This page gives a high-level overview of installation, but there are many configuration options so please refer to Installation for fuller detail.

PIAB is a .NET and SQL Server application, with Browser App and Windows Desktop App (AKA 'Windows Client') interfaces. The Windows Desktop App communicates with the server via a Web Services interface. Basic installation broadly involves:

1. Installing prerequisites
2. Running the PIAB installer to deliver the system files
3. Restoring the PIAB database
4. Creating a web application in IIS
5. Running the PIAB System Management Tool to get a licence key, and connect to the database
6. Setting the authentication scheme
7. Then there are post-install steps, some of which are optional.

Please see Installation for more detailed information.

• Windows Server
• Access to a SQL Server instance, local to the server or remote
• .NET 4.5.1 Framework enabled
• IIS with ASP.NET enabled
• Windows Search enabled

On Windows Server 2016, use the Windows Server Manager tool to add the appropriate roles KB0000410 Windows Server 2016 Roles

The installer will deliver the PIAB system files to 'Program Files\PROJECT in box Professional'. Using the default options, you will get a copy of the server system files, a database .BAK backup file to restore, plus an install of the PIAB Windows Desktop App and Planner App.

• The database backup .BAK file is in the sqlbackup folder. Use SQL Server Management Studio to restore it.
• By default IIS will access the database using the 'IIS APPPOOL\DefaultAppPool' user. You need to add as a user and login to your SQL Server instance, with the DBO (Database Owner) role on the piab database.

Using the IIS Management Console, create a new web application called 'piabws', running to directory 'Program Files\PROJECT in box Professional\piabws'. See KB0000325 Configuring IIS 10 Windows Server 2016 for guidance.

Run the PIAB System Management Tool - the installer will have put a shortcut on the desktop. Primary tasks are:

1. Choose 'Licence' from the main menu to get a licence key for your install KB0000400 Licence Key
2. On the 'Database' tab, enter the connection string parameters to connect to your piab database.
3. Depending on your setup, you may need to use this tab to add the appropriate user to the database to allow the piab web application to connect to the piab database.

When installed, PIAB uses a basic form of authentication where the user logs in with a username and password that are authenticated within the application itself. We recommend switching to Integrated Windows Authentication which has the advantages of better security and simpler user management. It involves switching both IIS to Integrated Windows Authentication, and then setting the PIAB server application to use this scheme. KB0000110 Using Integrated Windows Authentication

Note: whichever authentication scheme you use, you MUST set the password for the PIAB 'Admin' user to a new, strong value.

• Set IIS to use HTTPS to secure data in transit
• Set IIS MIME types to serve typical file types KB0000350 IIS MIME Types
• Configure Search KB0000010 Configuring Search
• Configuring notifications via SMTP, this allows the PIAB server to send emails to users: KB0000030 Configure Email (SMTP) on the Server
• Creating a scheduled task to send notifications on (for example) a daily basis: KB0000300 Configuration Notifications Using piabtriggerwatch
• Deploying the Windows Desktop App KB0000060 Client Deployment Overview

Please see Installation for more detail.