Friday, March 30, 2012

Express Reporting Services with SharePoint Integration

As you may already know, SQL Server Express with Advanced Services ships with the Reporting Services feature as well.

Since I was setting up a development SharePoint 2010 environment with integrated SQL Server Reporting Services, I thought that I would just go ahead and install Express Edition with Advanced Services.  The most appealing thing about Express Edition is that Microsoft always ships updated releases to include the Service Pack integration.  With all other editions of the software, Microsoft requires manual integration through slipstreaming rather than simply offering an integrated version available for download through MSDN.  Ugh...

In any case, I began installing SQL Server 2008 R2 Express with Advanced Services (with SP1) on my installation and when the screen got to the Reporting Services feature, I naturally selected the option for SharePoint Integrated mode.

Well, this is the error message that I received:


Apparently, even though the feature is available for selection as part of the SQL Express installation process, I can't use it!!

So, after all, I was forced to use the full Developer/Enterprise edition of SQL Server 2008 R2 in order to support SharePoint Integrated mode.

Therefore, if you are trying to build a development SharePoint environment and you need SQL Server Reporting Services Integrated with SharePoint, you will have to spend the necessary time to install a full version of SQL Server 2008 R2 (and apply the service pack).

If you are interested in slipstreaming your own instance of SQL Server 2008 R2, there is a good MSDN blog post on the process here: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/petersad/archive/2011/07/13/how-to-slipstream-sql-server-2008-r2-and-a-sql-server-2008-r2-service-pack-1-sp1.aspx


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