Start the Wizard” button. The “Services” screen will be displayed next.
   The “Service Account” section of the “Services” screen looks similar to SharePoint 2010. It allows you to add a service account to run service applications in SharePoint. In order to keep it simple, I am going to be running the services using CONTOSO\SVCSPFARM account.
   
   
    
3. The list of services available to you are provided below. No major change in this page when compared to SharePoint 2010 Foundation.
   • App Management Service: This service allows you to add SharePoint apps from the SharePoint Store or the App Catalog. This is something that was missing from SharePoint 2010 so it’s a good addition. Keep the checkbox unchecked for this service. We will add it to our farm later on.
   • Business Data Connectivity Service: This service is similar to SharePoint 2010 with improved and added features. The BDC service allows SharePoint to access line of business systems. Keep the checkbox unchecked for this service. We will add it to our farm later on.
   • Lotus Notes Connector: This is the search connector that you can use to crawl data on a Lotus Notes server. Keep the checkbox unchecked for this service.
   • Secure Store Service: This service application allows you to store credentials and use it for data access purpose. Keep the checkbox unchecked for this service.
   • State Service: The state service application is used to store session data for SharePoint Server components. Keep the checkbox selected for this service.
   • Usage and Health Data Collection: The usage and health data collection service application collects the usage and health data in the farm. It also allow you to view usage and health reports. Keep the checkbox selected for this service.
     Select “Next”. You will see the progress screen which has been changed in SharePoint 2013. I find the message “Sorry to keep you waiting” bit funny though :-)
     
4. Once the initial services have been deployed, you will see the “Create Site Collection” screen. A default web application is automatically created for you during this process. Let’s create our default site collection. The first few options remains the same as in SharePoint 2010. When you scroll down to the Template Selection selection, you will see an option to select experience version. This is something new to SharePoint 2013. If you select “2010”, users will be presented with SharePoint 2010 UI.
   Select “Team Site” in “Select a template” option.
   Select “OK” to create the default site collection. You will be presented again with the “Sorry to keep you waiting” screen. After the process is complete, you will see the farm configuration wizard summary page. Select “Finish”.
   
   

Let’s take a quick look at the default site collection we just created. Open the newly created SharePoint site in another tab of Internet Explorer. You will see a wait screen while site is loading and after a while you will see the default site collection! The user interface looks great! You will notice the following components:

1. Site Title: The Site link is displayed at the top. You see an “Edit Links” link that will allow you to customize navigation right on the home page. If you select the icon to add a link you will be presented with “Add Link” screen. A good improvement in my opinion.
   
    
2. The site log is displayed above the quick launch.
3. Next you will notice the site title. The font used in the title looks really slick. If you click on the site information icon, you will see the site description.
   
4. Next you will see the search text box. It remains similar when compared with SharePoint 2010.
5. Next you will notice something new in SharePoint 2013, the “Get started with you site” web part. You can remove this web part by selecting “REMOVE THIS” if needed.
   
   
   It allows you to do the following:
   • Share your site: Selecting this option will display you the “Share” screen. If you select “SHOW OPTIONS” link, you will be able to select a group or permission level in your SharePoint site.
     
     
   • Working on a deadline?: Selecting this option will allow you to add Tasks list or Calendar list to your site.
     
   • Add lists, libraries, and other apps.: Selecting this option will take you to the “Site Contents –> Your Apps” screen. This is a great improvement in SharePoint 2013 as now you can purchase more apps from SharePoint Store!
     
     
   • What’s your style: Selecting this option will show you the “Change the look” screen which allows you to select themes for your SharePoint site. This is also another improvement in SharePoint 2013.
     
   • Your site. Your brand: Selecting this option will take you to the “Title, Description, and Logo” page which allows you to brand your site.
     
6. Selecting the scroll button will show you more items in the “Get started with your site” web part.
7. Selecting “EDIT LINKS” link in Quick Launch will allow you to manage links on the spot in the Quick Launch section. You no longer have to go to the “Site Settings” page to manage navigation!
   
8. Next you will notice the “Documents” web part that is added to the home page when a site with “Team Site” template is created. If you click on the “Documents” link, you will be taken to the document library page.
    

That’s all so far for Part 3. In Part 4 we will talk more about configuration and administration part of the SharePoint 2013 Central Administration site.