Setup SharePoint 2013 Step by Step
By John Johnson
Introduction
Hi, I’m John and I’m excited to share with you my experience in setting up SharePoint 2013. As a content creator, I needed a platform that would allow me to collaborate with my team and manage our projects efficiently. SharePoint 2013 was the perfect solution. However, setting it up can be quite daunting if you don’t know where to start. In this article, I’ll provide a step-by-step guide on how to set up SharePoint 2013 and share with you some tips and tricks that I learned along the way.
Curiosities, Statistics, and Interesting Information
- SharePoint 2013 is a web-based collaboration and document management platform developed by Microsoft.
- It was released in 2012 and is the successor to SharePoint 2010.
- According to a survey conducted by AIIM, 75% of organizations use SharePoint for document management and collaboration.
- SharePoint 2013 includes features such as document libraries, lists, workflows, and search capabilities.
- It can be installed on-premises or on the cloud using Microsoft Office 365.
- SharePoint 2013 requires a server running Windows Server 2008 R2 or higher.
- It supports multiple browsers such as Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.
- SharePoint 2013 also includes mobile apps for iOS, Android, and Windows devices.
Step-by-Step Guide
Before you begin, make sure that you have a server running Windows Server 2008 R2 or higher and that it meets the minimum hardware and software requirements for SharePoint 2013. You’ll also need to have administrative privileges on the server.
Step 1: Install Prerequisites
The first step in setting up SharePoint 2013 is to install the prerequisites. These include the following:
- Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5
- Windows Management Framework 3.0
- Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1 Native Client
- Microsoft Sync Framework Runtime v1.0 SP1 (x64)
- Windows Identity Foundation (KB974405)
- Microsoft Information Protection and Control Client (MSIPC)
You can install these prerequisites using the Microsoft Web Platform Installer or by downloading them from the Microsoft Download Center.
Step 2: Install SharePoint 2013
Once the prerequisites are installed, you can proceed with the installation of SharePoint 2013. Follow these steps:
- Insert the SharePoint 2013 installation media into the server and run the setup.exe file.
- Enter the product key and accept the license terms.
- Select the installation type (Complete, Standalone, or Custom) and click Install Now.
- Wait for the installation to complete. This may take some time depending on your server’s hardware specifications.
- Once the installation is complete, you’ll be prompted to run the SharePoint Products Configuration Wizard.
Step 3: Configure SharePoint 2013
After the installation is complete, you’ll need to configure SharePoint 2013. Follow these steps:
- Run the SharePoint Products Configuration Wizard.
- Select the option to create a new server farm and click Next.
- Enter the database server and database name for the configuration database and click Next.
- Select the authentication method (Windows or Form-based) and click Next.
- Enter the SharePoint farm passphrase and click Next.
- Wait for the configuration to complete. This may take some time depending on your server’s hardware specifications.
- Once the configuration is complete, you’ll be prompted to create a new site collection.
Step 4: Create a Site Collection
After the configuration is complete, you can create a new site collection. Follow these steps:
- Enter the title and description for the site collection and select the URL.
- Select the template for the site collection (Team Site, Document Center, Project Site, etc.) and click OK.
- Wait for the site collection to be created. This may take some time depending on your server’s hardware specifications.
- Once the site collection is created, you can start using SharePoint 2013.
Tips and Tricks
Here are some tips and tricks that I learned while setting up SharePoint 2013:
- Make sure to install the prerequisites before installing SharePoint 2013. This will ensure that the installation process goes smoothly.
- If you’re not familiar with SharePoint, start with a standalone installation. This will allow you to learn the basics before moving on to a more complex installation.
- Take the time to plan your SharePoint deployment. This will help you avoid problems down the road.
- Use PowerShell scripts to automate common tasks such as creating site collections and managing users.
- Customize SharePoint using SharePoint Designer and Visual Studio.
- Take advantage of SharePoint’s collaboration features such as document libraries, lists, and workflows.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about setting up SharePoint 2013:
Q: What are the hardware and software requirements for SharePoint 2013?
A: The hardware and software requirements for SharePoint 2013 can be found on the Microsoft TechNet website.
Q: What is the difference between a standalone installation and a server farm installation?
A: A standalone installation installs SharePoint on a single server and is suitable for small deployments. A server farm installation installs SharePoint on multiple servers and is suitable for large deployments.
Q: Can SharePoint 2013 be installed on the cloud?
A: Yes, SharePoint 2013 can be installed on the cloud using Microsoft Office 365.
Q: What is the best way to customize SharePoint?
A: SharePoint can be customized using SharePoint Designer and Visual Studio. SharePoint Designer is a free tool that can be used to customize the look and feel of SharePoint. Visual Studio is a more powerful tool that can be used to create custom SharePoint solutions.
Q: Can SharePoint be integrated with other Microsoft products such as Outlook and Excel?
A: Yes, SharePoint can be integrated with other Microsoft products such as Outlook and Excel. This allows users to collaborate on documents and projects more efficiently.