A Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server instance is the service through which the various types of Microsoft Dynamics NAV clients interact with the Microsoft Dynamics NAV SQL Server database. When you install Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server on a computer, there is initially a single default instance. If your organization requires additional instances, then you can either install Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server on additional computers or create additional instances on the original Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server computer. In this procedure, you create a Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server instance in the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server Administration tool.

To create a Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server instance

  1. Open the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server Administration tool. Choose Start, and in the Search programs and files box, enter Microsoft Dynamics NAV Administration, and then choose the related link.

  2. In the tree view, which is the left pane, select the Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server computer where you want to add an instance. This is typically the local computer, which is Microsoft Dynamics NAV (local). For more information about remote administration, see How to: Administer a Remote Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server Computer.

  3. Right-click the computer name, and then choose Add Instance.

  4. Supply the required values in the Server instance settings section for the new instance.

    Note
    Each instance on a computer must have unique values for these settings.

  5. Supply the required values in the Log on Account section, and then specify the computer account that will run the instance in the Service Account field. You can select the Network Service account or a domain user account If you select Network Service in the Service Account field, then you do not have to specify values for the User name, Domain, and Password fields.

    Security Note
    Using the Network Service account to run a Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server instance is considered less secure because this account is a shared account that can be used by other unrelated network services. Any user who has rights to the Network Service account also has rights to other services that are running on this account. Running Microsoft Dynamics NAV Server instances under a dedicated domain user account, which is an account that is used only for Microsoft Dynamics NAV components, is more secure but does require a domain administrator to set up and provision the account.

See Also